Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-29

date cause of its suspension, has not
yet been explained by the telegraph.
TEXTILE PRODUCT6-FREEDO
AND FREE TRADE.
EXPORTS. 1875. 1874.
WOoL...-........... 62754 a. 69
woOl.....::..........s II,oo9,7m s 8,s5o,s 500
I, AK ' ~ 70 Si2GSS
| LINEN gOOds-.....-.- l6,60z,Al Il ,il2,455
| If We place the cash value Of the
cotton exported in the last two years
in one sum, and divide IL by two, the
annual crop in round numbers, sent
abroad, is worth two hundred million
dollars. The figures are from the Bu-
reau Of Statistics in Washington, are
instructive in many ways, and withal
very suggestive. While exporting two
hundred million dollars worth Of cot
ton year, which requires a great deal
of blowing, planting, working the
crop, manipulating and other labor, In
volying more or less injury to the soil
from washing and teaching rains, we
imported within the last fiscal year
over eleven million dollars worth Of
wool, which can be produced
without any blowing, any wash
ing Of the soil or injury to
it whatever, but with a positive
benefit to the land for all tillage pur-
! poses, and to the nation as a whole.
Nor did we stop al the consumption of
Sll ,069,7 worth Of wool in 1875. We
imported nearly forty four million dol
lars worth Of wooden goods in addition
TO all this foreign wool. Surely, a
high protective tariff neither protects
the American manufacturer nor the
American wool grower. What then is
it good fOr?s Good to make the con-
sumers Of wooden fabrics made in the
United States pay from two to three
dollars extra into TIE pockets of home
manufacturers where one dollar is paid
into the Federal Treasury as an impost
duty on wooden goods. 1t Is this dis
honest trick that gives to a protective
tariff all its money value. To the ex-
tent it checks free trade, it secures the
home market TO monopol;sts, with an
advance in price.
By using the strong arm Of a parti. |
san and corrupt Congress, its favorites |
stop their wooden factories for months, |
reduce the wages os all laborers to |
their own terms and still hold their |
forty million subjects to tn. necessity |
Of buying their goods rather than
cheaper and better goods manufactured |
abroad, because the law encourages
them IN this iniquity. Yet this is called
a free country, where all citizens have
common and equal rights before the
laws Of the nation, Never was there a
greater falsehood uttered OF attempted
to be disseminated among a people who
had the benefits of spelling books and
newspapers. Civilization has 10 free
dom more valuable to the citizen than
free trade with all the world without
the let or hindrance of politicians,
manufacturers, or monopoly of any
kind. Robbing by the use and abuse
of law is one hundred times more harm
full to the public than all the illegal
robbing done In the United States. 1t
is IN the very nature Of things that
every wrong done by Legislative act
tends to the preparation Of still great
er wrongs in violation of law. All IN
justice violates a principle which rises
in stern rebuke and opposition. Re.
sistance and rebellion are nature IN
arms against misconduct. If bad men
enact badilaws, the latter react on all
the subjects Of such laws to produce
ten bad men where one existed before.
There is altogether too much legisla-
ton for the public good.
As quack doctors want every man,
woman and child to swallow and praise
their nostrums, so quack lawmakers
insist that the whole community shall
be bound with withes at the ankles, and
cords at the wrists, so as not
to run, nor walk, nor work,
with any freedom of motion in
violation Of their restricted, narrow
minded ideas. Forty million people are
tied firmly by law Of Congress, hand
and foot, to keep them from cutting
their own throats if the National Leg
islature allows them their natural lib.
erty. LUnatics require protection and
the care Of others; and what would be-
come Of all the helpless pets of Gov.
eminent, If the law gave them no ad-
vantage over other citizens? But pro-
lection to them means robbery of the
public. Without free trade IN labor and
all its propucts with foreign loborers,
there can be no free labor in the
United States. That .abor is lot free
which is denied the right to purchase a !
wooden coat or a linen shirt where 1t
can be had for the leastlabor. Any re-
striction compels idIeuess, lowers the
standard Of comfort, robs industry Of
its just employment and reward. The
best interests Of American labor de-
mand that we advance from cotton
culture and the Impeachment of
land to wool-growing and to the gen.
eral improvement Of the soil, rise from
a most injurious protective tariff to