National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-01-07
To the WOOt GrOiCcrs of VeymOnt

W OOl GfOWeIS Association provides
that the annual convention shall be
held in the city of Columbus OH the
first Tuesday after the first Monday
of January of each year, which will
come on the 4th day Of January
There never was time within the
history of wool growing in this
country, when it was more highly
important that there should be a
large and enthusiastic gathering of
the intelligent wool growers of the
State. Never before were our in
ests in greater peril.
Although the business of wool
growing since the close OF the war
has been rs profitable as we could
desire, owing to the unhealthy con.
dition of many tlocks. the excessive
importation Of foreign goods during
and Immediately after the late rebel
lion, and the great amount of army
clothing thrown upon the market at
the close of the war, altogether
would have proved fatal to the
American grower, had it not been
for the timely intervention of Con
greSs, by the passage of the tariff
act of 1861. Now when we are about
to realize a little benefit from the
law. the greatest Of all enemies to
the wool growing, U will not except
the dog and CurS Of the country
are busilY at work to secure its re
peal. These gentlemen have been
view to bribe and debauch the pub.
! lie press, that they may etlectualiy
! make a raid on the next congress
and secure a repeal OF the only law
/ that affords any protection to the
wool grower of the United StatcS.-
/ If this tariff is repealed and a re-
ueWal Of a treaty with Canada, al
/ lowing their cOmbing woods to
come in competition with our d0mcs-
tic woolS, at less rate of duty than
is now secured to us, we say good by
to wool growing in this country
The same may be said of the man
ulacturcrS, These gentlemen have
been pcrambulating the States un-
der the name of Free Traders. they
realize the fact that under the pres
cnt law the foreign wool producing
counties cannot much longer com
pete with us in our maTkctS,aud the
British and American free trader
will be deprived the liberty OF ruin
iug very large portion OF the IN,
hahitants of our land. Is Il pohcN
to talk about free trade in wool III
this country The wool ! roducin 2
countries must be on an equality III
point Of facility tor its production
Il mean artificial rs well as natural
before Nou can talk about free trade
Shall the Ohio grower who is educa
ted te oee8pN any position in life
with our high priced land, burdencd
with high priced labor and heavy
taxes, he compelled to compete witt
, tie semi civ ilized pauper labor o
other countries!
II is desirable that because We
cannot compete with Australia, Soutl
American and South Africa, wher,
sheep can be kept the entire year
iucluding shcaring and govcrnmen
tax, tor ), cents per head, that w
Should abandon wool growing anC
be dependent on foreign nations TO
our support Shall one of 'nr prln
cipal sources of indiVidu and na
tioual wealth and comfort be aban
doncd and dried up to please tn
, free traders of this country! Shal
we as a nation. adopt that tata
| hereSN called free trade, which ha
proven disastrous to all uCw COuu
tries that have tried it, to enrich tn
domestic and foreign importers!
In word, shall we open our port
for another delugc of foreign woe
and wooIen goods, thereby dlSplacin,
. an equal amount of our own. W
/. answer cmphaticallY NO, \ wis
, and discriminating tariff Is the onl
| safe course for this country until "
\ are relieved of our heavy publ
e debt at least. \ scale Of discrin
mating duties that Will develop on
resources, give employment to a
:. classes, and tend to make men IL
/, dustrious and happy is Of all thing
:. most ncCdiul.
What would have been our sit
:, uaton during the late rebellion, ha
i, we been entirely dependent on othe
! nations for our supply of wool an
= WOODEN goods In Ohio under OF
system OF mixed huSbandry, shcc
$ raising is almost indispensable
1 keeping up the fertility and pre-
II durtiveness Of our soil, it is highl
IS important at this timc that the sc'
y cral State Wool Growers Assoc
II ations should express their views q
/ the tariil' subject, as Congress
q about To convene.
p. Now Brother Wool Growers, Il
is us stand by our guns and battle Il
!, the right, and not suffer ourselves
y be robbed of the little rrotcctio
that is now secured to us. 1t is 4
:, issue of life or death with us.
!. j, G. STEVENS, President On
~ State Wool Growers Association.
$ Some things in this life are give
T. us to be enjoyed, others to he endu
ed Among the latter, 1t pcrhaI
90 would bc as well to class life insu
II ancc agents, llcas, reaches, an,
musllctocs and bed bugs.
;" At the election Of the New En3
ht land Society of the city of Was
n inpion. William Hutchinson OF We