72 THE CALIFORNIA 



benefit the nation which does not benefit individuals ? 

 The great reason why it is thought it cannot be profitably 

 produced in this country is the fact that labor is here so 

 much higher than in any silk-growing country in the 

 world. How can we produce it as cheap as we can buy 

 it, when the labor necessary to produce it costs three or 

 four times as much as the labor in the silk-growing 

 countries ? 



There is much plausibility in these objections, I will 

 acknowledge, and there was a time when it perplexed 

 me greatly. There are facts, however, on this subject 

 which seem to me triumphantly to meet all objec- 

 tions to this business drawn from the comparative prices 

 of labor ; and I love to deal in facts. 



Is it not a fact that manufactured cotton goods are 

 furnished cheaper and better by England than any other 

 part of Europe ? Are not the manufactured silks of 

 England furnished as good and as cheap, if not cheaper 

 and better, than the silks of other countries where labor 

 is much lower ? 



I might instance the production of our finest; linens ; 

 they are furnished cheaper and better by Holland and 

 Belgium than by any other powers where labor is 

 cheaper. France can and actually does furnish fine 

 woolens cheaper and better than they can be furnished 

 by Spain, although the price of labor is much in the 

 favor of Spain. 



One great reason why the price of labor is neutralized, 

 so to speak, is a fact which the history of the world will 

 prove : that a decided superiority and skill is usually 



