Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-08-28
Gv,ln or ,ne anrlfr srs.em.

some large iecte put forward IN hRht
that liz probably new to him and some
important deductions therefrom stated
with such convincing directness that we
do not see how they oan possibly be re
futed. ..
Take for example the proposition Of
Judge Foraker Of Ohio, quoted by Mr..
Wells, 40 follows: "If we cannot 60 into
i" the markets Of the world without being
" subjected to degrading competition, We
will make ourselves independent Of
these markets by making markets OF
sour own. Instead Of sending our raw
"coiton across the ocean, to be there
" manufactured and sent back to us, We
I" will have orr cotton mills here. We
twill mine our own coal, develop our
50 Minerals, manufacture our own iron
" and steel, build our own railroads with
" our own products and thus have home
" markets and domestic commerce." In
other words, we will isolate ourselves
from the rest Of the world and eat every.
thing we raise and make everything we |
use and ask no favors from any other
nation.
Such declaration may sound very |
nice and patriotic, but how in creation
are we going to carry it into effectf Mr..
Wells points ont that we now export
1856, 600, 900 bushels Of wheat, while yet
less than one sixth Of our arabic land
has been brought under the pillow. II we
60 on developing the vast agricultural
resources OF our country as we have been
doing and keep all our grain at home,
where are We to find the people to con-
sumo III The great mAnufactur.
ing states are the six New
England states, with New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and
Maryland. But these same states are
also largely agricultural and during 1880
(the year for which Mr.. Wells figures
are taksn) they so far fed their own
population with their own agricultural
products as to require only about
IS, 100000 bushels Of wheat to make up
the deficiency. To furnish domestic
market therefore adequate to absorb our
present wheat surplus would require an
} enlargement of our manufacturing in
terests to at least 6ve-told what they are
at present.
But it is equally clear that our domes.
: tic market will not support the manufac
D tories we now have and that, II even the
l existing furnaces and factories are to bt
kept fully employed, larger market OF
9 market outside Of our own country
n must be in some way obtained,
s From these premises the writer deduces
n First, that there is no sufficient mArke
It for our surplus agricultural product
1t except foreign market, and in defaul
ii Of this, such surplus will either not b
os raised, or, II raised, will rot on th
ii ground. Sscold, the domestic deman
le for the products Of our existing furnace
b, and factories is very far short Of th
* capacity of such furnaces ard factories
es supply. Third, with restricted oppo
}" tuuities for labor and the profitable en-
re- ployment Of capital, the continued add
w ton to our population from natural II
crease and immigration will inevitabl
,st tend, through increased competition,
do reduce the wages Of labor and promo
to social discomfort and antagonist
'se betwsen employers and employees.
'm These are facts OF tremendous signi
calcs and they are stated here with
clesrness that needs no words OF elabC
Ier aticn. In so far as We shut ourselv
,ut out frcm the rest Of the world by tar
'St system which restricts our opportunity
sell or exchange what we have t
ch capacity to produ &c, we must expect
no suffer from periodical SEASONS Of overpl
on duction, industrial depression and bu
as ness stagnation. The existing tariff, 1t
ole urged, ia mainly restrictive OF impor
ner Bat it is impossible to place restrictic
cid upon the imports OF a country without
rec the same time limiting the markets for
md exp3rts for all trade and commerce,
md the practical business Of life, is the int
ext change OF products and services, q
des there can be no buying without selli
on or selling without buying.
ing We have only given bare skeleton
sted Mr.. Wells paper, which in its entir
ling discusses these and oorollary questi
hot clncisely but with all essential iulln'
nos. lie concludes that tariff reform Is
sap evItsble, because the necessities Of
you nation are going to compel it. If all
,our isting agencies organized to promOt
are and all its special individual advoci
arm should hereafter totally refrain from
per- action or speech, its advent would
life none the less sure because, sltho
war or short crops in Europe may ten
rarily change the situation, indust
on,s depression, business stagnation and SC
10 discomfort at home are going to CONT
nent and increase until the nation sdor
4 to fiscal and commercial policy more lib
ivar and better suited to the new conditiO
t.sa affairs,