The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-06-12
English Opinion of American Manu-.
features.


The intelligent reports of ERglish
consuls in this country in regard to
the state of our trade and industries
are very instructive, and give great
interest to the "blue books" in which
they are published. AT the same
time, however, they are probably
more pleasant reading to our own
citizens than to our English cousins,
who do not like to he told that their
trade with this country is not only
falling off, but in such a way as to
make its future revival highly i'm
probable. Thus, Consul Fonblanoue,
at New Orleans, writes that he has
received a great many price lists and
catalogues relating to British hard
ware, machinery and cutlery, accom-
panied by requests to make their
contents known to dealers in his con-
sular district. 81 have done my
best in this respect" he says, "but
am afraid with little result. In the
lower forms of hardware the British
manufacturer cannot compete with
the native producer, bad as his goods
are, on account of the almest pro-
hibitory duty. In the higher forms,
such as cutlery, tools and instruments,
am afraid it must be admitted that
the ahhd labtr labtr, ger il ihaH htae hdflfS dafS RWis
moved, British goods of this class
would not find market. am told
by competent authority that the
finest class of cutlery, surgical and
dental instruments, is produced here
of a better quality and a lower price
than anywhere in Europe" This
will be surprising to the sheffield
grinders" but it has been known
long in Connecticut. and dealers in
and buyers of American goods un-
derstand it perfectly. 1t is the result
OF applied intelligence and invention
and the employment of machinery.
The English workman does not take
to new things. He works by hand and
makes no effort to get out Of old ruts.
The American manufactures, on the
contrary, as Mr.. Fonblanque truly
says, sis not afraid of producing
something that is new in shape, or
material or action. The phrase new
tangled is not used by his country
men as term of condemnation. On
the contrary, to be of new construc-
ti0n is a recommendation to them for
anything, from an egg-whip to a
steam engine, which may be offered
to them tor their choice. This being
so, they 90 net care to spend an extra
80 or 80 per cent. for durability or
fiuish. Things are made for them
good enough for the purpose in view,
and solid enough 70 last as long as
required" Here is the secret of our
industrial success in nutshell. 1t is
not that we sacrifice durability to
cheapness at all, but We find it better
to buy new and improved appliances
than to patch up and hold on to old
ones. The faculty of invention,
which our people possesses in such a
marked degree. is fostered and slim
ulated by the national recognition OF
the fact that novelty and improve
ment in all sorts of appliances is a
main factor in industrial economy.
But still, until our cOnsuls in foreign
countries al e dbSe to observe and re-
port as lntelligently as Mr.. Fonblan-
que does, we shall be inclined to
believe that the old British consular
system is better than ours, as, indeed,
their entire civil service is, and must
be so long as the present methods OF
appointment of office are maintained
in this country.