New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-06

nately among the work-people at the Pacific Mills,
and whose heads earned at least $l3 currency per
week the cost of food and rent for each person per
week was AZ "a (currency) Surprising that prices
have not materially fallen since, the average cost
per week in gold of the living of each adult is at
present 81 Is.
These. them are the results already realized from
the Protection afforded to Wool and Wooden in
dustry by the increased duties imposed by the Tariffs
of 1871 inclusive;
l. very considerable increase of our annual pro-
duction of Wool, and much larger extension of our
Wooden manufacture;
III. A consequent and important increase in the
amount paid for Labor employed in our Wooden in
dustry, in good part TO women and children, whose
earnings and acquired skill substantially much
added to our National wealth;
III, A very decided improvement in the quality
and finish of our Wooden fabrics, especially Shawls,
Cassimeres, BeaverclOths and other descriptions in
tended to be worn as outer garments; and
". All these advantages secured without cost to
our consumers since the average prices OF sub
stantial serviceabe Wooden fabrics are actually
cheaper lin gold to-day than they were ten years ago.
That am not mistaken on this head choose to
establish and confirm by the best Free Trade
authority. The EreniRg Post of Oct is eagerly
quoted by The Manchester Guardian England as thus
triumphantly proclaimng YWhat Protection has
done for the Wooden trade of the United States"
"The woods of Europe, of the Cape of Good Hope,
of Australia, and of Brazil, excluded here by
the duty they filed the markets of Europe so that
the price there fell lower than before English
manufacturers, with far cheaper WOOL and a specie
currency, made goods at price which defied cOmpe
titOn by the United States; and thus both our raw
wool and our cloth were driven from all foreign mar
kets. Even the enormous duties on manufactured
wOolens could not protect our mills against their
cheap cloths; they are undersold even at home by
the British, although these duties are so high that
nothing but extensive smuggling can account for
the low prices of many foreign cloths IN the United
States But the advantage OF the European mills IN
all the finer fabrics is so great that, even
per cent. their value besides, they can
sell their goods here more cheaply than those made
here. Our mills are ruined and those who want TO
enjoy the blessings of Protection have plenty of
chances now to buy well-appolnted factories at
small per centage of their actual cost Nor are the
wool growers better off, The inquiry Tor the raw
material here has been discouraged by this breaking
up of the trade so that it has brought them fewer
cents in paper since the high tariff was passed than
it did in gold before. while the people at large
have suffered. Every person in tho country Is con
sumner of wooden goods; and every one is heavily
taxed by these oppressive duties. lhose VINO wear
much for them that they have less OF surplus
left to employ other industries. The poor mans bed
is less warm and his home less comfortable for he
must buy lighter blankets and inferior carpets, or
none at all. Thus the whole community has been
injured and the classes 10 Wh0m these duties rere
dCi1ned 10 q monopoly mare gdiHeu nOHtng.
These facts are widely known, and are producing
their natural effect upon intelligent men. Some of
the leading manufacturers OF wooen goods are com
ing TO the support of the principles to which they
have so long been blind. Thousands of the wool
growers clearly why they are not prospering and
demand a repeal of the taxes on the necessaries OF
life and the people, whose only interest is 10 get the
best goods at fair prices beginning to ask why
oppressive duties. which benefit nobody, should be
maintained"
This testimony of a bitter adversary TO Protec-
Al. "a,
bearing in our favor; and / cannot be wrong in in
ferring that, with cheaper Wool largely increased
product of American Woolens, and no profit to the
manufacturers, our consumers must be supplied with
homemade Woolens at low prices, as have already
shown that they are. Since we are importing Tower.
and making at least twice many Woolens as we did
ten years ago TALL of which find markets among our
own peoplej if "our mills are ruined The Post as
serts and "well.appointed factories for sale at
small per centage Of their actual cost then 1t is
clearly untrue that Protection exaggerates prices
and robs the consumer TO enrich the manufac-
turer. Certainly those mills are Hot ruined
by making from cheapened Wool goods that
sell much higher. in expanded market,
than they did ten years ago, when Wool was higher
aud our consumption of American Woolens much
less. Can it be necessary that l enlarge on this
pointi Ia not tho demonstration conclusive on
mere statement Of the easel
Let me assume that my readers can need no moro
argument on this point, and close With simply citing
the lac which underles and governs the facts, as
set forth by Alexander Hamilton in his mastery Re
port to Congress on the expediency of encouraging
Manufactures, nearly eighty years ago:
"But though It true that the immediate and certain
effect OF regulating controlling the competition OF Tor
eign with domestic fabrics 10 Increase the prices III
universally that the contrary the ultimate enect
with successful manufacture. When domestic
manufacture has attained perfection and has engaged IN
the prosecution OF IL competent number Of persons, III
fnpdrqbly becomes cheaper Being free from the heavy
charges which attend the importation OF foreign COM
modtes. IL be afforded, and accordingly seldom or
fails To be afforded cheaper Ia process VI Time IMAM
the foreign article for which It is substitute The inter
nal competition which takes place soon does away with
price OF the article the minimum OF reasonable profit
on the capital employed This accords with the reason
OF things and with experience. Whence IT follows that
IL is the interest OF community with View TO eventual
and permanent economy. TO encourage the growth OF
manufactures a national view. temporary enhance.
ment price always be well compensated by per
manent reduction Of It,"
Possibly we have now ADLER statesmen than Ham
ilton and his fellow founders Of our National exist
ence though really do not know where to look for
them. l cannot realize that views broader more sa
gacious, moro luminous than those Of Hamilton
whereof have just given a sample are day by day
vouchsafed us by Brick Pomeroy. S. g. Cox, The
IL I...fr ,.,1 Def