The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-10-10
Cotton Manufactures.

1t would appear that the glory of calico
is about departing from the British Isles.
The newspapers of that country are in
ferment as to thephenomenon of continued
losses and arrangement in their vast sys-
tenn of cotton manufactures Prices and
supplies are thoroughly discussed, but they
seem studiously to ignore the great ques-
ton of competition. They forget that
France is gradually and safely progressing
to the lead in all things, as is natural to
her superiority of climate. They forget
that this country is rapidly advancing in
the race of competition, and already con-
sumes one third of its own cotton crop.
The laws of nature are inexorable, though
they may be held in allegiance for awhile
by force of circumstances, and the first law
of nature as to the price of labor is that
the warmer the climate, other influences
being equal, the cheaper it is. Conse-
quently, other things being equal, the
French can under-sell the English, and
they in their turn will meet with cheaper
labor in Italy.
Circumstances have enabled England for
a long time to hold tho dominion of the
cotton manufactures. Her insular position,
her comparative peacefulness at home
while other nations We're involved in all
the ruin of war on their own soil, her inn
mense marine, naval and mercantile, her
foreign possessions which all these circum-
stances enabled her to acquire and keep,
all gave her a command of foreign markets
with which there could be no competition,
thus forcing her factories into q develop
ment which an equal competition would
have never permitted
But the day of all this is passing away.
Other nations are enjoying the healthful
influences of peace ; other nations are
building up immense commercial marines,
and extending the area of their commerce.
Competition is now more generally open,
and the comparative price of labor is be-
ginning to assert its natural and param cunt
importance in regulating the question of
manufactures. Unless England can manage
to involve Continental nations in another
sanguinary conflict, her manufacturing
record must be henceforth more and more
Unsatisfactory.
She finds, too, in the United States no
mean rival. Though in cheapness of labor
we cannot expect to compete with her for a
long time, yet water-power is so abundant
| and cheap in this country that the advan-
tage is clearly on our side as to all those
simpler fabrics where motive power is
an ard. KEN %e ta@ fo1 ~ c6nsdeFation
the expense of moving cotton to seaports,
freighting it to England, and sending the
goods made from it back to the point where
the cotton was grown, it must be admitted
that not many years can elapse before the
whole Of our cotton-g growing region Will be
dotted with actories for the transformation
of that material into fabrics of greater or
less fneness. England must soon lose the
United States as q customer to q very great
extent.
All these changes will work to the adj
vantage of the South, opening a new field
! to her energies, increasing the variety of
her Industries, whereby misfortunes il any
one department would not be SO paraly sing,
and increasing her independence and self
reliance. Let us but cultivate peace and
maintain civil and religious rights, and the
I tide of prosperity will force itself over the
land without waiting for financiers or legis-
iators to.open it a channel