Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-07-13
Queries.

EDITOR CHRONICLE: Is it not the first
duty of any and every government, and
especially such an n IS ours, to encour-
age and protect its manufacturing and
agricultural interests, particularly when
SUCH pursuits are conceded to be the
very life of the country? If this is true,
do the "powers that be" take the right
view OF this subject when they propose
to take away the protection heretofore
granted to the manufacture of iron, one
Of the greatest, if not the greatest manu-
featuring enterprise of our country?
Will not the passage of the bill now
before Congress, reducing the tariff six
dollars per ton on iron, act as an extin-
guisher to every furnace in the Mahon-
ing valley, if not in the whole country?
Is not foreign iron made by the cheap
labor of England and Scotland, now sold
in u markets in competition with our
own, at a profit to the manufacturer?
If so, what will be the effect if we, by
reducing the tariff, give them a further
profit of six dollars per ton? Does any
one believe iron would be cheaper then
than now? Would England, who has
no love for US or our institutions-only
to serve some selfish ends, as evinced by
the history of the last ten years-be
likely to establish low prices when she
could compel us to pay high ones?
Is the fact, that some of our iron and
coal men make money, a sufficient rea-
son that government should lay its
heavy hand upon and crush them? Is
not the very money they make a public
benefit shared by the humblest laborer
and farmer in all the land? Have any
Of iron and coal men laid away their
wealth in napkins? Is there one of
them, to-day, whose last dollar, almost,
is not employed in the further develop
ment of he resources of the country?
Is any one so narrow in his ideas as to
suppose that the vast coal and ore fields
being constantly found and worked, and
the various manufactures being erected
every year, benefit only their owners?
VIII not a glance at the numerous vii
lagos, towns and cities, that spring up
around and in the neighborhood of our
iron and coal works, convince any one
that the owners of such works are not
alone benefited by them? .Ifnot, will the
fact that farming lands have, within
comparatively a short time, advanced in
value from one hundred to five hundred
per cent. near these works, and fully one
hundred per cent. for many miles in all
directions from them, through the influ-
of such establishments, will not
these facts convince the most sceptical of
their public utility?
Again, has not the demand for the pro-
ducts of the farm and the workshop in
creased, as, also, their value, and that of
labor, some an hundred fold and some
more7 Ifs few men are successful
business, and through their success
whole villages, towns, cities and COM
munities become Independent, why not
at such a result and wish them
God speed?
Does our government act wiselyin Civ
ing millions of acres of the peoples lands,
and untold millions of their money, to
capitalists to build railroads with,
and at the same time place our iron in
almost wholly unprotected, in
competition with the accumulated wealth
Of ages, of successful iron manufacturing
companies of England, and our labor,
that has been heretofore well rewarded,
10 compete with theirs, whose only re-
is the scanty food and raiment
necessary for existence?
Shall I subscribe myself,
Yours, Respectfully
QUERICUS.