New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-10

ported under duty Of thirty per cent by no means
proves that it would be sold here thirty per cent
eheaperS if the duty were abolished.
III. The cheapest articles in this as in any other
country are those which wholly or mainly nome
made. Thus, we make nearly all our Axes fIoWs,
HarrOws, Scythes, Hoes Spades, Shovels, %c' and
the wide world can show none better nor Iot like
quality cheaper than ours. On the other hand' we
have hitherto imported most of our LogChains,
TTaceIChains Saws &c; and these are not relative
ly so cheap, and have not improved IN eihc'ency so
decidedly as the farming implements that wemainly
make at home
. III Whenever a department of manufacturing OF
other industry has become firmly established in our
country-whether by the aid of Protection or other
wise-sO that it's endurance and expansion are vir-
tually assured we may safely rely on domestic COM
petition to graduate the price of its product, the
profit of the producers, to the average standards
afforded by other and kindred pursuits Unless self
interest has ceased to influence human conduct. we
may be sure that if Corn or Cotton should this year
be produced to great profit, people would engage
in its production next year and reduce prices and
profits; and the rule holds good with regard to Pig
and Bar Iron, Wool and WOOlens Prints and Sheet
ngs Protection determines only that certain articles
shall he mainly produced in the consuming country
it does not decide that A. B. shall HAYES monopoly
of their manufacture. And when Mr.. Commissioner
Wells asserts-evidently alleging permanent, and
not merely a transient result-that. .......
at not unfreauently happens that the imposition OF
tax in the form Of Tariff on imported article is made
the occasion for very greatly and unnecessarily adVah
cling the price Of corresponding domestic product
he ignores and defes law memorable as gravita-
tion-that which impels men to rush into pursuit
which is supposed to yield extraordinary profits Let
one farmer make money by growing Hops, flor in
stance and twenty others will forthwith plant hop
yards-very possibly to their own damage and loss.
but very certainly to the reduction of the average
profit of Hop-growing If Wool sells exceptionally
high, Sheep will increase and multiply; If Lumber
brings a high price this Summer the pine trees are
bound to suffer for il next Winter He who imaglnes
that the law here indicated stops short at the doors
of furnace or factory fearing to venture ill., evnces
deplorable ignorance or binding prejudice. Cost is
the general measure of Price alike in the presence
and in the absence Of Protection. True If there
were but one mine of Zinc or Coppern our country,
high duty on that mineral might enrich the ownero
owners of that mine; and thus 1t may be that the
owners of certain ingenious inventions subseryient
to the production of Screws have realized large
profits on their patents-larger it may be- than they
would have done in the absence of any duty on i'm
ported Screws but they owe their good fortune pri-
marily to their inventions patents, and but sub
| ordnately to the Tariff Had there been no duty on
Screws they would still have held substantial pos
session of our market and realized large profits there
from, though they might have been constrained to
make their Screws in Europe, because of the relative
cheapnes of foreign labor patents would have
held good here in any case; the Tariff only makes 1t
their interest to manufacture in this country rather
than abroad. And hold mankind benefited and
the world enriched by the development and perfec-
ton of the Screw manufacture in this country which
the last few years have wtnessed-a development to
which Protection gave an impulse, by natuTalizing
this industry amOngus and thus calling into activity
| the genius for invention which might else have
| passed away undemonstrated and unknown In
few years. the patents will all have expired, as am
assured most of them have already done; while the
inventions they cover, the new industry they have
| built up will remain an embodiment OF Mans power
over material Nature and blessing to all genera
| tons.
NJ Commissioner Wells a to bis last Anuusl Report
| says:
The experience Of Great Britain The last twenty ysa respect
under the established this
that decrease OF the Tariff on this article brings
responding benefit IN the Of reduction Of 70 the
~ ., -, b.,.. - 49, H. 40 - 90
iron 2d less average Price Of Tea ia bond
tays during The same period eIeeieda serre'o9apI Heftaf
withdrawing The fact that the supply through importation bad nows
abated bat the contrary increased during he eA 10 az
msa that there being practically but Tehpuc
Ing country the ptrtAk Of the character Of monopoly % such
pTodeer oonvek bis dVabEe The opinion,
therefore onsb expressed Of late that dueton Of the present
duty Tea would result e advantage Of the American consumer
| . not likely to be practically realized"
|
TUR COTOPADO FYpEDTTION AGAIN