The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-11-26
WILL THEY UNDO HT9

tirely ceased IN America-ship yards
idle-workmen out of employment,
and the carrying trade gone into the
hands of other countries-a practical
illustration is afforded of the way tariff
laws work.
Building ships was branch of Amer
ican industry-an extensive and profit
able one. It not only built up and
supplied the wants of our own COM
merce, but it supplied to large ex-
tent the foreign demand. There was
no kind of industry more promotiye of
our prosperity and strength than this.
It lasted until the Republican party
gave the country an application of its
domestic economy. Congress "pro-
tected" this branch of industry to
death, just as it is now doing many
other branches.
The New York Times says that "not
a single vessel is building in the great
ship-yards in and about that city. Six
years ago during the autumn, no less
than thirty-two large ships were build
ing in New York and Brooklyn yards,
each more than 900 tons burden
The cause of the decline of American
ship building is in our tariff and paper
currency, which has given the business
into foreign hands.
There was sufficient intelligence in
the country to see this result, but, un-
fortunately it did not have control in
the direction of affairs.
The steamer Olympia, whose arTi-
val In San Francisco from New York
was announced within few days past,
was built for the Sound trade between
Washington Territory and Vancouver's
Island, and is good illustration of the
difference between protection and no
protection. Those of our readers who
have read the 'tParsee Letters
a more excellent treatise on protection
was never written-will remember the
facts stated In them concerning the
cost of building the Olympia, as de-
rived from the owner, Mr.. Geo. S.
Wright, himself. Before Congress ex-
ercised its protecting care such ma
chinery as Mr.. Wright needed for his
ships could be had for $23, 900; now
it costs $4,000. Making due allow
ance for the difference between gold
and currency, and it appears that Mr..
Wright paid SO, 900 for the privilege
Nof getting American machinery. The
stove cost S225-though he bought,
before the tariff, the same thing for
$50. And the result is, that instead of
having two or three ships built, Mr..
Wright finds that he can afford to build
but one; and the orders sent by China
and other nations for ships have to be
sent TO Scotland. The Springfield
Republican publishes what an Ameri-
can, travelling on the river Clyde, saw.
1t tells very plainly what results such
experiences as we have related have:
Il counted sixty iron vessels within this dis
tanee, tbus in construction nor was my count
complete. a. began some time after seeing the
hrsts and ceased in wonder and amazement before
seeing the last This does not include vessels OF
the ways and in the WAFER of which there were
tiers two and three deep, swarming with workmen
fha
my eampaniOn, Glasgow merchant he remark ed
that ship building not very active on the
Clyde just at that time. / was ashamed 10 saw to
my friend, we do not build iron Yezsels in the
United States"
Of course such a condition OF things
as we have In America cannot continue
long without provoking some popular
expression of hostility. Accordingly
wefnd in a New York dispatch of the
present week, the following:
IAN important meeting Of master shipwrigbts
and journeymen's association was held today {.
consider the best means of reViyfng American
ship-building- 1t was agreed to petition Congress
70 remove the tax ship building materials. Th,
opinion was expressed that if this be done, Amer
lea can compete successfully with European build
ing. committee was appointed to collect anf
publish statistics the subject Of the decline 0
shiPbuilding in the United States"
What will Congress say to that
VIII it take steps to undo this injury
There are scores of other branches O
industry that suffer no less from tn,
tariff than ship-building, and Will
what reason can one be relieved anC
not all? The difficulty comes from
the system, and that must be iterall,
uprooted before these industrial pur
suits can thrive Take off this odiou
tariff f-let materials come In without re
striction, and, instead of confning on
handicraft to the market of this on,
country, let it go into the markets o
all countries. But petitions won't do
There will be no considerable modif
cations of these robbing, inpoverish
ing tariff laws while the present part,
is in power It is absurd to expec
anything from the justice, wisdom O
patriotism of men who will compe
every man and woman and child t.
take out Brokers License, under penal
ty of fine and Imprisonment, befor
they can take their butter, eggs ant
garden products to market. The rem
edy Is In your ballots, not in you
1aoFs4;o,,o