Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-07-20
PROTECTION.

Scarcely less important than the cur
revision of the tariff laws otthe country,
which have tor years filled the pockets OF
eastern manufacturers at the expense OF
western consumer We say scarcely less
important, while fully approaching the
terribly depressing influence OF the CON-
traction policy. for even though money
should be made plentiful over the entire
country, would not the draining process
of the protective tariff again, in a few
years. enrich the east at the expense OF
the west2 The plea upon which protec-
ton was founded was that it WAS nee
essary to nurse our infant manufactures
until they should be able to stand
alone; and that American worklngmen
should not be forced to- labor ut Euro
pean rates ofwages. As pronfth Amerl-
can operatives are not the ones. who reap
the reward, if any proof Is needed, we
find American iron and steel seeking
foreign markets, and being sold COM
petition with the world; and American
cotton goods, upon which there is a duty
OF from five to seven and a halt cents
per square yard are now competing with
English goods IN the very home of
their manufacture, as is attested i'll the
following extract from Mr., Jennings last
London letter TO the New York
World: Il have so often called your
attention to the growing Importance of
American trade with England that l
am halt afraid of touching the subject
again but | cannot refrain from mention
ing that a large wholesale firm in Man
chester has devoted a large part of its
premises to a new Kind Of business
the sale of American cotton goods. 1t
would not be half Sc surprising to see
a store opened for the sale Of American
Goals in Newcastle. This is indeed car
ryIng the war into the heart of Africa.
What must be the sensations of old
fashioned Manchester men whenthey see
the notice issued by Messrs. Ellet Glover
4 Co, of IL George street, to the effect
that they have made arrangements with
MesSrs. Garner Il Co, of New York. to
supply calicoeS tor home or export trade?
iou may depend upon it that this sort
OF thing will begin to scare even the po-
litlcal economists by and by. They
have hitherto disposed Of the whole ques-
ton with 3 wave of the hand. How
could American manufacturers ever
compete with La~ncashire? 1t was i'm
possible. But the philosophers are not
quite so%contident about it now. They can
not avoid seeing the Wamsutta or Ions
dale goods in pretty nearly every dry
goods store in London, Liverpool and
other large towns. At first it was said,
they are being sold alta loss That was
two Years agO, and since then the sale
has steadily increased and the demand IS
growing At 4 rate which surprises me,
although, as your columns 4 testify. |
have long foreseen what is coming on.
Our manufacturers nave been asleep
yours have been wide awake. The
quantity OF English goods has been de-
preciating and that of America as con-
stantly improving. Strikes in Lancashire
have inflicted heavy losses on operatives
and employers, and interrupted the
course OF trade. All these circumstan-
ces have helped to bring about the inev-
liable result-the decay OF Lancashire .
Beyond a doubt, this must have a very
great influence on the future of the
United States. The cotton industry
there Is not going to become in one day
what we have seen it in Lancashire.
But it is a growing industry; the goods
are becoming popular in every market;
the prices at which they can be pro-
duced are reniunerative. There is at
least q lair promise in .all this. While
our political economists are PROV
ing that there is nothing to fear,
from America, the imports from there
increase every day, and include : i sorts
oi u.eEEhiiilaoie COMMUNITIES ocSHlc
cotton. NO American calico is sold in
England they say. But the ware
house at - George street. Manchester,
tells a different tale" Is It not about
time when such a state 81 facts exists
a. ia here presented for the m%anutactu-
res OF New England to stand. alone, as
the agriculture of the west has had to
do since the foundation of the govern
ment.