The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-04-29
FREE TRADE.


There is no greater fallacy than the fayo-
rite one of the free-traders, that protection
benefits none but the manufacturer; that
to the man whose capital is employed in
converting the raw material into the manu-
featured article, enures the entire benefit
conferred by the protecting duty. This
lavorite dogma was put forth and dwelt
upon with much pertinacity of view by
Senator Johnston, in the speech which we
noticed at some little length on Saturday.
Our object is now to carry the argument OF
the Virginia Senator out to some of its
more legitimate conclusions, and to show
its extreme folly in the direct application
which ninety-nine minds in a hundred
must make of it, viewing the argument
from any practical standpoint that can be
taken. Independently of the home market
which large manufacturing industry neces-
sarily creates, the benefits that flow from
judicously imposed tariff, and one happily
protective of American interests, are too
numerous, and too widely diifusiye in their
tendency and effect, to be specifically named
in any newspaper article of ordinary length.
1t is impossible to do more than strike at
some Of the salient points of the argument,
and lay bare the fallacy of its assumptions
and conclusions. This done, the argument
ought to fall to the ground, and its bundle
of delusive cheats along with it.
Let us consider the first part of the pro-
position, that the benefits accrue entirely
to the manufacturer. Take the duty, for
instance, on any one class of wooden goods,
and suppose wooden factory to be erected
in Richmond that shall employ one thou
sand operatives in their manufacture.
The cost of such manufacturing estab'
hshment would fall but little short Of
half million dollars. The effect then Of
the protective duty is to bring this amount
of capital here, and permanently invest it
in this particular industry. If it be for
eign capital, all the better: for, when SC
invested, it becomes fixed Virginia capital
and adds just SO much to the grand total o
Virginia wealth. Aside from the fact thai
it gives our people home market for thei
wool, it lifts just so much in weight o
taxation from our people as its own yalu
adds to the grand total of values in tn
State. That is, if the grand total wer
five hundred millions, the new tariff-create'
industry would pay the one-thousandtl
part Of all our entire taxes. In bringing
one thousand operatives here, it woul
add, moreover, one million dollars to tn
aggregate wealth of the State, estimatin
it by the labor-force she must employ t
fully develope her interests in this dlrec
ton. For there is no clearer proposition
in political economy than that which est
mates the value to the State of each able
bodied laborer at one thousand dollars
round working capital. This additions
labor-force is brought into the State, @
at least into Richmond, by this half mi
lion investment made here in consequence
of the tariff and if the investment is mad
remunerative by the protection extended
it becomes fixed and permanent capital.
Of these operatives, if males, one-ha
at least will have families, averaging froI
three to four persons beside themselye
This would add from fifteen hundred
two thousand additional population to til
city, all supported on the benefits accruin
from the tariff to the operatives, an
not alone to the manufacturer. III
addition of three thousand to our popul'
ton would create demand for from thre
to five hundred more dwelling houses
the city, which must be erected, addin
full another half-million in value to tn
taxable property Of Richmond. To cree
these dwelling-houses large force {
brick-layers, carpenters and joners mus
be employed, who, in their turn, give en-
ployment to other trades and occupations
and bring with them still another accessio
of wealth to the general prosperity. An
so the beneficial results flow out, quicker
ing one branch of industry after anothe
until the effect of the particular industr
named is felt through the entire city, if NJ
to the remotest corner of the State. III
is the practical operation or the tarllt
seen aud felt in every manufacturing con
munity, or in every community where Il
thrift and enterprise Of the people a
effectively called forth into manufacture
by the encouragement which the tar
gives.
OF the actual benefits conferred by Il
protective duty, then, the manafactur
gets but moiety. His profits, howeV
large they may be, will fall far below IL
annrennIe nrntits Of the nnerntipes. Il