The daily union., 1846-10-23
THE FOREIGN MARKET FOR AMERICAN
PRODUCTS

Il r,,<r<r.,
ut will be seen by reference TO our commercial
| summary well 10 the telegraphic despatch
from Philadelphia, that the news by the Caledonia
has had most decided and favorable effect on the
market for breadstus not only in Baltimore, but In
Philadelphia and New York. The advance IN Hour
demanded by holders is equal TO about 70 cents per
barrel, whilst buyers seem unwilling 10 concede
more than so cents. Wheat has also made rapid
advance, and large sales have been effected at the
prices asked Corn is also held higher, but no sales
have been made, the advance cannot be sustained
unless there should be large orders from Europe to
| hll."--Battgsore Sum.
The protectionists in this country, who proclaim
that the 'home market" may be made adequate TO the
consumption of American produce, find themselves
confronted by one stubborn fact The prices Of our
agricultural sisples invariably regulated BY the de-
nasds Of the foreign market. Our twenty millions of
people do not, and cannot consume such propor-
tion Of our breadstuffs and other staples, to fix
the price Of the rest. On the other hand, an in
crease either great small in the demand for these
articles by the eminently larger population Of Eng
land and eastern Europe, at once produces a pro-
portionate augmentation in their price.
This fact is entirely conclusive, to the compar-
| atiye importance Of the home market and the for
egn market to the agricultural interests OF this
try at the present time The protectionists feel
this And they seek to avoid the point thus pre-
sented, by continually asserting that tho foreign
market, though at present Of capital importance, is
not to he relied upon for the future. They urge that
our only security is in gradually building up a
home market, which shall be adequate to our alts-
gether incalcuable agricultural supply. This view
entirely forgets that our population, in fact, is but
twenty millions, while we produce food enough
for more than Ave times that number Of mouths.
Il forgsts also that of the rapid increase
which takes place in our population by inn
migration and otherwise, moro than four-ffths
be,akes itself to agricultural pursuits, and tends
to swell the already vast disproporion between our
consumpuoa and our supply. In this state Of the
case the srportaiion of surplus agricultural pro-
duce becomes matter Of absolute necessity. In orr
der to this expectation, comparatively un-
restricted interchange Of products with other nations
is clearly essential. Hence arises the vast import
ance to the American farmer Of moderate tariff.
In reply 70 all this, the protectionrst has but one
pretcxt to rely upon. IL is, that The European de-
mand for .amuiean agricultural products Is destined
soon ioJaiL In answer to this sophistry, lay be-
fore our readers the following conclusive statement
of the case, we find il presented in the Baltimore
Sun of this morning, in article every way worthy
Of attention: .
at is put forth from sundry and distinguished
sources that we shall be disappointed in the antci-
patton Of any extended market for our breadstuffs
and general produce, and that the repeal Of the Brit
ish corn-lsws will be OF benefit TO agrcultu-
rsts. This, leaving out of consideration present
facts directly controverting the point, we>deny. We
believe, on the contrary, that the foreign demand
from the continent of Europe and Great Britain will
in very few years, greatly exceed the calculations
Of very liberal expectants on this subject
"t has been apparent for several years past, that
the population Of Europe is seriously in advance Of
the natural sources Of supply Of food that muttudes
in all of the European countries--in some more than
others-are very insuficiently fed; and that many
millions sustain life, throughout a great portion of
their existence, upon inferior and unusual vegetable
products. We have little doubt but the last doubling
Of the population of England, has been at entire
increase over and above the sufficient and whole
some animal vegetable produce Of the whole land.
"The evidences in favor Of this proposition are
painful but irresistble the days of merre England
are numbered with the past, yet they were Of the
last century; they have faded amidst all the splen
did discoveries of science and art which have adorn-
ell the present century--and whyi Simply because
the last doubling Of the population, the fearful ex-
cess Of demand for the support of human life has
u
Liverpool &c, and almost every town and village
of England since the year 1900, when the natural
demand was perhaps about equivalent 10 the sup
ply Let us reflect upon the devices resorted to to
put off some sensible yet intangible evil how uneasy
has been the condition of the nobility and gentry in
consequence Of the murmnrs and deeds Of discon-
tent throughout the land; how has Parliament de-
vsed plans and means to appease the public voice
the public appetite, might say-yet plans and
means without bread, were of no avail. At length
comes the repeal of the corn-laws; bread is to go
into the ports of Great Britain duty Free and hum
Of happiness, buzz of joy, ay, general Jubi-
lae.' bursts forth from every quarter of the land
II is therefore Just and natural inference that with
the present population of Great Britain reduction
Of the price Of -four, end the introduction of corn
meal, will, of themselves, produce market and en-
courage a demand; a natural demand that will be
equal least to one-thrd of the entire produce of
that country. But this is not all; the steady in
crease of population which must necessarily be,
through all time hereafter, constantly extending
more and more beyond the amount Of the supply,
will establish permanent and regularly increasing
demand upon the United States. .1a
"a brief glance at some of the statistics of Eng.
land, for an example, will illustrate meaning.
The population Of England was in 1901, in round
numbers, 8300,000; in 1911, it was ,9,550,00O; in
1921, il was ll,250000; in 1881, it was l3 900;
thus exhibiting an average increase for every ten
years of about 6 per cent? calculating therefore at
the same ratio Of progress, the population in l84l was
about l5,OOO,O 600; and now, in 1886, it is about six
teen millions, (l6,0O0,O00.) From 100, when the
population was between four and five millions, TO
1900, embracing the whole century, it will be seen
that the population was about doubled; while from
1900 to 1850, embracing only half century, the
population will be doubled again. If from the same
data are at liberty to infer, that in i,1snty.frs
years the population will be doubled again, it will
amount to 32000,000; and how, let us inquire, is
this additional sixteen millions to be fedi And as
the work is in progress, how the constantly in
creasng hundreds of thousands per annum to be
fed IL not from foreign countries, when an average
crop of grain per from their own soil is even
now far too little for theml
England contains about 90, 900, 600 Of acres, Of
which only about 5000 900 Of acres are unculdva-
ted Nearly the whole Of this uncultivated land, s
mountain, heath marsh, moor, and woodland; but
very small portion, If any, capable of cultivation,
now lying idle. How then shall England feed her
own pcoplci Even the increased demand for ami
mai food will materially reduce the grain lands and
t~..s k~~ d., oshn~ for