The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-08-22
From the London Bee Hive.
THE A ID c OF SOCIAL SCIENCE.
INTERCHANGE.

NrERcHANGE.
Interchange may be said to have grown
out Of the division Of labor; 1t being the
process adopted by the people Of different
countries, ot exchanging the productions
or commodities they do not want, for others
which they stand in need of.
IL may justly be considered one of the
greatest civilizers Of the world, az It stimu-
lates the most ignorant and barbarous of
people to some kind Of exertion, intelligence
and reciprocal feelings; and induces them
70 collect, grow, or produce, something for
which they have a special aptitude, or that
their country is fitted to produce, and to
exchange it for such home or foreign pro-
ductons which they stand in need Of, or
earnestly desire.
Among civilized people il helps to open
up fertile fields in all parts of the world for
the increase Of their wealth, the comforts,
and the employment Of their population, and
helps to spread the benefits of knowledge,
art and science In different countries, and to
promote good will and improved feelings
among all the nations of the world the only
drawback to the spread and enjoyment Of
those blessings being the dishonesty, selfish
@f~oof @1N N DoPA06 CoRAAihy VI tnulFiQudlcs
Many parts of the world are better fitted
than others for producing particular con-
modities, as China and parts of India for
tea; the East and West Indies for sugar,
coffee, and spices; America, India and
Egypt for cotton; England, Germany and
Australia for wool; Spain, Portugal and
Turkey for raisins, prunes, figs, &c. and
Canada, Norway aud Russia for timber all
OF which commodities are so distributed by
Interchange, that persons in different coun-
tries may readily obtain the kind and guam
uty of them which they desire 90 purchase.
In our own country, some parts Of it are
better suited, possess different products, or
are better adapted for producing particular
kinds Of commodities than others IS Corn
wall for producing tin and copper; North
umberland, Durham, Wales, do, for Goals !;
cheshire and Worcestershire for sait Lam
casnire, Yorkshire, &C., for cotton and
wooilen clothing Birmingham, Wolverh amp
too and Sheffield tor hardware, aud various
other places for other commodities, all Of
which are distributed to the mrsual advan-
tases of al BY the principle OF interchange.
Ii il this principle Of interchange--con-
Quoted by merchants, trad ers and shopkeep-
ers-that brings the different commodities
of the world together, 30 as TO supply our
villages, towns and cities with all the requi-
sites Of consumption, or articles of use Or
luxury they require and 30 to distribute
them, that every individual having equlva-
Tents to exchange may OBTAIN any kind or
portion o. commodity that he requires.
Another great advantage Of interch ange
il, that 1t enables the people OF any dIs 'rict,
or country, to cultivate snch comm0e..ies,
and to carry on successfully such manufac-
lures as are best suited 70 such locality or
part of the world, and where they can be
produced best and chespest-the great desi-
deratum for consumers in all countries. Ir
terchange also serves to bring the surpi n-
productions of one part Of the world to sup
| ply the wants Of another as well as TO
bring many commodities from countries
where they are little needed, to places where
they are most required. In some countries
-and formerly in our own--particular class
e., or self interested individuals, seeking to
protect some favorite monopoly, or TO pre-
vent competition in their respective trade OF
manufacture, have often induced short
sighted or self interested rulers TO favor and
project them by means Of prohibisory laws
or protective tariffs monstr0us iniusti "a
inflicted on the many for the benefit vf the
few. For the general interest always de-
mands that the largest Quantity Of sil kinds
OF producCons should be grown or manufac-
tursd where they can be best and cheapest
prodaced, and that they sho, i be freely OK.
changed among the peopl Of al countries,
- al will then be beneitIei BY the cheap
sned comnodities.
The effect Of all restrlcl4oGs on the free
intsrchangs Of commodities-either by the
force Of law or the imposition Of tax-is
70 limit production and enjoyment both q
home and abroad, the Law or tax preventing
capital and labor from being successfully
employed in production in either country
thus not only injuring the people by pre-.
venting their employment and she ecnsump
tion of eheapened articles, compelling
them to pay also whatever prohibitory taxeI
are imposed; for oil such taxes must inyari
ably be paid BY the consumers Of the articles
taxed.
Much stress IL often laid on the compare
tive vaiue Of cur exports and imports bu
the great object for confederation 10, "Wha
amount Of produce We can import or obtalI
in exchange at less expenditure OF eapisa
and labor than the goods We export; and .
snis 10 equally the object Of the people y
other countries ~ we'll ~ ourselves, the be
nefts of Interchange may 6e said 20 be reci
procai. ~
che primitive and simplest mode Of inter
change IL barter that 10 by people sxehans
ing thsir commodities dlrecsiy one for ano
ther withoss the use of . nediam Of 81
change Bus as they could seldom obtsi
I BY this pfocess the exacs kind of eE,icle, y
the precise qusnsisy of the cYmmodity she
uandnd i.nrrar is nov aaiduNs had reoours