The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-04
COLUMBIA, July 2, 1872.


communication OF tho writer, published
in your journal some few weeks past, the
editor of the Union to-day has delivered
himself of u studied and carefully pre-
pared la Sumner article on "The Cash
Famine" now prevalent in our midst,
but, like all the great illusions from the
pen of the famous Sumner, when picked
to pieces there is but little left. Like
the fable of the mountain in labor with
the mouse, very small thing is brought
forth.
Fortunately or unfortunately, We are
not oil of one mind in our opinions as
to the conditions of prosperity" as ex-
pounded by the editor of the Union; and
after careful reflection (?) cannot agree
with him as to the propriety of keeping
our money at home lying idle. My
friend certainly does not comprehend
what money is, and whateare its uses,
or else he would not labor so hard to in
culcate the doctrine of ''keep your money
at home" He fails to perceive the diff
ference between the nimble six pence
and the slow shilling. To be informed,
he should step into one of his neighbor's
stores, and ask which of the two at the
end of the year brings in the largest
profit. Evidently the parable of the
rich man and his servants must be TO-
reign to his mind, or else he would re-
member the rebuke administered to the
one who went and buried his money in
the earth, or, in more elegant and mo-
dern language, kept his ''money at
home"
I thank him for the notice that my
view of "the conditions of prosperity"
''is the best and most honest exposition
of the free trade doctrine in the fewest
words" he has ever seen. It shows on
the part Of the editor of the Union
profound research into the laws of free
trade-a doctrine which I have ever
looked upon as being just as good for a
Republican as for Democrat, and
which, ut this present moment, is setting
half the Republicans of the great pro-
tection States almost crazy.
Unfortunately, my friend is too much
OF protectionist. He is too fond of
having things all his own way, and looks
upon his own rights rs dominant to
those OF others. In fact, he believes in
his 'home" theory of "get all you can,
and keep what you have" By that
means he supposes q man can get happy
and rich-"which is the chief end OF
man." (?) Iregret to see that he cannot
comprehend the meaning of the word
"depletiDg." He must refer to "Web-
ster," and the next time not labor SO
hard to put meaning on the word ''de-
pleted."
For the history of the accumulation of
England's wealth, he must search little
further. England's wealth dates from a
day long before the theory of protection
was known, or before the keep-your-
money-at-home doctrine was uttered.
England did try protection, but Eng
lands great statesman. Sir Robert Peel,
saw the folly Of it and it was soon aban-
doned; and to-day she is the greatest
free ira nr in the world. We are trying
protect now, and the beauties of such
syste'- are apparent on all sides. Our
comme: :, is gone; thanks to protection.
Our food is dear; thanks to protection.
Our clothing is dear; thanks to protec.
ton. Our agricultural implements are
dear; thanks to protection. Our wages
are high; ~ thanks to protection. And
us final offering to the good protection,
we thank him that our flag, which was
oASo thC PAlOc VI Iuo OC63u, ub9 QlSQD-
peared and hid itself away among the
lakes and rivers of our country, where
no foreign flag dare modest it; and where
it will remain until we adopt free trade
notions, which will enable us to replace
the magnificent packet ships which we
have sold to foreign nations, and which
protection compelled us to do in order to
keep our money at home," under the
fear that with 80 many ships ut our COM
mand we would send all our money away
from home
Has the editor OF the Union ever
solved the problem (not in Euclid) how
to get money before he can get to keep
it at home? Let him ask New England
(her protection ideas are Of but late prac-
tice) and the "tight little ilse" across the
sea. They will tell him to first start in
on commerce, and after he has secured
all the money he wants. to go into manu-.
featuring interests and raise the cry of
'protection for home productions.
Never mind whether he is possessed OF
skill or not. He may secure "pile,"
but in the end it will not buy 80 much as
he at first calculated it wonld do, and he
will sigh for the day when, like the Chi
naman, the only use for his ''little pile"
will be to purchase for him days ra-