The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-15

England is the greatest manufacturing
nation" aud all that she "has the world
for her market because she has mo vex'
atious tarilfJ"on the products OF other land';
she is at liberty to "buy in the cheapest
market and sell in the dearest"-all OF
which, according to free trade theories are
the beautitudes OF international exchange.
Strangely enough it happens that British
industries depend largely upon the market
they find in this protective land OF ours
Her own dependencies will not let her in
on even terms with their home manufac'
tuIers, and she must look TO the
United States 10 keep her wheels moving.
/. is an old story, made ircsher by the
Efforts OF British manufacturers to put a
British stamp on the tariff legislation Of
last winter. Their daily press and their
trade Journals held out TO the idle and the
poorly paid artisan the hope that Congress
would remove u goodly part OF the restric'
tons and let in enough British wares 10
make work and living wages.
The I~SrgLLIGENcRR quoted some OF these
assurances with respect to the pottery and
iron interests. Now the English CORE
spondent Of the american Manufacturer
gives us some idea OF the present feeling.
"Wage questions in the United States" he
writes, "are this week topics OF much dis
cussion in iron trade circles upon this side,
since it is felt that much Of England's ca,
pability TO avail itself Of any benefits
which are promised by the new tariff will
depend upon the success or otherwise OF
the efforts in the States to clear the decks.
It is easy 10 understand what this MEANS
"Ifthe United States, with its reduced tariff,
tries TO maintain the present standard Of
wages, we can run in and seize the Ameri.
can MARKET ITO clear The decks" means
to bring wages down to q point where, in
spite OF a lower tariff, England can not
drive us out OF our own market. 1t is an
interesting speculation how far we would
have 10 20 before we reached that point OF
self preservation II we had a tariff for reye.
nue only.
In view Of the better opening for English
wares an organized raid is to be made on
gu market. Particularly in the hardware
trade agents are coming out to prospect,
and in some cases principals are coming
over to make sure OF getting the lay OF the
land. After the first Of June they exrect
great activity in the English hardware
trade In the United States. Approaching
the value OF printers ink, there is to be a
special edition OF The FOnmonger, the
greatest English trade journal OF its class,
10 be sent broadcast OF the United
States, holding out tempting inducements
to the trade.
While America gives great encourage
ment t. the English manufactures, here is
"a significant statement from the cores
pondent already quoted: "rhe new Cana
dian tariff is not viewed with the compara-
tive satisfaction which bus attended the
passing Of the Washington measure"
They have had no tariff reform craze in
Canada, What has been done there is all
in the direction Of protection, and 1t makes
an Englishman sick to look over the Cana
dian schedules. Canada is part Of the
British Empire, but she had struggled long
enough against the cheap productions OF
the step.mother country, and she took it
intsher head to set up in business for her
self while sho had something left. Our
American free traders can find no comfort
in Canada.
81. II A lower American tariff shall make
work and wages for British workmen, and
dividends for British capitalists, that will
probably satisfy to Some extent those
Americans who are Opposed 10 supporting
~monopolists" aud their employees.
The American dollar that goes abroad to
fetch home English hardware, brings the
hardware; the hardware finds its place
with the American consumer, and that is
the end OF it. But our good American
dollar makes round after round through
the courses Of English mercantile life, and
"the butcher, the baker, the candlestick
maker" and q host OF tradesmsn have the
benefit Of it. Having lost it forever, we
see what a good dollar it was to keep at
home. There are more dollars OF the same
kind.