The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-03-11

A single fact, well authenticated and OF
representative character, is sometimes worth
more, as proof Of a principle, than d whole
library full OF syilOglstic reasoning; and
when the facts point to precisely the same re.
suits as are reached by the sOundest systems
of reasoning, their efficacy for purposes OF.
demonstration is doubled.
In the history of the commerce and indus
try of Belgium as set forth in recently pub
lished official statistics, we have very i'm
presslve set of facts with respect TO The com
parative effects Of protection and free trade
upon the welfare OF q people; and these facts
confirm the conclusions long ago reached by
sound reason.
In letter published in the London 4Ecoao.
mist, Corr. FahderhHren, Belgian political
economist, has lately reviewed these Official
statistics, and shown what some OF theirteach.
ings are.
Until the year 1850 Belgium was as com.
pletely given over 10 the dcius!vc doctrines
of protection rs we in this country are. From
that time until now, however, Belgium has
been cradully working toward system OF
free trade, ana Mr.. Vanderharen, IN his let
ter, has directed attention 10 some OF the re-
suits already accomplished by the change.
The Improvement IN general commerce, in
vOlvng the prosperity OF large part OF the
people directly and of the whole people in
directly, is very marked. The total amount Of
l;elglum's general commerce-importation
and expectation combined-was in 1910, 429,
600, 900 francs; and in 1850, 9I2,U0O0 OO francs.
In the latter year the first steps toward sys.
tenn Of comparative free trade were taken,
and the general commerce OF the country had
increased in 1870 TO 3, 2S2N00,U0O francs, while
during the next year the increase was in still
greater ratio, the total Of general commerce
for 1871 being 4,497,200,O00. The increase
during single year OF comparative free trade,
II VIII be seen, was greater than the entire
amount of commerce under the protective
policy, and more than twice as great
as the total increase daring ten years OF pro-
lection.
That this improvement III commercial bus
mess was not purchased a; the expense of
home production is evident from the fact that
expectation increased as rapidly as importa'
ton, and from the further tact that while the
total horsepower OF steam engines employed
in manufacturing establishm which Is
the bes. possible index OF the condition Of
manufacturing industries-was but 2j,3l2 in
1893, and $3.50 in 1874, in 1870 it amounted
to 3459j9. Belgium sold to the outer world
in 1910 goods worth l39,G00UO francs. In
1850 her sales had increased only 10 2G3, 100.
900 francs. In 1870 the export trade amount
ed 10 500, 100000 francs and 1871 to sSS, 100,-
900 Under protection Be!gium's sales %!
her products TO other countries increased on
lly 1874. 100000 francs in ten years, wkile YIN.
der comparative tree trade the increase IL q
single year was 19S, 100000.
Tha, these results are due 70 the change Of
system, and not to accidental causes, Is made
manifest, by comparison between the returns
of the wooilen manufacturing interest, which
is not protected, and the cotton manutac.
lures, which are still the nursclngs OF a tar.
III created in their interest. 4 better Illus
tration can scarcely be needed OF the Tact t4at
one OF the difficulties with protection Is that
it does not protect.
The comparative prosperity OF these TWO
industries may be tested III two Ways-frst,
by comparing the importations OF raw mate
rial for their use; and, second, by comparing
the amounts OF their manufactured products
exported for sale.
For convenience OF comparison W. arrange
the figures in tabular form, showing the val
ue in francs Of the raw material of cach class
imported in different years:
1870. 1850. 1870. 81.
Cotton. l546,ooO 1904 900 36,l24,Uu Gi,:..o,OoO
Woo! ,G53 ,0pO 6a34 900 S7,6ss,Oco III .ol,ovO
The table of exports is equally significant.
The goods manufactured Of wool ana cotton,
and exported for sale, are given in the Official
tables under two heads, namely, thread and
woven stutfs, and In each We have an exhibit
! in every way instructive. The following ia,
bles show the value OF protected cotton goods,
and comparatively free woollen fabrics ex'
ported in different years With respect 10
threads the figures, in francs, are as follows
1870. 1850 1870. 1871.
Co,,oa. $4,000 Ca9,OO0 3,535Oo0 G4I5ooC
Woolen.. $4,000 10000 31,G030O +j,i5c,oVo
or woven stufTs the values Of exports, III
francs, are us follows:
$50 1880 1919. le'
Cotton. 1ISs,O0O IL $4,000 l0,i2SOOO ls2ct W.
WOODEN. $4,000 2033,0UO jO,3G6IOD 3s'"oV'
! With these figures before them, the protect
ed manufacturers Of cotton goods IN Belgium
NAV we'll ash whether tariff protection, when
! laws the whole country under tribute To THEN
selves. really adds anything 10 their earnlnfs
! Statistics are commonly accounted dry
reading. but these Belgian figures ought Ia
have an interest for Americans, whose mos'
pressing need just now i To discoyer "ha'
' II is tha, has destroyed prosperity and pros
itra,cd every form of industry in this country