New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-01
ENGLISH ADMISSIONS ON TIE TARIFF
QUESTION:

From The Kidditsborouoh tEng) Norheasiern Gazette
THE NEw.YoRK I'MBUNE-which Horace Greeley
lantic and which 10 still conducted with marked
ability and enterprise-has been rendering good
service to America as well as to our own country,
Ths writer il Mr.. r. P. Porter who was leading
member of the late Tariff Commission. and has
made himself acquainted with our Industries by
ssrystion. Dating from Mddlesborough in the early
part Of this year. Mr.. Porter takes survey Of our
vast iron aud coal districts Passing over some minor
accurate estimate of our mining and manufacturing
operations at the Same time fairly gauging their
relative position, and describing tho outlook with
others sec us 10 we'll also that our true position
should be placed before the manufacturers and
people of the United States: and this the writer has
done in q manner and with 0 success at once per-
spicuous and convincing. We cannot do better than
to reproduce few passages from Mr. rortsrs COM
muncation, although 1t is obviously impossible to
exempfy here Its fulpess and exceptional interest
At this point Mr.. Porter and THE TRIBUNE
read us grave and curious lesson on delicate and
ysxsd question Both the CeSs
f tana which i1& a all 4m:roan rings" are
dwarfed into Gomparatiys ,ihns d'g
ssrous rival ''rhis immense iron district is desig-
mated one Of tho most absolute monopolies In the
world" the vastness OF which, the people of tho
United States are soemnly Informed, they have no
concep tion. Referring to statement that Messrs.
Bolcksw. Vaughan a. Go. produce one-thrd OF our
total output, the writer adds that Few hrme, with
their millions of pounds, while the American manu-:
facturers only pOsscss millions of dollars control
the entire trade-an incidental fallacy which could
easily DO corrected BY referring to published lists
showing that many Hundreds Of firms are engaged
in the various branches of iron and steel produce
ton and revealing tho one notable characteristic
that the trade has been developed. and Is now
directed by the many, not by the few; a. compared
with Barrow in Furness or Scotland, this element
of variety 10 alike conspicuous and wholesome.
No doubt these scattered industries are placed at
great disadvantage geographically as compared
with the North of England, and this feature comes
out strikingly in the small map sketched by MIR.
Porter, with our IRON and coal sources prominently
distinguished But it is absurd to conclude that
our progress and prosperity largely matters of
of geography welldirected enterprise, the best
mechanical appliances, and, above all, skilled la
Dor and uncontrolled freedom of trade, have pro-
duced tho splendid results which our American
friends see and admire. with such enormous aa-
vantages In the grasp of the English asks the Ed
itor OF The TRIBUNE Indignantly, what would DO
tho result # American iron manufacturers were not
protected by q tariff I" And his reply 10 sufi-
GENTLY emphatic: Unless facts lie, they would DO
speedily crushed out of existence" Mr. Porter
wroth ct the manager of the great Cleveland firm
referred to for "unblushngly" talking OF the
grinding monop0lies of the United States prevent.
ing the free importation of steel rails" and for &C.
tuslly dispsragiug such an otherwise sensible
man % the Hon. 1bram =. Hewitt for his absurd
protection heresies" II Ii significant commentary
ON ell this alarm and denunciatiOn that Congress
has passed Tariff bill which, however Intellectual,
actually reduces the duty steel rails nearly by
half, and practically raises the question Of free
trade. with which the Democrsts threaten to crap