No. 149.] 297 



whatever kind, which is imported — for if an equal duty is 

 charged on all goods of the same general description, we may be 

 sure that the better qualities will be imported, since the price 

 will be determined only by the intrinsic excellence of the arti- 

 cle, the cost of production being then the only element to c-ause 

 a difference in price. 



To the American manufacturer, at the present time, the ques- 

 tion of protection is one of life or death. A few facts, hastily 

 gathered at the moment, and pertaining only to a very small sec- 

 tion of our country, will best illustrate my meaning. 



Within the past month, in a circle embracing a space of only 

 thirty miles around the city of Providence, 75 cotton mills, run- 

 ning more than 7,200 looms, and about 315,000 spindles, have 

 be^n closed. This list probably does not contain all that have 

 suspended operations in that vicinity during that time, although 

 it perhaps includes a few which closed rather earlier. The 

 largest establishment in America, employing about 800 opera- 

 tives, is among the number. Many of the mills which are still 

 in operation are running on short time, and many more will 

 close entirely as soon as their present stock is exhausted. Ot 

 the 40 woolen mills in Rhode Island, a few are already closed, 

 and the larger number are stopping a portion of their machine- 

 ry. Heffe is a sad picture of wasted capital and prostrate indus- 

 try ; but it is one which is to be observed in nearly all depart- 

 ments of operative labor in every portion of our land. 



The forge fires of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Mai-yland are 

 quenched. Thousands of laborers in those States are "eating 

 the bread of idleness," and where a few months since the clang 

 of industry resounded, silence and desolation brood. 



We ask for some legislative aid which may avert the threaten- 

 ing tide of ruin. A high tariff we neither ask or need. Thanks 

 to the superior wisdom of a former rac-e of law-givers, the paan- 

 ufacturers of America are placed beyond the necessity of pro- 

 hibitory, or of very restrictive measures. 



A tariff wliich, if it does not discriminate in favor of home in- 

 dustry, shall at least not discriminate against it, by placing a 



