New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-11

of them; secondly we hare cheapened Iron to our
consumers quite materially. On this point, let me
state few facts:
"The Merchants and Bankers Almanac for 1862"
gives the monthly price in this City of various lead
ing articles of commerce for the forty from
1926 to 1864 inclusive, whence compile the follow
ing statistics:
Average price Of Pig Iron per tun in 1928 s59 god
Average price of Indian Corn per tun 40 BUSH u 10
Average price OF Wheat per tun 37i bushels). "a Al
Average price of Upland Cotton per bale of 400
pounds 10 %
Cotton was exceptionally high that year-yery
considerably higher than throughout the next and
still further above the prices that ruled in several
succeeding years; yet whoever VIII compare tho
above with the prices recently or now ruling will
find that Iron now costs our farmers considerably
less in money than it did fOrty-odd years ago. and
not half so much in their labor or its products it
then did Our Agricultural staples have decidedly
improved in price, while Iron costs fewer Greenback
dollars per tun now than it did Gold dollars in the
infancy of Protection
| know that some hold that Iron would be still
cheaper if we had never protected its home produc-
ton They argue that since some foreign Iron sells
here at the prices ruling our entire supply might
be obtained at those prices less the duty II that duty
abolished. But reason, analogy statistics, alike
testify that, if were calling Europe for nearly
Two Millions of tuns of Pig Iron, III addition to what
she now supplies us, the prices charged for it would
be much higher than they are, just as the present
ruling prices of Cotton are much higher because OF
the large and eager foreign demand than they would
be if no such demand existed. Put out our furnace
fires or the larger portion of them, by compelling
our iron-masters to pay double the current British
prices for their labor yet sell their product in even
bo;r Hriti riy nd 4 ia
table that the latter would first crush out the former
by underselling, and then having obtained control
of the market. reimburse their outlay by charging
prices that would make up their losses
But had proposed in this essay to consider the
state and prospects of American Ship-building aud
Shipping with especial reference to the complaints
of their decline and prostratOn through the lniu-
ence las is alleged of our Protective legislation
These complaints are nowise novel. No approach.
however timid toward the Protection of our Home
Industry was ever made without provoking an out
cry that our Navigation and Foreign Commerce were
brought by it to the very brink of ruin. so long ago
as 1924, Mr.. Webster-then Free fredericksburg
the House in opposition to the Tariff of that year.
touched this point as follows:
"And first. Sir, TO our foreign trade. Mr Speaker
lClay stated that there has been considerable fsl
ms OF in the tunnage employed in that trade. Inns
which ought TO arrest our Immediate. our
deep, most earnest attention.
What does this bill propose for its releff IL proposes
nothing but new burdens 1t proposes to diminish ,ss
meit It's expense, by snbjecng 1t 10 heavier taxation
SIR there interest in regard to which stronger
interest Whether look at its present condition. which
is admitted be depressed the number OF persons con
nected with and dependent upon it for their day
bread its importance to the country In poca polt
of view it has claims upon our attention "hcn cauo9
repeat simply to burden and to tax IT, By state
ment which have already submitted TO the Committee.
| hat u
than half million OF dollars IN duties on articles
nearly or quite fifty per cent 70 this amount at the very
moment that we appeal to tho angulshng state OF tn
melnbered that orr shipping employed in foreign COM
meIce has this moment, not shadow OF government
own way and earn It's own bread protessed compe-
tton with the whole world Its resources are us own
frugay its Skill its own enterprise IL hopes 10
succeed II 1t shall succeed at ALL not by extraordinary
aid of government; but By patience ygllahce. ana to
muscle by efforts. and by unweared exerlon "a
its defense, becomes strong for the de'ehse Oh tGe
"No one acquainted with this interest deny that
its situation at this moment Is extremely critical we
have left hitherto maintain itself or perish to swim
II 1t can, aud to sink it must But, at THIS moment OF
TO the weight that Threatens TO carry
"Sir there is limit 10 human power, and to human
effort know the commercial marine OF this country
do almost everything, and bear almost everything
Yet some things impossible to be DONE and some bur
ens may be impossible to be borne and, as 1t was the
last that broke the back OF the camel so the last
tax although it small one, may be decisive
as the power OF marine 70 sustain the conflict Ia
which il is engaged with all the commercial nations
of the globe"
ALI this was, no doubt. sincerely, honestly, as
well as forcby. impressivey said. Dir. Webster.
representing mercantile, navigating constituency.
believed and held that Protection to Home Industry
was necessarily, impacably hostile to Navigation
and Foreign Commerce.
But the Tariff so deprecated by Mr. Webster
passed notwithstanding his efforts and the official
returns of our Commerce and Navigation exhibit the
81