SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 67 



What, then, I ask again, shall meet the balance 

 against us? Shall we turn to our rice and tobacco 

 fields ? These, indeed, form a respectable item in our 

 annual exports, but they are utterly inadequate to ac- 

 complish the result desired ; and neither can be materi- 

 ally increased to advantage. Where, then, shall we seek 

 for relief? Is it answered, diminish our imports ? True ; 

 but where shall we begin ? What do we import now to 

 any considerable extent that is not absolutely necessary 

 to the real or imaginary wants of a great and rapidly 

 growing nation ? Will a prosperous people, with unlim- 

 ited resources, submit to real or imaginary privations 

 because we read to them homilies on political economy ? 

 Is it not morally certain, that as our nation increases our 

 consumption must also increase, and our importations in 

 a corresponding degree ? The only hope of a diminution 

 of imports, is home production. We must produce, for 

 home consumption, some important article, and in this 

 way lessen importations, or we must produce something 

 largely for export that will balance our account current 

 with other nations. Once more, I ask, where shall we 

 turn for relief? What shall we produce? Plainly, 

 whatever it is, it ought to be something which we largely 

 consume, which will 'command a high and certain market 

 abroad, and which our country can produce. And what 

 article, I ask, is this ? You anticipate my answer. I 

 fearlessly affirm, in my deliberate judgment, the produc- 

 tion of silk alone will meet the exigency of the case. 

 Silk must become a great national staple in America, 

 if we would secure and perpetuate individual and n.a- 



