The New York herald., 1874-08-31

mttees; but, as the commission would be selected
U6 ua me 10 Single purpose OF preparing ,arim ~
ent sections oil the country than committee IL
would have more time Tor the preparation OF q
bill tnan committee, and II composed, as IL ought
to be. OF able and upright men-not partisans, nor
the representatives OF particular interests-l be-
could be carried through both houses without
change. II cannot be denied, apprehend, that
S pS tine 'a present taria eotn the revenues and
Is In regard TO some articles prohibitory |;
that 1t increases the cost OF many things. without
yielding revenue enough therefrom 10 cover the
expense OF collection, thereby pro1ting nome
manufacturers to the amount OF that Increased
cost, without Denettlng the government; that
by its heavy duties upon some kinds OF raw ma.
terias, IL has rendered Improbable and gradually
destroyed Industries that before the war were
prosperous ana profitable, and, finally, that 1t Is
difficult OF interpre tatlon and on some points in
consistent, thus opening the door TO- II not lnVt-
portunty for oppressive and dishonest. practices
to the 0ffcers OF the customs.
not, there y no question that the present tarlr
should be subjected to thorough revision, and
believe this VIII only be done In the manner in
which 1t ought 70 be done--through the agency OF
commission. The policy OF protection should, IN
my Judgment be abandoned because 1t iavors by
direct legislation particular interests; because it
induces the manufacturer to rely upon the gov.
ernment IN contest with foreign competitors
instead OF cultlvating Skill, economy and spirit
OF SelI-rellance, which are so important for
success in all branches OF business; because, as
we cannot sell literally unless we buy literally, it
ana other products, and consequently, lessons
the price OF rhem because 1t Is inconsistent with
Necessary Obstacles In the wav Of The dreest ST. ex
change OF products between nations should be re-
moved and finally, because It's end, II not ts aim,
Is to enrich the lew at the expense OF the many.
In It's essential character protective tariff Is bar
barlsm. such tariff may be defended for time.
ike an 1rredeemable currency, on the ground OF
necessity but not as q
PERMANENT NATIONAL POLICY.
am not prepared to say that there have not been
N "
projection was necessary, in order that induce
ments might be offered to capitalists to engage IN
but such periods have passed by. Our manufac-
turing interests, long fostered by government no
longer need protection against foreign capital and
skill. II they were not able in their infancy to
stand alone they are able now; but even this
they Will not be required to do, as they
VIII have the advantage over their foreign
rivals OF government duties for revenue and the
cost OF transportation afford. That this Will be
sufficient not only to enable them to continue
business II economically conducted, but to make
handsome profits, there can be little doubt. II
there be any kind OF manufacturing In the United
States tnat cannot live with such advantages as
a judiclous revenue tariff and the cost OF trans
pOrtati0n from distant countries give, 1t Is very
clear that 1t Is unified to the country or the
habits of the people. and that 1t ought not to be
encouraged. | nave so hgn an opinion OF the
faculty for invention and aptitude Ia the use OF
there Is no branch OF manufactures suited to the
country that has prospered under existing laws
which would not continue 70 prosper even under
q system OF absolutely free trade.
1t Is very certain tnat under wise tariff many
new Industries would come into existence and
others which have died out, or are languishing
under existing laws, would be restored to life and
quickened into prosperity. have time to mention
but one Instance Iron steam ships can even
now be built ABOUT as cneaply n the United States
as they can be in Europe. With reduction OF
construction they could be built cheaper that
the great shipyards tor building iron ships, not
only LOT the United States, but for other nations
would De found, at no distant day, on the Della
ware instead OF on the clyde
The great State or Pennsylvania, empire OF
ITSELF clings to protection, as II her prosperity
depended upon 1t; but she Will never know how
great her resources and power are, nor what her
people are capable OF accomplishing, until she
ceases to look to the government to protect her
interests ana learn to rely upon herself. There
is no more reason why she should ask the govern
foreign competitors than against the competition
or Missouri, Virginia and Tennessee.
AMERICAN LABOR MUST BE PROTECTED
against what Is called the 'pauper labor" OF
Europe is, ii may use the expression, "played
out.n Pauper labor III the factories and furnaces
OF Europe Is a myth. Skilled LABOR is in as great
demand, ana is as costly, estimating the difference
Atlantic as on this. Ii it were not so the differ
ence would be more then equallzed by our
the use Of It. We have in the United State the he
best cotton mills in the world, with all the capital
that Is needed to run them, and we are producing
better cotton than can be grown elsewhere. Is 1t
possible that the cotton spinners OF New England
need protection against the cotton spinners OF
We have iron literally cropping out of the earth
mountains OF 1t. In iact-Of the best quality, and
mediate neghborhOod In Great Britain iron is
only found hundreds, If not thousands, OF Ieet be-
low 10 v the surface, large portion OF which has
10 be transported at great expense to the coal dis
trcts to oe manufactured and at still greater ex-
pense, when MANUFACTURED. to the markets or the
United States. Do the iron makers of tennessee
Missouri and Pennsylvania need to be protected
against competition from England9
Coal-the producer OF the great motive power Of
WOrQ-cOQl which q in IN " Yha ttf,i
supply throughout this country, which is indis-
pensabe in manufacturing aud, in the older States,
coal be increased in price by tariff which pre-.
vents the Introduction OF 1t from the Dominion OF
Canada9
Is it right that every family in the United States
should pay an extra price lor the salt 1t IOr
the benefit OF the few who are manufacturing 1t,
and who can make 1t as cheapy as it can be made
in any other country These questions-and the
number can be largely increased-are not new. but
they lose none OF their interest because they have
time for the people to ponder them. No protec.
ton laws were ever so ably defended as
THE CORN LAWS OF ENGLAND.
NO interest ever seemed TO demand protection
more than the agricultural interests OF that coun-
and arguments Could prove anything. tnat Tree
trade In corn would be death. blow to the owners
Of landed property. What! abolish the sliding
scale OF import duties and open the English ports to
the cneap grain OF the Continent and of the United
Statess the very suggestion OF sucn proposition
as evidence that the world was moving in the
wrong direction, and that crack. Drained theorists
were aiming to control IL.
Now, what has oeen the effect OF the repeal OF
the English Corn lawsY Low prices 1or lands2
Neglect in their cutivatlons Prostration OF
agricultural interestss The reverse are the
facts. Land, instead OF declining, advanced
In value. The cultivation OF it was at once i'm
proved, and the interest which 1t was SAID was to
be Frustrated by Tree trade in Drcadstus speedily
became vastly more prosperous than ever. The
English land owner, who should now advocate the
re-enactment OF the Corn laws, would be consld
cred ft subject TO be handed over to the sur
geon to be operated upon for the 'slmples." The
VIII be true in regard to the protection laws
now In iorce in the United states. 1t WILL at no
distant day, be as difficult to find protectionst
In this country as II now Is to find land owner in
England VINO would acknowledge that he ever
favored the Corn laws.
The United States with their rich SOIL abound
ing and intelligent people. Will prosper,
no matter what laws may be upon their statute
books; but they will never make the ADVANCE
which they are capable OF making In wealth, In
morals and civilization until they have sound
currency, and more extended, because freer, trade
with foreign nations.
have the honor to be, gentlemen, your obedient
oar HIGH MfCI1TTDCH.