The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-08-25
The Cotton Question in Great B,i-
tain.

We copy as follows from a dispatch
dated London, August IA:
The Times to-day has an editorial
on tho subject 6f tho cotton supply:
wherein 1t says that a curious asnest
has Just been given to the question Of
the cottch supply. Just a. tho associ.
alton for the promotion Of this object il
holding its usual meeting, merchspt
writes No asserting that Manchester
alone il responsible for the scarcity Il
suffers. With NIL its wealth, enterpfiss
and confidence, It has never Inv eeted
dollar In a cotton field. The eopclu.
sion Of the outside world obviously n
that those who know the most about
cotton are convinced that cotton plant
ing never can pay. Their caution acts
on others and cotton culture ID diacour.
aged. IF the Manchester spinpera
wOnld est9bliah o cotton company, with
large capital EMPLOYED 10 the heart
Of India, things would be different;
but they stand aloof, f.ftisc to risk
their money in the adventure, and
when cotton comes to them drive il
down to losing point. The associa-
ton urges the establishment Of . vast
cotton field in ETHIOPIA, but the recon-
Emendatiop, though interesting to grow
ers, has little effect to cause moro cot
ton to be grown. Mr.. Golden and his
friends maintain it was not the duty Of
manufacturers to concern themselves
with the growth INT merely to offer a
sure and steady market for the product:
II India undersOld America by a faIth-
Ing q pound on equal quality, she
would command the Lincolnshire mar
ket. The true policy Of manufacturers
was to keep the market open aud give
the preference to the best cOtto". How
these doctrines ended We need not aay,
but it is singular that the complaints Of
our correspondent lend illustration to
the argument. He resents tie practice
of the manufacturers in driving down
the price. Is it not natural for tue buy
er to cheaper thearticles Does hot the
remark strentllcn the argume't that most
people ought to be buyers and sellersf
His figures state that tho average In
dian cotton formerly bringing : pence
per pound now brings ten pence, aud it
may be many years before IL is lower
than pence. If this means that 7
pence would lemnneiate tho planters
and satisfy Lancashire, mighty ques-
ton may be near its solution. Kemem-
boring the cardinal question Of tho
price, il cotton SUITS can be sold to the
markets Of the world, aiyl the money
to recOmpensc the grower and spinner
comes from the pocket of tho weaver,
it is useless to grow mud spin 1t 1t can.
l. s,~ . Ian
to rcmunerate all concerned. Up to
the time OF the American war these
conditions were fulfilled. The South
produced, and Lancashire manufactured
so ctcaply, that the article command
ell the markets of the world. The
spinner always undersold. Tho price
Of India cotton ia now two and halt
pence greater than formerly, which is
enough to deniolish the whole trade.
No wonder the looms are idle. Cheap
goods and dear cotton are incoinpati-
Die. Until ceeap goods are produced
goods cant revive. II. the average of
"a, pays tho grower. there is no reason
why industry should not revive. Pro-
tcctive tariffs will not always prevail
If the price spoken will satisfy the CON
sumcrs and renumrate the producers
there Ia norhing to prevent the speedy
revival of production and consumptioni
but when the spinner and the grower
mnst necessarily exert the ordinary
commercial nntagohism, cotton il now
| 10 pence instead of A pence, because
American competition is reduced, the
price can be only abatcd by the return
to larger and more regular supplies. II
4 India be our feeder, it can only be on
terms of free and open trade. Cotton
growers must he prepared for revival
of American industry and the compe'
ton of the whole world.