The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-07-23

be avoided.
COMMERCIAL vAssALAGB..
The policy Of certain States and geo
graphical Subdivisions Of the United
States is often times a curious commentary
upon political sanity and economy. The
utter indifference, or the lack Of energy, as
to the mode and manner Of reducing the
prime cost and, selling price Of articles Of
necessity to the laboring and agricultural
classes, is one OF the strangest features in
the battle for financial and commercial
prosperity. The most common rules of
loss and gain seem to be totally ignored
and men, who are quick in the solution Of
mercantile problems, pay no attention to the
great losses which are incident to the
present rule of shipping goods to ports,
and then re-shipping to distant points,
where the consumers make their purchases.
Il is this Indifference on the part of the
South and West winch has done so much
to build the Northern and Eastern cities.
The commercial men of the latter sections,
fully alive TO the vast Importance of the
direct importation of goods into their en-
trepots, have long since put into active ope-
ration the means for enriching their cities
and towns, and at the same time laying the
rest of the country under tribute to them,
thus actually and literally forcing the citi-
zens Of the South and West to gather up
the money for, and pouring it into, their
laps What has been the result Of this
Commercial vassalage" upon the sections
The Northern and Eastern cities and towns
have grown very rich. The number
less ships which have for so many
years whitened the seas with their.
sails have made port in the North, where
their cargoes have been discharged and
the ships refreighted for foreign ports. Not
only have those cities been vastly benefited
the local profits Of loading and unloading
have been very great. Actingas the money
brokers and factors for the mercantile inter
ests Of the whole Union, their power has
been felt and population has flowed in upon
them enhancing the value Of their real
estate, adding to their capital aud iRfn-
encc, and thus preparing the way and lay
ing the foundation for new enterprises.
The handling Of the goods has given en-
ployment to thousands Of people, thus
qulckening the pulsations Of trade which
sent ont waves Of prosperity over those
sections which have in their turn
made many naturally barren and waste
places .blosssm like gardens In the
meantime, the less shrewd and
obseryant sections have toiled hard to make
he earth yield them bread and the means
for procuring the necessaIies of life. Vast
crops Of cotton, grain, meat, forage, etc.,
have been produced aud sold North and
East, the gold for which has been sufficient
to almost pave the streams and harbors Of
the more favored sections. But while they
grew rich, the less observing patrons Of the
country scarcely retained the advantages
which soiland climate conferred upon them.
n q struggle for wealth and power under
such state Of affairs, the results could be
easily calculated, end are entirely in accord
anco with the history Of theeorld and com
mon sense.
Now the question IS being discussed
whether ornot such condition in CONNER
cial transactions shall continue 70 exist
The results are in the hands of the pedpl,
~ che confh and West