The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-09-20
From the Practical Farmer
Wool, WOOlens, and Political
Economy.

No question is of greater Importance
at the present time, affecting as it does
the prosperity and interests Of the great
body of the American people, than the
protection Of our industry in all the vari-
GUS branches, agricultural, manufacturing
and mechanical, and unskilled and skilled
labor. 1t is the duty Of the government
10 legislate for the benefit and advantage
of ali her citizens, and especially to pro.
tect agriculture and manufactures against
the productions Of low priced foreign la
Dor which free trade would place us in
competition with. This would eventually
reduce our laboring classes to the same
condition as they are abroad. No other
branch Of our industry is in more direct
competition with them than the wool and
wooden industry. The producer should
have a paying home market; and it is in
vain to suppose that the American wool
growers generally, on their comparatively
small farms, and with their small capital,
with all their various expenses to meet
and duties to discharge, can successfully
compete with the vastly cheaper labor
and aggregated capital of all other ma
tons.
The manufacturer, too, without the
home production Of wool, would in the
end find it more expensive, and at all
times more difficult. if not actually i'm.
practicable, to obtain his full supply.
And the same principle Of free trade
which would ruin the producer, would
naturally extend to him. The higher
demands Of American civilization require
that all our industries should be defend
ed against the cheap capital and labor Of
competing nations. The labor which
produces the wool cannot be distinguish
ed from that which spins and weaves it.
Considerations of national independence
require us to seek to the utmost possible
extent, all cur supplies from domestic
sources. The wool manufacturer has the
best assurance Of permanent prosperity.
when he can look to an uninterrupted
supply of wool, from sources not liable to
be cut off by war, famine, pestilence, or
political revolution abroad. He, no less
than the wool grower, has the only sure
market for his fabrics at home, and can
have profitable market only when all
the industries Of the country are pro6ta-
ably occupied. The system Of political
economy essential to industrial prosperity
in this country, demands that the claims
of the wool grower and manufacturer
should be equally respected.
The preparation Of the present tariff
on wool and woolens, with the amend
ment recently added thereto, is the only
hope Of the American wool grower. The
American market must bestow the pref.
erence on our own citizens This is the
true principle. Heretofore tariffs, when
we had them, were of such short dura-
ton, that we never fully realized their
benefits. Let protection be made lead.
ing, fundamental principle in our system
Of political economy, and in it will be
found the solution Of our financial diff
culties 1t will tend to encourage the
home production Of all kinds Of raw ma
terial, instead Of having to go to for
eign market. The manufacturer could
could procure all these at home.
Gold will then communicate our ma
tional debt be extinguished, and our
country once more be truly independent.
The revenue derived in this way win go
to pay the debt and governmental expen-
ses. This must be the case in the flu.
rure. rs it always has been in the past,
aud is the only way to which the agricul-
tursl and our other industrial inhabitants
will willingly submit Believing that If
othst national products be permitted to
enjoy the advantage of the American
market. that such products should pay
revenue at least equal to the American
producers National and State taxes. and
the difference between the wages l'aid by
the foreigner.
The farmers Of our whole country APP
pear at length to realize the fact, that
they have been in the past mere passive
"hewers Of wood and drawers of water"
in the hands Of politicians Instead Of
having the fact admitted, that the agri-
cultural pursuit represents Il large ma
jority Of the votes Of the country, and
have an; Investment therein exceeding all
others, let us have Congressional and
other political aspirants hereafter, instead
Of using the stereotyped saying, "That
when American manufacturers aie most
prospecting, then our agriculturists must
Drosner" IN say.-That when the aQri-
culturists-the most important Of all in
dustries are enjoying the most prosper
GUS times, then most naturally and prop
erly the american manufacturer must be
most successful and that il am elected
to Congress, will look first and most
constantly to the prompt enactment OF
such laws as will most benefit the Ameri-
can agriculturist, and thus ensure I" the
greatest good to the greatest number"
whether unskilled or skilled labor, me.
chanics, manufacturers, miners, or other