Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-21

even 10 those nations whose governments tol.
crate and encourage free exchange to mo.
nopolize and control the markets Of the
nation. For instance, SPECTATORS purchase
all the grain and -four they can lay their
hands on, and If the present demand is
greater than the remaining supply, prices at
once rise, and the monopoly realizes much
greater profit. Aud this profit must come
out Of consumers, aud the oppression somc-
times becomes intOlerabe. Such speculation
is now going on iu New York, which will
work mach mischief. II, however, these
spectators have so far misjudgSd in regard
to the state Of the market, as to hold their
commodities until the stringency is relieved
BY new supply, they may suffer heavy
loss instead of realizing large gain. Such
u punishment, if it could always follow ex-
tortion, would soon teach its victims that
"honesty is the best policy" MonOpolists
are usually careful however, to hold their
prices within the reach of the mass of con.
sumers, and to sell before the fall Of prices.
And still their price is considerably above
what ii would be under the law of free ex.
change.
The second kind Of monopoly is govern
ment tariff which is designed to protect do
nestle dealers from a loss by foreign compe-
IL =.
products to keep up their prices, and it has
all the effect Of privileged monopoly upon
the mass of the people.
Such tariff sometimes operates to create
home competition, and thus tho prices are
reduced to an equitable standard. This
home competition has the same effect as
far as it goes, as free foreign trade.
And if the only question to be answered
is, whether home monopoly shall be en-.
riched at the expense OF the people, can the
patriotic statesman be long in deciding
against national tariff Free trade, cou.
sidered by itself, must prove great blessing
to the labOriug classes, and afford the best
means of protection against oppression and
extortion.
Political economy may recognize the de-
sirableness and even the necessity of na-
tioual tariff under some circumstances, and
after all free exchange is the law, and
should not any such form Of monopoly be
the exception? So we judge.
Remove all restraint from productive
industry, aud open wide the door of trade,
and each commodity will fnd market &C.
cordiDg to its real value, and enterprise
and prosperity will everywhere prevail.
There is third kind of monopoly which
is very different in its character. 1t is
granting to authors and inventors the copy
right and patent right as compensation
for the thought, pains and expense involved
in the work or invention. This is a suit.
able reward for the learning and skill thus
employed fer the good of society. The
right stimulates thought and invention, and
still imposes no tax except in relation fer
services rendered.
This right is properly limited in this
country to certain number of years, and
when the time expires the book or invention
becomes public property. A copyright ex-
tends tweutY.eight years, aud may be re.
newed for fourteen years longer. A patent
right runs fourteen years, and may also, in
some cases, be extended by the commits
siouer of patents, or by an act of Congress.
Government has no right to create or toll
crate monopoies, to interfere with the free
exchange of service, but it has an undoubted
right to protect the people from all kinds Of
injurious traffic.
Exchange Of services or commodities is
always encouraged on the principle tn at
the parties are mutually benefited. If,
therefore, either party offers . commodity
which not only has no intrinsic valae, but
will produce poverty, misery and death, it
is the duty of the government to prohibit
its sale and to impose such penalties as will
secure the enforcement Of the law. Such
an article is ardent spirits to be used as a
beverage 1t has no intrinsic value, as it
does not crafty aHy natural, wholesome de-
sire of mankind. 1t is rank poison. 1t
does not promote happiness, but misery. 1t
is not wealth, but poverty. And hence, the
traffic should be prohibited. The manuiae-
turer and veDder receives profit and yet
returns no equivalent, He is, therefore, a
thief and robber. His gain is the price of
tears, suffering and blood. He becomes &C.
cessory to crime of the darkest dye, and
hence, is a criminal before the law.
May such traffic be regulated by law
May government license men to deal out this
ruinOus poison, and thus Fill its poor houses
and prisons with vagabOnds and criminals 2
We answer, no For that creates the most
detestable and ruinOus monopoly. II any
man may be allowed to engage in this uu-
hallowed traffic let all have the same privi-
lege. But common reason, common sense
and political economy demand absolute pro-
hibition Of all such traffic.
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The Compartment Milk Pan.
| Ofthe LARGE number of mans which have