New-York tribune., 1869-05-28

nations must be colonized industrially, or pO-
litically. or BOTH before they can be deprived
of their self-dependence. Englands wars OF
arms and wars of trade have all had this OBJ
iect. Until the end of the last century. she
pushed her purpose by extending her political
sovereignty over all the regions that
could be subdued by her arms; since
the beginning of the present century,
change in the spirit of the age
has been working against her policy of force,
and now she is even suIrenderng political do
minOn and such dominant legislation over her
colonies as gave her q monopoly OF their trade.
This was inevitable but the surrender OF her
trade supremacy involves all the interests
which have so long been maintained at what
ever expense to herself and mischief to other
peoples was required. England built herself
| into the strength that fitted her for universal
conquest by four centuries Of systematic pro-
| lection of her home labor. When that cOndl-
ton was fully attained, and her armies and
naves could no longer control her dependen-
cies, if her industrial, or, rather, her trade
! supremacy was to be maintained, it must be
done by underwriting her customer ma
tions. And this could DO effected only
by continually reducing the wages OF
her laborers for her raw materials
and her food supplies were all the while grow
ing dearer, the raw material reached with in
creasing difficulty, and food relatively scarcer
and both, therefore, at enhancing cost. Moth
| ing of the cheapening required for successful
competition in the worlds markets could be
accomplished except in her men and women
and children They must be made continually
worth less and less to themselves, in order to
make the products of their labor vendible in
the coveted markets Of the world. In word,
England adopted the principles and practice
of free trade as the only means left her for
maintaining her mastery over production and
commerce. and it is only by acceptance of and
submission to this system that we and the rest
of the world can be held in the industrial
bondage to her Which her mOnstrOus necessl-
ties demand Our submission and her work
mems ensavement are her reliances. We are
now fairly in resistance. Her policy Is so far
defeated and the burden upon her toilers has
become intoIerable The laws of nature are
working against her. They are reducing her
to-, or toward, her just proportion among the
rising communities Of Europe and America, and
the consequences of exaggerated claims are
fast falling upon the great offender. While all
Europe is arming, Englandis not even considered
as among the possible bclgcrents. Trade in her
home produCtionsis declining year by year in the
face of the growing sclf-dcpendence of Europe
and the prOspcring States OF America, ana
there are no means Of maintaining the struggle
but by grinding her labOrcrs down to the lowest
wages that will any way support life sufficient
for keeping up the supply This state of things
has none of the conditions which test the fitness
of n natural or true system of manufacturing
industry for securing and providing for be-
ncfcent and an equitable distribution OF profits
among capitalists and laborcrs. England has
neither the breadth Of territory nor the variety
Of resources which would enutle nation to
attempt a representation of the world IN the
industrial arts. She neither has food nor men
| enough TO rule the rest of the world into bar
barism. She could not in harmony with the
system of things which must finally rule IN the
affairs Of men, take the position Of a center
of production and of commerce. The endcayor
must on her own part be made at an expense
tending more and more TO the destruction OF
the forces which must bear the burden of the
fight. When she limits her prospects and
projects To her natural dimensions, she will no
longer require the martyrdom of her poor to
maintain hcr in her proper place. her
money capital, machinery, and mines,
no longer overwhelmingly outmcasuro her
rivals in business, just rs her navy and her
name are no longer terror TO the nations. In
| England the functions and fruits of duly dis
tributed production never were or could be had.
She has imported food TO cheaper manufac-
tured products, until her agricultural laborers
are brought to the verge of starvation as a
rule, and she has exported cloth and iron at
such market rates as have ground out the life
Of her artisans and now, with an uncducated,
a brutal, q pauper populace, yielding to the
spirit Of the age she is extending to her des-
pcrate people political franchises which will
avengc their wrongs but will not redress her
condition, nor restore her supremacy.
Let no one hold skilled industry responsible
for such results of the pcrycrsion of all its
powers and purposes. Protection, which looks
primarily, among us, to the fostering of the
arts needing help, intends not n falsely based
dominion in tho world of industry, but due,
harmonious, and mutually supporting division
of functions adapted to all forces, and an in
teIlockng of all interests, a community of
benefits which respects the welfare of all the
divisions of a nations labor, and an assured
sclf-suppOrt and sclf-depcndcnce Of the whole.
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