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Editorial
October 10, 1846
The Caledonian
Saint Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont
What is this article about?
The editorial satirically criticizes 'Locofoco Democracy' for advocating increased foreign imports under the 1846 tariff, preferring European goods over American-made products, undermining domestic labor and industry.
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Locofoco Democracy.
There is much pith and point in the following from the New York Express:
"Locofoco Democracy" is a droll thing, and has the drollest way of showing itself often. If anything could be supposed to be 'democratic,' one would think it would be, doing our work at home, instead of having it done abroad,—consuming American made, instead of foreign made products,—patronizing our own labor and laborers, instead of foreign labor and laborers. But this is not 'democratic' at all. 'Locofoco Democracy' teaches a large increase of foreign importations to the amount of about $140,000,000, which we are to buy and to pay for in Europe, in order to raise, upon such an enormous amount of importations, some $26,000,000 which Mr Walker the great Mississippi financier, tells us is sure to come from the tariff of 1846.
'Locofoco Democracy' is, indeed, funny, very funny. It is 'Democratic' to be buying, our iron, anchors, anvils, wire, chains, cables, &c., &c, in Europe, but not 'democratic' at all, to be buying them from Pennsylvania. It is 'democratic' to have our shoemakers on the Boulevards of Paris—not in Lynn, or Haverhill, Mass.: our silks from Lyons, not from home; our linens from Ireland, not from Kentucky or Ohio, or from any other States where flax might just as well be raised, and the linens just as well woven—our carpets from Axminster, or Kidderminster, not from Connecticut or New York, our goods from foreigners instead of Americans, our everything, in short, from our own workshops, made by our own hands.
And 'Locofoco democracy' is not only droll and very funny, but capricious; and volatile, and unconstitutional, also, like most coquettes of her sex. She assails the dandy and the belle for being dressed in foreign fabrics and foreign silks,—when she will not encourage, or allow them to be made at home. There is no reason why our silks, and our velvet, and our brocades, &c., should always be imported, why our wives and children should always be rigged out in foreign wrought habiliments,—but 'Locofoco democracy' intends it so, and to keep it so if possible.
There is much pith and point in the following from the New York Express:
"Locofoco Democracy" is a droll thing, and has the drollest way of showing itself often. If anything could be supposed to be 'democratic,' one would think it would be, doing our work at home, instead of having it done abroad,—consuming American made, instead of foreign made products,—patronizing our own labor and laborers, instead of foreign labor and laborers. But this is not 'democratic' at all. 'Locofoco Democracy' teaches a large increase of foreign importations to the amount of about $140,000,000, which we are to buy and to pay for in Europe, in order to raise, upon such an enormous amount of importations, some $26,000,000 which Mr Walker the great Mississippi financier, tells us is sure to come from the tariff of 1846.
'Locofoco Democracy' is, indeed, funny, very funny. It is 'Democratic' to be buying, our iron, anchors, anvils, wire, chains, cables, &c., &c, in Europe, but not 'democratic' at all, to be buying them from Pennsylvania. It is 'democratic' to have our shoemakers on the Boulevards of Paris—not in Lynn, or Haverhill, Mass.: our silks from Lyons, not from home; our linens from Ireland, not from Kentucky or Ohio, or from any other States where flax might just as well be raised, and the linens just as well woven—our carpets from Axminster, or Kidderminster, not from Connecticut or New York, our goods from foreigners instead of Americans, our everything, in short, from our own workshops, made by our own hands.
And 'Locofoco democracy' is not only droll and very funny, but capricious; and volatile, and unconstitutional, also, like most coquettes of her sex. She assails the dandy and the belle for being dressed in foreign fabrics and foreign silks,—when she will not encourage, or allow them to be made at home. There is no reason why our silks, and our velvet, and our brocades, &c., should always be imported, why our wives and children should always be rigged out in foreign wrought habiliments,—but 'Locofoco democracy' intends it so, and to keep it so if possible.
What sub-type of article is it?
Economic Policy
Trade Or Commerce
Partisan Politics
What keywords are associated?
Locofoco Democracy
Foreign Imports
Tariff 1846
American Labor
Domestic Production
Protectionism
What entities or persons were involved?
Locofoco Democracy
New York Express
Mr. Walker
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Criticism Of Locofoco Democracy's Promotion Of Foreign Imports Over Domestic Production
Stance / Tone
Satirical Mockery
Key Figures
Locofoco Democracy
New York Express
Mr. Walker
Key Arguments
Locofoco Democracy Promotes Foreign Importations Of $140,000,000 To Raise $26,000,000 From The Tariff Of 1846
It Is Not Democratic To Buy Iron, Anchors, Anvils, Wire, Chains, Cables From Europe Instead Of Pennsylvania
Democratic To Have Shoemakers In Paris Rather Than Lynn Or Haverhill, Mass.
Silks From Lyons Instead Of Home, Linens From Ireland Instead Of Kentucky Or Ohio
Carpets From Axminster Or Kidderminster Instead Of Connecticut Or New York
Assails Dandies And Belles For Foreign Fabrics While Not Encouraging Domestic Production
Intends To Keep Silks, Velvet, Brocades Imported For Wives And Children