Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-03-03
AS OTHERS SEE US.


The following is a synopsis of an
address Oh Protection in America"
recently delivered by Hon. Lyon
Playfair NJ. p, before the Universe
ties Liberal Association Of Edin-
burgh, Scotland. We publish it be-
cause we think that it is both inter
esting and profitable to know what
the world thinks Of our foolish and
unjust tariff laws
Mr.. Play fair began by saying that
the English enemies Of Free-trade
have habit of boastfully pointing
to the United States TO prove that
hostile tariffs are beneficial The
United States have peculiar advant-
ages as manufacturing country.
They have unlimited land; cheap
food; plenty of raw material; and
untold wealth of coal, iron, copper,
lead, silver aud gold; an educated
and inventive people, and half-a-
million emigrants so annually to its
shores; yet with all these advantages
on their side, the little island Of
Great Britain commands the mar
kets Of the world. The reason is,
that the conditions for the prosper
ity of the United States are internal
and not external. Their manufact-
uries, fortified by the tariff, enjoy a
free trade from the eastern to the
western sea-board; but are hedged in
BY this same tariff from other coun-
tries. 1t follows that there is but
little reciprocity III American trade.
When the United States buy coffee
from Brazil S40,000,000 are sent to
balance the transaction, while Great
Britain, on the other hand, returns
her commodities in exchange. In
1850 Great Britain sent $2,500,000
worth Of cotton goods to Mexico;
the United States only sent 100000
worth.
To Central America, i'll the same
year, Great Britain sent 81, 100000
worth Of cotton goods; the United
States only sent ST. 900 worth.
To the United States, III the same
year, Great Britain sent f3,643,000
sterling worth Of cotton goods, and
the United States sent to Great Brit
aim only f104,00o sterling worth.
Ii will be seen from these facts
that the American external trade is
nothing compared with that OF
Great Britain; and it never can be,
rs long rs the price of production is
regulated by the high duties inn
posed.
The lowest price for steel rails in
the United States is $50. Great
Britain could deliver these rails At
$50, without duty The effect of
this tariff is to raise the price Of
steel III 4 SINGLE line Of rails 80 per
cent 50 it is obvious that a heavy
cost is put upon the transit of the
country by protection.
But the injurious effect Of the III
creased cost of iron is chiefly seen
in American shipping, which it has
practically annihilated. OF the soc
steamships which traverse the At
lantic, il is doubtful whether half q
dozen carry the Stars and Stripes.
If measured by the population
there is probably not one workman
i'll a protected industry for every
twenty III free one; still, every
man of the population has to pay
increased prices for the commodities
of life. Prof Perry has calculated
that since 1861 the citizens o
the United States have paid SD,
| o00,0o0,000 III the extra price .
home products, not one cent .
wich has gone into the Treasury
This is more than six times the COS
of the Union war
| When hard times come i'll Ameri
ca, the pinch is severely felt, becaus,
the artiticially-raised prices of thei
commodities are too high to enabl
manufa cturers to compete in othe
mark cts of the world. Hence tn
4 SNl vi tAlC1I
accumulates or is sold at 4 great sic
utice.
England has a compensation i,
the Protective policy Of the Unite,
States. That policy keeps out 0
: the world nation which woul,
,therwise be great compe titor I
British commerce in all neutral mar
kets.
4 In conclusion Mr.. Playfair mad
the following prophecy: believe
ultimately, when the United State
shakes off the trammels of their Pr
! tectve system that they viii BIZ
! come the greatest manufacture
country of the world, but this cor
summation is very distant, becaus
the endless evils which cover cour
: try where Protection prevails, wi
lretard progress for generations. F"