The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-08-12
Cotton Manufacturers and the Tariff

The demand OF the Massachusetts ooot
and shoemakers for free trade in the mate
rials and products Of their industry has led
to an investigation into the subject OF cot
ton manufacture, and the result is the dis
covery OF facts which show that the oHly
result reached by the tariff, which was os-
tensibly intended to foster and enlarge that
important branch Of industry, is the exclu-
sion of American cotton fabrics from sew
eral important markets which they once
practically monopolized. Indeed, glance
at the statistics of the American export
trade in cotton goods, as compared with
previous years, is enough to convince any
fair-minded advocate Of high tariffs that
"protection 10 domestic industry" is dearly
purchased when it is gained at the expense
OF our foreign trade.
Previous to 1861, the cotton manufactur-
ers Of the United States enjoyed a practical
monopoly OF the South American and West
Indian markets, and even sent large guam
titles Of their fabrics to India and China;
but, under the tariff which taxes the ma
chiuery employed, and so many OF the mate
rails entering into the production OF cotton
goods, and the high wages which they are
now forced to pay for labor, the trade OF
these markets has been transferred to the
English manufacturers, who now have
monopoly OF them. Statistics, quoted by
the New York Bulletin, Show that in the
year 1859. so We exported $40, 934, 1876 worth
Of cotton goods. Ten years later, in 1862
70, during which period our foreign trade
should have doubled in amount and value,
our exports of cotton goods had dwindled
10 s7,f5446s. This is the legitimate result
OF "protection. Let US see what free trade
has done for the English cotton mnnuiac-
turers during this period. In the ten years
ended with 1870, the British exports Of cot
ton fabrics, according to the same authority,
increased from s52,OOO,0OO to :e7O, 0oO, 600.
Thus it will be seen that while the British
under system OF free trade,
increased IS per cent, our protected"
manufacturers lost IS per cent. on their ex-
port trade. Our exports to China have. fal-
len of during the ten years under review
from So, S97, 800 to s436, 200; to Chill, from
ST, 351, 800 to s47-50O; to Africa, from $751;
600 to $780, 900; to the British Indies, from
s4s6, 800 to sl90,OoO; to Mexico, from
sell, 500 to s59,7OO and to Brazil, from
s651, 500 to s3s,300.
What compensating advantages have our
protected" cotton manufacturers gained at
homes Statistics show that whereas we
consumed in cotton fabrics 9S7, 600 bales OF
the staple in ls59-6o, the consumption in
ls6e-7O was only 500 600 bales-a reduction
OF 10 per cent, when there should have
been an increase of at least 20 per cent,
considering the increase Of population.
1t is absurd to boast OF industrial pros
perity in the presence OF such demonstrated
facts as these. The exactions required by
the national debt do, indeed, spur the peo-
pie to violent exertions to meet the demands
Of their government They are more indus
trious than they ever were before, and they
work harder than at any previous period OF
their history. But they are not pros
porous. Their industry is not remuuera-
tive 1t takes 500 millions worth OF their
labor every year to pay the exactions OF the
protective system. And the. result is that,
while the protected classes and interests
grow rich, the myriad industries OF the
country are oppressed, and the mass OF the
people are not improving their condition.