The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-09-14
FREE.TRADE.

Our scene opens in a comfortable old
fashioned log farmhouse. situated near the
banks of a stream that flows eastward from
the outlying broken ridges skirting the
Allegheny Mountains. 1t was in the veal
1949, memorable time in the annals Of
the long combat waged by home industry
against foreign foes and domestic traitors
Sitting bya table, in dimly-lighted apart
ment, was an elderly man, in an attitude
of deep detection, who, from time to time,
looked up to reply to y younger one. who
paced, with nervous steps, up and down
the room.
"I'll tell you, father, that regret moth
ing" said the young man; "the enter.
prise was good one, and we have done
our part to ensure its success. When we
began here, no one could have anticipated
the Government would retrace the promise
it had made to the iron workers, destroy
ing at a blow the protection which assured
us a living profit, and market for our
product. We have fought our fight and
are beaten, but not dishonored."
81 can't bear it, Dennis" said the father
Il can't, indeed, and how shall face to-
morrow! The executions will not be stay
eds there no hope of further time"
"None," said the son; the attorney
for the bank says he has instructions to
proceed without delay"
{" The bank will buy said the father,
eve will lose the wealth possessed before
discovered this cursed vein of ore, and the
years of faithful labor we have expended
in developing it, Ten years from now, or
twenty at farthest, the FORCES and furnace
will make some one rich; they will be an
immense estate"
"They will ruin some one, you mean,
father! In a country where the laws at
one time hold forth a promise of protec-
ton to industry, and at another deliberate.
ly subordinate it to foreign trade, where
once in ten years the ruin of manufacture
ers prostrates all other business, and pro-
duces a financial crisis, no great enterprises
can take permanent root or flourish. 1
prophesy that more than one fortune will
be lost in the big fossil voin before it makes
anybody rich"
81 would not mind !. for myself" said
the father, sit is your prospects l am
thinking of. What will you do?''
"I'n keep up a bold heart tomorrow to
encourage the poor devils, who, having
nothing but their labor, are the worst los
ers by our failure. I'll see the land knock
ed down to the money lenders, have the
last word with old Grimes, the free trade
blacksmith, and then go to New York to
begin the world anew. I've lost my for
tune trying to make iron; perhaps can
make fortune by trading in it. I'll try
it, anyhow
"And Ethel?" said the father.
Leaning over him, a slender girl. whose
light approach had been unheard, laid her
hand upon his shoulder, and said:
"Ethel will remain with her guardian
till Dennis makes his fortune, if he will
have it So
A charming morning followed the scene
we have just described. The sun and air
made mellow haze, which softened the
outlines of the far-off ridges. Clustered
about the furnace which no longer sent
forth busy smoke from its tall stack, was
a group of men and women, the occupants
of a row of houses that stood near the
stream, with small gardens around them.
There were also a number of farmers from
the country round about, the lawyer who
had the executions in charge, and depu-
ty sheriff, whose business it was to make
the sale.
To these came the proprietors, father
and son, whose appearance excited move
ment of respectful sympathy, soon give
way to smiles under the cheerful greeting
of the younger Mr.. o. Neill, who we'll sus-
tanned his promiss to bear himself braveiy.
Mounting upon bench in the open air,
the sheriff proceeded to read over the long
description of properties, and then offered
them one by one for sale. AS the senior
proprietor had anticipated, the bank was
the sole bidder, and Vulcan furnace and
FORCES passed into its possession at sum
hardly 1.-THE of their cost.
Glad to be rid of a painful duty, the
sheriff, after few parting words with the
entered his carriage with the
lawyer, and they were soon out of sight.
Great changes can never at once be re-
allied. A tragedy more fateful in its con-
sequences to many in that little group,
than those which move to tears OH the
mimic stage, had been enacted, yet all had
passed SO swiftly that its purport had not
been understood. The most palpable con-
sequence seemed to be, that the O'Neills
had been stripped of lands and home, and
was as poor as the poorest men in the
group around them, and sympathy with
their misfortunes was so general that for
moment no word was spoken. Dennis
were the fist to break silence.
well, old enemy" said he, clapping
upon the back man past middle age,
whose leathern apron and moke-stained
visage proclaimed his trade, "your pro-
phecy has come true, and you're likely to
get cheap iron without the aid of Vulcan
furnace and FORCES. What do you think of
George NJ. Dallas and the tariff of 1886
now?''
"The same as ever, Dennis; free-trade
is right, and if the country wont buy Vul-
con iron at price that will pay for making
it, it isbecause there is a cheaper article
in the market. Why should be taxed to
sustain your business, I'd like to know
A tariff on iron is tax ON iron, and the
men that buy iron pay it."
"Well, WE'LL" said Dennis, "I am 60
ing away to-day, and I'd like to agree with
you. am sure you're disinterested, for
the policy you advocate will ruin you. 1t
is true that you buy iron, but you sell it
too, and when lose my market, you lose
yours. The fires are out in that stack,
and few of US will see them lighted again"
What" cried the attentive listeners
"wont the bank start the furnace again?"
"No, the bank will not start it. The