Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-19

Wbv is this? Because Englands polio
which she would have us adopt,) is to sin
labor to slayish dependence upon the viii {
capital. i sincerely hope the workln
man will search these matters forhimseH, an
be wary of that political Pharisee, no matte
of what party, who attempts to work up III
prediuices of a people to sustain combina
lions which CARRYING a tinsel show OF spe
cial interest to this or that locality woula par
ter the we'll being of nation for 'he '''if',
pjeees" Of a Judas.
TEACHINGS OF HISTORY
Ireland. once prosperous and happy, il
NOW crushed and writing with half smoth
cred cries of starvation. Half her people
broken-hearted, are forced into crime ant
eypatriation, leaving as they can the familiar
scenes of home. loaded with curses for Their
sno;lers. Scotland, once the seat of highest
INTELLIGENCE. presents whole districts, once
the home of a splendid agricultural popula-
ton. which now, according to the Edinburgh
Review" Jealous advocate OF Tree trade
shave no future but the oor nous G.
lands gone, and made sheep walks ana hunting
POUNDS for nobility and wealth; forelgh
countries have had their share OF hngiand 5
policy as the new products OF each became
aecessarv. and the laws of nations and the
nI;nos of christianity stood not in the light
selfish demands. The loom OF the
moor Hindoo was forcbly stopped, and he
made to grow cotton and purchase his own
sack of British manufacture to feed the looms
of Manchester. Thus, too, slave labor of
India and America, for years, furnished the
cotton, which, manufactured in England,
sought our shores for a market.
The condition of our country during the
periods of protection and free trade may be
studied with advantage, as well as the speech
n IL. sol intp ract-
were considered and the necessity of using
eyery means to establish free trade policy
on this Continent was openly urged.
FACTS TO BE CONSIDERED.
At the close of the second war with Great
Britain the country had but slight debt,
business in all departments was active, and
the demand for labor and material of all
kinds was abundant. Money was easy. Then
came the season of British Free Trade !"
business stopped, mills closed, furnaces put
out their fires money was not to be had, the
moor man mortgaged and became poorer, and
the rich man richer; banks stopped payment,
and it was at this time that General jackson
made the memorable speech in which he says
SIN short, we have been too long subject to
the policy of the British merchants. 1t is
time we should become little more Ameri-
canized, and instead of feeding the paupers
and laborers of Europe, feed our own, or else
in a short time by continuing our present
policy, we shall become paupers ourselves"
This was the state of the country when the
tariff of 1928 became law. The whole tone
of the country was Immediately changed;
life took the place of gloom, labor and pro-
ducts found home and renumerative mar
kets, the revenue increased so rapidly that
many articles, among them tea and coffee,
were exempt from duty.
The public debt was paid and an English
writer speaking of the time, said the history
of the world never presented so marked an
example of universal prosperity as existed on
the repeal of that tariff of 1928; this repeal
took place in 1884 and SO. Free Trade again
ruled until 1912. Many of us remember that
season. States repudiated their debts, the
National Treasury, unable to obtain money at
home, was also denied at the doors of the
banking houses of Europe; labor, especially
in the cities, was starving The North Ameri
can Review of Jan. 1865, says that from April
1912 to Jan. 1913, a loan for 8 l2 millions
could not be placed in Europe, and that Wal
ter Forward, then Secretary of the Treasury,
made that report to Congress.
Upon this state of things came the Tariff
Act of 1912, and for four years the country
rejoiced in plenty. Money was abundant and
cheap. Industries in thousands of varied
forms were started, and the public and private
revenues were beyond the conception of the
most sagacious. Here again, under direct in
fuences of British Free Trade the very blessing
obtained by our war of revolution Chat of Pro-
tection) was again removed; and in spite of
all our gold from California, money went out
for British calico, cloth, iron, French silks,
and fancy goods, &C., until 1857 found us in
the dust The suspension of banks, manu-
factories and merchants is well remembered.
The public Treasury was empty and working
men discouraged.
Then came the rebellion, and the necessi-
ties Of our country forced upon us the most
stupendous plan of Protection ;-protecton of
her existence as nation, of her honor, as
well as of her industry.
Ihls war, planned in the interests of slav-
cry, was IN direct antagonsm to free labor
therefore it received from the first the support
OF the commercial classes in England, and
that OF her government.
The veil was then drawn from the eyes of
the American laborer and patriot. The hand
OF the government was held out to every
class. National honor demanded sinking of
local Interests in that of the general welfare.
What was the result? We need not fear to
hear an answer. Official reports when they
reach us in full will be conclusive Let us
look al few facts as they appear in so much
OF the census reports as have reached u.s.
Among them is the fact, that during the
previous decade from 1850 to 1860, in which
none OF the waste or calamites of war were
experienced, in time of absolute peace
Eight millions were added to the number O
our people" yet the taxable property of tn
country was increased only six thousan
millions, of dollars. This amount added
averaged less than $4,000 per head for til
increase in population. Now the decad
closed by the coming in of 1870, according
Commissioner Wells report, showed vast
b. war of not less than nine thousand mi
lions of dollars, while our increase of popr
lation was only seven millions, one mi
lion less than the period from 1850 to lSGt
yet the increase in wealth was seventee
thousand millions OF dollars, which would |
near 50, 800 to each added head Of population
Please bear in mind that the entire accl
mutation of property in the United States ft
go years up to the beginning of the late wf
was only fourteen thousand millions, thre
thousand millions less than the increase du1
ing the ten years from 1860 to 1870, in spit
of war.
Now in view of the facts uresontod | *