, 1876-02-19

not tho Cnrlists.
COTTON MANUFACTURES.
In 1860, under tho low, "frce-trat1o " tnriff
Of 1857, for which many Of tho 1Vhfgs voted,
tho cotton manufacturers OF tho United
States, in addition to supplying the home
market and driving out pretty mich all
European cotton goods, exported to foreign
markets OF those goods to the va1uo Of $10,-
934,7o7. In 1861, protective tariff was
passed, and 1t has several times since boon
made more protective" Tho result OF tie
protection liz, TINT in 1876 wo imported
near1y so,ooo,ooo yards Of foreign cotton
cloths and only exported $4,000. 900 yards
(chiefy to Canada, worth S4,071, ,785. Titus
tho imports Of cotton goods under high tariff
hnyo immensely Increased, and OUR exports Of
such goods have dwindled down to onc-third
OF whnt they were in 1860. Tho Chicago
journal 6quir,ns under tho effect Of those
facts, and tries to break their forco by nrgu-
ing that NO produced moro cotton goods in
1870 thau in 1860, aud cites these figures in
proof it.
Years. Hands. Wages. Products.
11sssS......1saY7ss ~ sp'olos 1sss's;. 81 Il
The number Of handa employed in 1870
was TOT per cont greater than in 1860, but
tho population Of the country had increased
&c per cent during tho SANG period. Tho
wages paid In 1860 is computed in gold, bnt
TINT in 1870 in groenbacks, the ayerngo value
of which that year WAS only 81 cents. De-
duct this 10 per cont discount OIL tho wagos
paid, and from tho currency vnluo Of tho
goods produced, and thoro only romaina m
increase Of 10 to 10 per cent over that Of
1860, notwithstanding the immense protec-
tion afforded by the high tariff which ragcd
between 1861 md 1870. Now, the cousstmp-
tion Of cotton goods botweon those dates
must hayo increased ut least 40 per cent,
md this accounts for tho increased inl-
portation Of foreign cotton fabrics, show
ing that tho high thrift, instead Of help
ing our factories, had crippled them.
Under tho low tariff which prevailed be-
tween 1860 and 1860 tho production Of cotton
goods, it will bo noticed by the Journals fig
urcs, almost doubled, advancing from sixty
five millions to ono hundred and fifteen mill
ions, 1n1sC0 we had alargo market for cotton
goods in China, but that has been lost
through tho operation Of tho high tariff. The
journal, in trying to account for this DAM
aging fact, gives this funny but most absurd
ruason therefor:
THE TRIBUNE further complains TINT NO havs been
driven out Of the Chinese market. Why did It not give
tho foaaon thorefor7 Wlcu Chaplain NEWMAN was
mixing bis famous inspection Of Cons,Iates, ho found
that the English cotton merchants selling English
cosons In China Oh whtrh they lad pasted American
trademarks.
II our manufacturers wore Offering their
goods in tho Chinese markots at 1owor prices
than tho British cottons, tho trick Of the
British merchants described by tho Rev.
NEWMAN would not Aayo avaiod them par
ticle. Thoro are no keenor traders in tho
world than the "Co1ostiale" They want the
best goods at tho ohoapost prices; they profor
American costons, but thoy want them cheap.
Let our manufacturers offer to them cotton
goods cheaper than tho British cottons, M
they used to do in 1860, and tho "trado-
mark" trick will be instantly dotoctcd by tho
| Chinese buyers, aud will fail to sell them a
single bolt Of goods The trouble is not in
forging our trade-marks, but in the i1earnesa
OF the goods, mado 70 by the handicapping
of our industries by excessive thrift ta1ation,
which wickolness is called protection" !" but
It is tho kind Of protection which tho wolf
gives to tho sheep. It haa fllod this country
with idle md destitute workmon, and ron.
dcred stagnant NIL branches Of manufacturing
industry.