The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-13
Seeking Government Aid.

Seeking Government Aid.
Avnst majority Of the bills already in
Produced, and which will be vigorously
pushed in Congress mis- winter, with the
view Of furthcling private spcculatons at
public expense. contemplate mischicvous in
reference with the business affairs Of the
country, which just now need nothing 30
much IA to he LET alone.
Railroad Rings and steamship owners
are DESTROYS Of developing domestic trade
and foreign commerce by means of Govern
moAt subsidies. Tho foreign trade Of the
United States was built up solely by ndi-
vidual and corporate enterprise; nor is it
possible to build up trade which shall be
healthy, permanent, and profitable, in any
other manner; least ~ all through the
means OF Government subvcntions Eastern
manufacturers are suffering from the evils
IT ovcrproduction, and it is certainly de-
tirahlc that they find an outlet for their
productions in the markets of the world I;
but they must do as others in similar straits
have done before thcm-thcy must help
themselves.
Instead Of knocking at the doors Of Con-
grcss for assistance instead of introducing
bills designed To promote and encourage
our foreign trade by the opening up Of new
markets for our manufactures "by treaty
or othcrwiso." let them send commercial
agents abroad with samples Of what they
have for sale Wherever British cottons
find n market In foreign countries. American
fabrics Of similar make, if properly intro
hurcl. would meet with buyers. All this in
NulNrs trouble. expense. and risk; but these
are the conditions of commercial success all
the world over. Congressional legislation
never y's opened up now markets or Great
Pei trade though it has often been tried.
Whore Government subsidies are given in
Aid 81 priVat" enterprise competition on
rquM terms becomes impossible. and the
healthy growth Of trade il retarded. if not
,toipod altogether
i ha- been said in Congress that Newark.
pnc of oar great manufacturing centres. can
now produce on an average about three times
~ much az she can sell. In Massachusetts.
A. We learn from the census Of manufactures
Tor 1873 the increased production Of some of
the leading staple 10y means II labor-saying
machinery has been very grcat. With "a
ijl hands employed in 1865. there were pro-
ducod l7j.S,j,0O0 yard, of goods. a ratio of
1925 yards To each employee In 1875 there
were produced s74. 10000 yards by ca, l76 en-
rloyccs. or about II .2l3 yards Ia each hand.
This shows that with an increase Of about
LAP per cent. during the ten years In the
number Of hands employed, the quantity OF
cloth produced was increased nearly 800 per
cent. Woollcn goods also make very strik-
ing exhibit. For 1865 the production is
placed at 4G.0Os.l4l yards and the number Of
employees 1888. For 1875 the production is
b,21s $50 yards. and 1906 employees, show
Ing an increase Of 1854 per cent in production
60 /! per cent in the number OF employees
Tn" number Of pairs Of boots and shoes
made in 1865 was 81 SIC, $50, and number OF
employees 52,s2l and in 1875, SO, 1872 sG6 pairs.
with 1900 employees. Thus, during the ten
years. the production has been increased
nearly IS per cent, while the force employed
was less 10y 4,73l.
Labor-saving machinery has TO n great OK
tent produced like effects al all our chefm man
uiacturinR centres. Production has greatly
outstrppcd consumption and it becomes alb
tolut"ly necessary to find foreign markets
for our surplus productions if operatives are
togrt work and mills are 10 be kept running.
these markets can only he found by diigcnt
searching ON the part Of merchants and
manufa rturcrs. Congress cannot create
them by treaty or otherwise -" other
wiz, OF course, meaning subventional as
distance.
The commercial superiority Of Great
Britain has enabled her to become the best
rust m"r Of nearlyevc nation Of the globe
The British manufacturer, without Govern
mciit aid. carries his fabrics tothc uttermost
ends of the earth and sells them; let our
American manufacturers go and do likewise
We believe, with wages lower here than in
England, the cost Of production has been so
diminished that our manufacturers at this
rits'n, writing can successfully compete
with British fabrics in the chief markets Of
t. woild, certainly in China, Japan, and
South and Central America. No nation to-
IT. . is in "a better position than the United
: slcs 90 caltIrr from Great Britain por-
tin ~ heg foreign trade.
Erergy -asacty. pluck, and enterprise
nr" al tliHt ia wanting on the part Of our in
hU-.,i.u aud trading classes to turn in this
dir t.I mach larger share Of the wealth.
rr' iin@c0ua"rcc of the world than we have
heretofore enjoyed. They must not. how
ev"r.'t -,iil and wait for Congress TO open
nrw hu'h't4 10y " treaty or otherwise"