Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-12
The Need Of New Markets.


While it does not appear likely that
the gospel of "fair trade now being
preached in England viii spread sur
fciently to supplsnt the accepted policy
that Golden and his associates formnlai-
ed, defended and finally saw establish
ed. vet there is no telling what year
NAV hiring about in the views OF the
British public. OF late years we have
been doing a steadily increasing business
with the British islands, and marked
falling off in that business, such as
would result from the imposition
of duties for the protection OF
British industry, would be seriously
felt here Though protected to an inor-
dinate extent st home. our manufac-
lures are dependent upon the liberal atti-
tude of England and other countries for
markets; and the very fact that party
is rising in England whose watchword
is reciprocity, should teach our people
wisdom.
This country is stUding rapidly in the
path Of progress, but her speed could be
greatly accelerated if markets were
opened for our products. As it is, what
we dispose Of to foreigners is pretty
largely Just what they need We take
little from them, and they take
our products not so much from
choice as from necessity.
Well nigh everything that enters our
ports is taxed, not merely for revenue,
but for the protection Of American in
dustry. As things are going new mar
kets must be opened, and reciprocity
must become our policy through neces-
sity. Why should il not be such from
choice3 We are probably the best pre-
pared nstion in the world for such a
policy. On the one side our ports face
Europe with its myriad industries,
snd on the other the Orient with its
STORED riches.
Everything invites the United States to
headship in agriculture, the mechanic
arts and commerce, and yet We cramp
our farmers and stife home commerce
BY policy that is mainly directed to the
protection Of one class Of our people,
and leaves that class largely dependent
on the caprice Of other peoples for the
maintenance of that protection. We
cannot rank as we should among the
peoples Of the earth until we change
the policy of selfshness to one
Of hberality. We need new
markets, and we cannot procure
them save by reciprocal agreements with
other peoples to give and take. We can
not be commercially great till we own
the fleets that carry our products from
port to port, and we will not own those
fleets till the materials that enter into the
construction Of vessels now heavily tax
ed are cheapened, and a merchant can
buy 8 ship wherever be pleases and have
il registered.
Even with all the drawbacks which
our policy entails, we do a vast business
in supplying the needs Of the world; how
much greater would be our foreign
trade if we adopted such policy as
would permit other people to indulge
not only their wants, but also their
choice, IN dealing with US, as they would
do, if satisfied that we would act SINH
larry to them7 China, hemmed in for
centuries by her selfishness, has grown
rich, but how richer would she be if she
traded with the universe on equal termsl
There are few advocates Of absolute free
trade in this country, because the world
IS not prepared for it. But revised
tariff for the products of the world
at large, aud reciprocity treaties
with such nations as would conclude
them with US would not be free trade,
though they would be long steps in its
direction.
a policy that would enable two acres
to be planted where one is planted now,
that would add to our factories, that
would dot the seas with our commerce
and would place the useful and the
pleasurable, no matter where found or
made, within the reach of our people at
smaller cost than at present is prefera-
bic to the system that gives the farmer
only the market rate for his products
and assures the manufacturer Of profit
guaranteed by government
Protective tariffs have no warrant of
right or justice. However expedient
they may have appeared when levied, the
fact is beyond question to-day that every
branch Of manufactures IN this country
worth protecting can stand on its merits.
Very few of them are in their infancy,
and every one Of them is as able to take
its chances at remunerating its owner as
any farm in the land The duties should
be revised, the restraints on commerce
should be removed, and mutual agree
ments as to trade be concluded with
every nation that would be willing to
enter into such. The time is coming
when We must do so. Now We can do
so from choice.