The daily gazette., 1879-08-13
FIRST EDITION.
The PrOtectiOnist Revival in
Europe.

i nat "Jne very poverty VI thS Pooi 10
their destruction" is Scriptural saying,
the truth of which Is exemplifed In |
many experiences of life, and it is shown
once more, and on an uncommonly
broad scale in the recent and very gem
eral revival Of prOtectionist Legislation
in Europe. Prince Bismarck, finding
the hard times pressing upon the re-
sources Of the German people, believes
he sees a remedy In revenue legislation
imposing heavier duties on foreign pro-
ducts and manufactures. The French,
burdened with heavy war debt, anc
Impoverished by the maintenance OF
huge standing army, are also looking 10
higher duties on imports to 'piotect'
their home industries and make them
more prosperous. The English, even,
| imagine they see in more severe and ex-
cluding tariffs remedy for the agricul-
tural distress and the depression OF
them.
Their complaint, in every case, lies
against us. American flour, American
beef, American tools, American ma
chinery, American notions, American
products of various kinds in increasing
amounts fiud their way into European
1
cheaper, or because they are better, or
for both reasons, are preferred by the
people, to the loss, it is said, Of home
producers, who are already working upon
such narrow margins of profit and for
such low wages that they cannot com
pete with us in their own markets, ia
less they are "protected" by duties on
our importatiOns. The matter has,
therefore, direct interest to us. The
question, how are we to be affected by
such legislation is one at least worth
the glance we propose to give it.
What would be the consequence for
us ifthe three greatest nations in Europe
would conclude to adopt tariffs, not, to
be sure, entirely excluding our products,
but laying upon them heavy duties, such
as we have chosen to lay upon theirs
for many years? ? In the first place, 1t
is evident that SO far as such tariffs
should affect breadstufis, meats, food in
general, almost all, though not all, the
additional duty or tax would be paid
by the consumers and not by us, the pro-
ducers. They must have the food OF
which we have an over-abundance, and
they will buy ofus to the extent OF theil
necessities, not of course at any price We
may fix, but at price which will tempt
us TO carry it to their doors. With heavy
duties, which mean high prices, they
will consume less, aud by so much lessen
the demand, aud, by consequence, lower
the prices we shall receive; but thai
price must always leave us some margir
of profit, e Sc we should not ship to them
Dear bread, however, is so great an'
threatening calamity in the three couu
tries of which we speak, that it is eX
tremely doubtful whether high or pro
tec,ionist tariff on food supplies will b.
tolerated by their people. The artisans o
England, for instance, would not COZ
sent to dear bread in order that tn
. landlords might once more get higl
rents.
1t happens, however, that the bulk
our exports 10 Europe consists OF food
and while the European demand for th
| necessaries of life varies from year I
year according as the crops are abundan
or the reverse there, long eXperlenc
/, shows that this demand upon us is col
stant, though variable in amount. Som
la.t of our overabun lance tty Away
need, and that they must buy OF us, tai
if or no tariff. OF manufactures W
sell, as yet, but trifling amounts to Et
|. rope. Our exports of manufactured pre-
ducts to that continent would not attrac
serious attention there were 1t not tina
their markets are already glutted. L
Z exclude us by high tariffs would onl
compel us to seek other markets, Wine
European tariffs would materially hel
us to secure. Prince Bismarck's tariff
inte.ded to protect his own people again'
our competition. We sell TOO cheap ft
them; he makes laws to enable them t
!, secure higher prices for their home pt
' ducts. But if we already sell too ches
; ply, if it is true that they cannot con
plete with us in their markets, then III
doubtedly they cannot, with the hlghe
prices they mean to ask, complete VIII
!. us in markets foreign to both countries
That Is to say a protective tarlil
Germany, while it will raise prices !
that country, which will be a loss 70 I'll
Germans, must at the same time tend
u exclude them from or at least to plat
hem at a greater disadvantage in toi eig
markets as compared with us. The
shu, themselves up; they shut us ou
They compel us to seek other market
but at the same time they measurabl
abandon those markets 10 us; and OF tb'
we need not complain. II Germa
\, tariff shall enable us to re-establish on
), selves in the markets of South and Gel
tral America, for instance, where no
German goods exclude our own, we ma
!, be content.
IL is difficult, then, to see how the n
" yiyal of the protectionist spirit in EuroI
can seriously threaten our prosperlt.
But it is yet more difficult to see how
is going to help such States as German
or England. Their people are poor, an
O. here is legislation proposed which is
raise for them the prices they. must pa
er' for what they need. That is only
make them poorer, and they cannot
far in that direction without sufiern
Our own pro- ective tariff has had vel
NO different field to work upon. 1t was la
= upon q country in which the create
abundance reigned, and where the pc
Die, by reason of that natural a6undan
were wasteful and careless. 1t has MAJ
ms poorer, but in doing so has gradual
forced us to greater skill, greater econ
, nv, more rigid business; it has stimuli
ted enormously our inventive skill, al
has In the course of time enabled US u
considerable extent to overcome u
artificial obstacles it presented. FOR
neriod of years our protection tari1 d
= compel lied every producer to work hara
- or to work more ingeniously, until at Ia
II has made us preternaturally aole