Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-05-10
Shall Old Issues Rise from their Graves ?

The New York Tribune writes
protection" on its banner in large
capitals, and the Chicago Tribune
gazes through the golden mists of
Gree Trade" A great many people
think, now that the war is over and
It's results settled, that the political
parties have nothing left for them TO
do but to fight over their old inter-
minablo battles, in which statesman
ship and eloquence exorted them
selves in creating imaginary Issues
where there were no real onos. Be-
fore tho war there Was o broad foun-
dation for a FREQ trade party the
cotton and slave growing States de-
tested manufactures tho Southern
States wished to transport their new
staple direct to England and bring
back English goods therefor free OF
duty But throughout the entire
South st the present time manufac-
lures are springing into existence,
especially the manufacture of cotton
goods, and these States will soon be
moro clamorous for protection than
either tho East or West. At the
present time there is no considerable
portion Of our country entirely de-
voted, as Was tho South, to the pro-
duction and transportation Of its
own products to = foreign market.
King Cotton and slavery will no
longer clamor for free trade and con-
troll political parties and presidential
elections. Free trade will doubtless
BIO ushered in with the millennium,
but Congress Of lunatics would not
force it on us before. AS long as the
United States constitute one people
subject to the same legislative head,
free trade will exist between these
States should they separate, the in
stinct of selfpreseryation and indie
pendenco would lead each State to
foster its own manufactures and to
prohibit foreign importations. Free
trade evidently belongs to one con-
dition Of mankind when all nations
shall be united and obey one legisla-
tive power. 1t cannot exist before.
Manufactures are starting up
throughout the West, and a few
shares Of stock are sufficient to over
whelm oil the free trade figures of
Commissioner Wells. The South
during the rebellion endeavoured to
import mechanics and manufacturers
from Europe, and the war has taught
us the great advantage of manufac-
lures. The free trade must convince
Us that his system will multiply,
augment and diversity our manutac-
lures, otherwise wo viii hear mono of
his twaddle. The nation has learned
wherein It's great strength lies and
will never surrender the million
wheels Of her manufactures. Let
us buy whore wo can buy tho cheap
est, that is, at home. Our products
are mostly heavy, bulky, agricultu-
raj. If we pay freight on these
products to Liverpool and there OK
change them for cheap English
goods, wo shall find the dearest mar
ket in the world. Nor is there any
monopoly, even in prohibitory tar
il, if by monopoly is understood the
aouiorring by law Of advantage upon
particular class that al cannot
enjoy. If by means Of tariff
particular branch Of manufacture
is rendered profitable, capital is at
tracted in that direction, until com
petition equalizes the profits with
othor branches OF business.
But while we feel satisfied that
9 bona fide free trade party, if ever
it did exist, cannot exist again, we
think that the duties on many arti-
cles ought either to be reduced or
entirely abolished. But this must
be effected by the union OF interests
not by jealousy Of political parties