The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-06-24
National Decay the Result oflsadi
cal Rule.
From TIA. Quincy Herald.

National Decay the Result of lSadi.
cal Rule.
From TIA. ogincy Herald
The careful stadent of the history of this coun.
try will notice that the year 1860. the closing
year o. democratic rulc, was the most thrifty
year in Tire history OF the country. 1t seemed as
if the country had begun era of untold ma.
tiouul progress and development. Then the great
interests of agriculture, manufactures aud com.
merce were more satisfactory TO capitalist and
ltborer than at any preceding or subsequent
time. 1t was time when all ideas of initiation
of currency had passed. The three years of
lSJS 1888 and $50 surpassed all others in their
rich fruits to the nation. Then commercial
marine numbered five and one-hslt millions of
tons; the production Of cotton was more thun
five millions of bales; more than eleven million,
OF dollars worth OF cotton goods were exported
yearly. The amount OF cotton made into goods
IN 1904 exceeded the aIuOxnt used in 1870
Jy forty-fye million pounds. The importation
ot foreign articles was large, but more than
balanced by the Am rioan expectation. Ameri.
can cotton goods were the standard Of value in
the markets of France, India, Australia aud the
Sandwich Islands. Our merchants trade labels
were necessarily couuterfeited by many other
nations. The artistic beauty Of American fur
niture made II in great dem md in Australia and
the Cape Of Good Hope. Large quantities Of
boots and shoes, carriages agricultural nipple.
'nents, garden seeds, patent medicines aud ma.
chinery Of various kinds were shipped in Ameri.
can bottoms TO South America, Sandwich Islands
aud Australia.
Commerce f1urished, ship bnildng was lucra.
tive. Demand for breadstuffs increased at home
and abroad. Agriculture was fast becoming
profitable 1t was natural that this thrift should
Pervade all tho industries Of the land This
country possesses all of the advantages of soil
and climate which any people could ask. Nature
has been bounteous TO il on every hand.
The reasons why this former prosperity should
no. now gladden. the people, must be artificial
and capable of removal
To the careful observer Of both local and ua-
tional interest, decline in everything appears.
Inc production OF cotton is only four.ffths Of
the original supply, our commercial marine is
scarcely tws-thirds OF that Of 1860 and our ex-
p9rtation Of cotton goods Is only two million dol
lars q year. Instead OF business prosperity We
see hard times instead OF plenty, want Mean
whllb Is great dissatisfaction has arisen between.
D. labor sni capital, and strike, 5f mechanic. are
If daily occurrence
The discomfort Of labor i no greater than OF
capital. It i feeling which the humdrum tune
on the advantages of San Domingo which Grant
j. singing, neither assuages or removes The
monthly figures of Boutwell,. who in continual
self-eomplacency argues for high taxes and no
elimination in them, bring neither trust or relief
show that we are consuming less coffee and
sugar. boots and shoes proportionate TO the popu-
lation, than ten years ago. Thir,y-nine million
Of people in 1870 consumed less cotton cloth by
weight than thirty millions in 1860
Tho desire of the people being the same for
these necessities Of life, what more convincing
argument OF business decline But statistic,
prove an increase in the number Of business fail
ures, "a per cent. in 1870 over 1862 aud 33 per
cent over 1868. The fact is becoming pglpably
apparent TO all, that we generally are becoming
poorer
careful examination OF the export. and i'm.
por;s OF last year show the balance Of trade to be
more than one hundred and fifty millions against
us In 1850 1t was in our favor. OF course this
deficiency must be made up by expectation of
specie, bonds or other obligations. Added to
this is the fact that the per centage Of stock
carried in foreign vessels is continually increas.
ing reaching, last year, eighty per cent.
We cannot Disguise the fact that in the matter
# the balance Of trade, are falling into an
imaccility similar TO that already inflicted upon
McXico, We are lar adriit from the commercial
position occupied by the three great noIeyed
nations of Europe, England, Germany and
France. Shal! we continue in position where
the balance Of trade is against us: Will the
radical congress continue to enact laws which
arc driving the American flag from the ocean ?
viii monopoly and folly longer be inflicted upon
the people
Every year the indebtedness, national and
local. of this nation to European capitalists is
largely increasing. With its increase ruin be.
comes more certain. Reform must come, and
quickly.
But the same causes which are operating so
badly to other interests, are making the produc.
ton of manufactured articles more expensive
Although there has been great saving of labor in
the invention of machinery, the cost of articles
themselves is advanced. .-. ,..
For instance it is stated that the cost OF IN k
ing case of boots is thirty per cent. greater
than il was in 1860, and perhaps the number of
labor saving implements in this manufacture
has been increased more than in almost any
other.
With the destruction of American commerce
has also come the diminution OF American me.
Chauios. len years ago the interest of ship
building was prosperous Ill many cities on the
seabourd, now it has almost ceased to exist. The
number of mechanics in that branch of trade is
not one goth Of what it formerly was. Localities
ness prosperity, have relapsed into decline. |
Maine, the ship building!state, shows popula.
ton scarcely equal to that of 1860. Iron vessels,
which We're formerly made in large numbers in
New York and Philadelphia, are no longer made
in this country. -r
The causes OF these varied misiortunes are
plain and evident. 1t cannot be claimed that
this decline inevitably follows from the national
debt, for England, with larger debt and smaller
population, is in the midst of commercial pros.
perity. tttfii.tt I IL tI.'I
Tho method of collecting the revenue of the
.la