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DOMESTICS.

WHILE, instead of building new mills, we can hardly keep our old ones running,—and the manufacturing business is constantly on the decline, it seems very desirable that we should have the benefit of what seems rightfully to belong to us-the domestic trade. In no other way, under the present policy of the National Government, can Boston keep up and maintain its present commercial importance. Everything tends to the great centre,-New York,-where a large part of our foreign commerce will of course be attracted, at the expense of the smaller cities. Boston has still many advantages, which, if rightly used, may keep it from falling back and becoming gradually merged in the great metropolis. We have a large amount of solid capital employed in foreign commerce, while we allow the benefit of it to accrue mainly to New York. A remission of the State tax on auctions, and a little public spirit, might perhaps bring to Boston, and keep here, a portion of the China trade, as well as the Calcutta trade, now almost entirely in our own hands.

Business of all kinds finds great benefit from concentration. New Bedford forms a striking example of this truth, where is to be found a larger average of wealth than exists in any other city in the world. A very few large commission houses control nearly all the cotton and woolen manufactories of New England. Is it not reasonable to suppose that not only Boston, but the domestic business itself, as in the case of the shoe business, would be greatly benefited by keeping it at home, where it naturally belongs, compelling customers to come here and buy the goods where they are made, rather than establishing agencies, and thus scattering the business through the southern cities?

A great market is always attractive, and stimulating to the production of whatever it may be that supports it. The centre of business, and the business itself, react upon each other. Customers coming to Boston to buy domestics will stay to buy other things, and so the city, constantly attracting more people, enlarges the market for domestic produce. Union is strength in business, as well as in politics and war. New England needs to husband all its strength, and to avail itself of all its advantages, in order to hold its own and keep from falling gradually into the

rear.

Our domestic trade, however, seems peculiarly to belong to Boston, and is, indeed, that on which our

prosperity mainly and almost wholly depends. Those engaged in the shoe and leather trade furnish a noble example of a wise and public spirited course in regard to their business, now grown to an enormous amount, and making Boston the largest market in the world for boots and shoes. Not only has Boston been benefited, but the business itself has been greatly increased by keeping it concentrated at one point, instead of scattering it through several cities.

Boston cannot rival New York as a great centre of foreign commerce, but it would seem as if it should be the centre of its own domestic trade. Trade, it is said, regulates itself by certain and invariable laws, which cannot be controlled; merchandise tends to the best and largest market, nor can the current be changed by any artificial arrangements. This is, in the main, true, but it is also true that exceptions exist to all general rules, and that something can be done towards changing and controlling even the currents of trade. When great capital and an extensive business are in the control of a very few men, they can, to a great extent, influence their location, and make a centre of their own, to which new currents will be constantly attracted. Naturally, the domestic business belongs to Boston, as much as the shoe business, and it would seem as if a little effort on the part of those most concerned, might, by keeping that business at

home, not only contribute to the growth of the city, but greatly to their own benefit and the advantage of their stockholders.

Of course I can have no wish to interfere with the business of individuals, or offer advice to a class of men so intelligent, and therefore so competent, to discover what is most for their interest. The domestic trade, however, is a matter of great public concern constituting the very life-blood of New England and of Boston. It is a matter, therefore, not only of private but of general interest, affecting directly or indirectly every man, woman and child in the community. It is of the greatest consequence to every one that our city should have all the benefit possible from a trade built upon the industry of New England, and flowing naturally to its capital. can possibly be kept at home, thus benefiting itself as well as others, no effort certainly should be spared to bring about such a result. How far such a result is practicable is of course best known to those engaged in the business, and intimately acquainted with its details.

If it

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