The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-01-10
British wool trade, the great staple Of
the kingdom, was ruined.

British wool trade, the great staple of
the kingdom, was ruined.
A century later, however, the wool
trade and manufacture had revived un-
der the repeal OF these hindering laws;
and then law was passed declaring
that if British 'woolen goods were not
received on the Continent, then the mel
chaudise from those countries was pre-
hbited in England under penalty of seiz-
ure and forfeiture. This indiscreet In
reference once more worked out its in
evitable evil. 1t opened the markets Of
the Continent to their rivals, the Flem-
ings, and shut them upon themselves.
And this soon had to be repealed.
AS manufactures again began to re-
yive in wooden goods, the more ased de-
mand for labor enhanced the wages.
This caused discomfort among the land
owners. So, an act was passed prohib-
iting parents from binding sons to an
apprenticeship, except under burden
some conditions, This attempt to limit
the labor supply by legislation came
near running the woolen trade, and
would have wholly succeeded had not
the crown interfered and granted an ex-
emption In favor of the whole county OF
Norfolk, the center of that trade.
In an effort to benefit commerce by
preventing British merchants from sus-
tanning losses by bad debts, another
stupid law was passed providing that
no Englishman should "sell goods to
foreigners except for ready money, or
other goods delivered In hand on the in.
stant." OF course this was fatal to
trade by making credit unlawful; and in
six months the law had to be repealed
About the same time law was passed
prohibiting "foreign merchants from
selling goods in England to any other
foreigner" This necessarily prevented
the import of merchandise and bullion,
while it led away the treasure from the
country. And this folly, too, had to be
speedily repealed.
Under Henry VII fixed prices were
ordained for woolen goods. This natu
rally resulted in deterioration of the
goods, and so spoiled their trade. And
yet the Lawmakers plum d themselves
on this stroke of policy tor the benefit O
commerce.
In the reign of Edward vi an act was
/ nv yuhinh Toroono ,oro
hibited from making cloth unless the,
had served a seven years. apprentice
ship to the business. This law was re
pealed under Mary, but not until "i
had occasoned the decay Of the woolel
manufacture, and had ruined severa
towns"
In the reign OF James l, nineteenth
of the commerce OF England consisted
of wooden goods. But the cloth was ex
ported "raw," and was dyed and dresse,
in Flanders. Thinking that too muc
profit was made by the Flemings, th
expectation OF undressed cloth was fol-
hidden. This was met by the Dutc
prohibiting the importation of BIRTHS
dressed and colored cloth. The resul
was, the British export trade fell o
two-thirds, and the price of wool in Ems
land fell full eighty per cent.
This result shocked the British peopl
from their idea of regulating commerc
by legislation, so that they called for
parliamentary commission to eXamin
"whether a greater freedom of trad
} and an exemption from the restraint
exclusive companies, would not be benz
fetal"
This was the beginning of the moI
: liberal course towards commerce
British legislation. And from that dat
her commerce began to grow. Cotto
. ultimately assumed the place
wool, and British commerce a
; sumed the front rank
the trade of the world. But it was nj
until it was freed from the evils whiC
arise from legislative interference wit
, the natural course of commerce and il
! dustry of every class. The same tel
dency to excessive interference by legi
lation is manifest in this country. An
the sooner this procivity to continu
disturbance of commerc al business t
, legislation is restrained the better ft
commerce and the country. In this pa
ticular it may be accepted as an axio
= that. as to commerce, "that goVernmel
is the best which governs least"
THE NEAR SIGHTED.-Among the yer
large class OF those who are near sigh
= ed, the great majority will be found
the INNER and middle classes: and.