The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-05-13
a MOTHER PHASE OF THE PRO
LECTION QUESTION.

Many good and patriotic men have SUBJ
mitted uncomplainingly to the exactlons
of the protective system OF tariff I'M
posts, under the belief that thereby they
were preventing importation OF foreign
manufactures, and thus turning the
balance of trade in our own favor. ana
at the same time encouraging home IN
dustry. The argument was plausible
one and applied persuasively to all the
r.4riotic instincts of an American. But
If it were true. we would expect to ind
foreign importations diminishing. What
are the facts!
There is to be great centennial exhl'
hilton in Philad elphia in 1915; and they
have invited all the world to be present
and rejoice with them. To this John
Bright, the great colnmoner of England,
ungraciously replied that it was scarcely
worth while to invite English manufactu-
rers, John is one, to compete in the show,
while the United States had protective
tariff. Whereupon the Public Ledger, of
fnllauelpIlId, VA1IA6 uioSo ~OA - -
the following fashion,
Now let us go one step further in the appli-
cation Of tests to Mr.. Bright's remarks: With
its Of "protection'' and " free trade" and sim
ME ssreyenue," as they relate to the framing Of
tariffs we have to state that under the tariff
which Mr.. B. brands as preventing foreign
competition in our Garkets, the people OF the
United States buy three times as much In
from foreign people as they did under the
<srevenue tariff OF l846. Taking the nrs
census HS5O) after the enactment OF the hrst
named tariff, we find that the q, 900 Ameri.
cans Of that year bought from foreign countries
goods, wares and merchandise to the amour
Of SITS, OOO, 900, or an average of V75 TOR eacl
person. But under the "protective " tariff
which Mr. Bright denounces as preventing for
.aign competition, the 10000, 900 Americans O
Is73-'74 bought $577, 900, 900 OF foreign prod
ucts, or an average Of abont sl4.N for eaci
person. And OF all this nearly one-thiro
bought from manufacturers and producers wh'
are Mr.. BIS own countrymen. These rgure
do not need reinforcement in order to shov
how very i'll considered the remarks OF MI
Bright we're, yet still we may invite attention
TO this further fact that in the fiscal year which
began July lst ls7s the people Of t tine pn n"1
chased from, the people Of Great Britain aIo"
SOS. 900 900 worth of goods, which is create
amount than the United States purchased fror
all the ,porld in 1858, inst twenty years before
under the "revenue tariff in operation at ths
time.
Now this is most conclusive as an ar
swer to John Bright. But what does
prove otherwise 1t proves
l. That protective tariff does NJ
diminish foreign importations, and Their
fore does no. render US, rs is pretende'
independent of the rest Of the world
II. That protective tariff does n
turn 'thc balance Of trade" in our favo
as is pretended, and thus save US fro
national bankruptcy.
What then does it do?
1t simply compels US to pay two pric
for all we buy, whether made in tt
country or beyand the ocean;-the on
difference being that one half Of the pr
we pay for the English goods goes to t
national treasury; but every cent we p
for the American goods goes into t
manufacturer $ pockets,
That's the whole story in nut shell
..!..zIl1.