The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-19

The extent and growth Of cotton manu-
featuring in the South, and the complaint,
by Eastern manufacturers, Of unfair rail-
road discrimination, leads the Chicago
Tribune TO remark that the East needs pro-
lection against the South.
The development Of manufacturing in.
dustries in the South is one Of the most
encouraging signs Of the times, and every
true American rejoices in it A great sec
tion Of great country, rich in natural re-
20 lrces, is beingrecla from purely
agricultural state; manufactures are being
planted, and planted they grow, increasing
in number and extent, improving in the
variety and style Of their products
Iu the tillipg Of the soil also
q better day is dawning. The South
is learning that varied agriculture is the
farmers only safe reliance, that the same
crop yeafafter year, with nothing to vary
the monotony in any year, is Of uncertain
profit, and so the South is doing more in
breadstuiEs and provisions, less proper
tionately in cotton. These new agricultural
conditions are helpful to the developing
manufactures, and these in turn justify the
better style Of farming. Wereyer manu-
featuring or mining settlement springs up,
or manufactures take root in an old settle
men, the farmer finds home narke'. The
beneucent result ia seen in the growing
number and prosperity OF the tillers OF
small farms.
This is what is going on the South, and
surely there are few who would arrest a
progress which must be Of great benefit to
the whole country. 1t may be, as the
Tribune says and has been pointed out
b iore, that the coarse cotton fabrics OF the
South are annoying New England manu-
iacsuIcrs. This inevitable result was FORE
seen and discounted by those New Eng
land manufacturers who sent part OF their
capital South and are now employing 1t
there to profit. 1t will be long time be-
fore the South rivals New England
in fine goods, but when that
time comes, il ever, there will be no pro
faction for New England, as now there is
and can be none in the matter Of coarse
fabrics. And 80 with respect to iron. II
Tennessee or Alabama or Virginia or West
Virginia eau produce iron cheaper, quality
for quality, than Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Illinois, there can be no protection against
this home rivalry for the States Of higher
priced production. And if Alabama can
take the lead Of all the others must submit.
Protectionists ask protection against for
eign labor and foreign capital, not against
home labor and home capital. They make
their discrimination against what is for
eign, not against that which Is American.
II the business be kept at home, protec-
tionists are willing that the people OF the
whole country shall contend for It. Pro.
lection draws no stat: lines; It's limits and
its aims are national.
Ifthere is TO be a readjustment Of indus.
trial conditions It will be SO gradual that
Investment and general business will not
be rudely shocked; and where one indus
try moves away to seek more favorable
opportunity, IT is the history Of the country
that some other employment generally
comes to take its place. This is likely to
be true SO long as the industry is. kept in
the country. 1t would not be true il the
cotton manufacturing Of New England and
the iron manufacturing of Pennsylvania
were moved across the Atlantic, as under
policy OF free trade they would be.