Page:Life of Henry Clay (Schurz; v. 1).djvu/66

54 result. But if we limit our efforts by our own wants, the evils apprehended would be found to be chimerical.” He had no doubt “that the domestic manufactories of the United States, fostered by government, and aided by household exertions, were fully competent to supply us with at least every necessary article of clothing.” He was, therefore, “in favor of encouraging them, not to the extent to which they are carried in Europe, but to such an extent as will redeem us entirely from all dependence on foreign countries.” And, aside from clothing, he did not forget to mention that “our maritime operations ought not to depend upon the casualties of foreign supply;” that “with very little encouragement from government he believed we should not want a pound of Russia hemp;” that “the increase of the article in Kentucky had been rapidly great,” there having been but two rope manufactories in Kentucky ten years ago, and there being about twenty now, and about ten or fifteen of cotton-bagging.

Thus what he had in view at that time was not the building up of large industries by a protective system, but just a little manufacturing to run along with agriculture, enough to keep the people in clothes and the navy well supplied with hemp, and so to relieve the country of its dependence on foreign countries in case of war. For this home industry he wanted encouragement. What kind of encouragement? In his speech he briefly referred to two means of encouraging manufac-