Morning journal and courier., 1884-05-20
SOnrnsI sto Geurisr.
SINGLE COPIES TWO CENTS.
Tuesday. MAY 20. 1884.
A FREE-TRADE THEORY

The free traders are much given to talking about 'the markets of the world," and the great advantages which this country could get from these markets if she would only adopt free-trade policy. In his speech on 1 the Morrison bill, Hon. Frank Hurd, who is
 bowling free-trsder, thus set before the de- luded manufacturers of this country their duty and their privilege: Oh, if could
 burn into the brain of the manufacturers of America one sentence it would be this:
 Turn from this constant introspection to the worlds" Down with walls! Out to the seal There are 5000. .ooe, 900 people who
 want to bay what you make. Rise up to the truth of the great thought that these im- mense peoples can be supplied by you with all the instruments of husbandry and the tools of artisanship. But they will not take your goods unless you take theirs. Let your tariff disappear, and then, O manufacturers! your attention will be diverted from home markets to generous rivslries in foreign trade, in which wealth will come to you of which you do not dream to-day.
 This is impressive, but there are some facts handy which somewhat detract from it's
 
 taken the trouble to set in order some of those facts: For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, we imported from the West Indies $65, 544 ,534 worth of merchandise, and, of course, according to MT. Hurd's theory, since we took their goods, they. of course, muEt have taken ours in the same proportion. But, unfortunately for his position, the Wess Indies purchased from us only $15, JOS, 703 of merchandise, or less than one-fourth ss much as they sold to us. There is Brazil, coun~ try to which our manufacturers are. so per sistently advised to export their goods. In 1883 Brazil sold us $44, 488, ,459 of her pro ducts, but she bought of us only $9, 252 ,O94. Then there is China. g conntry of tesming mill lions; she sent us last year merchandise to the extent of $2o,141. .351, but she bought of us only one fifth as much, OF $4 csc, 1922 while from the British East Indies we re- ceived $19, ,467, 800 in merchandise, and in return sent out $2, 1855. 8O4. Japan treated us in the same way, selling us $15, ,O9s, ,890, and buying only $8. 376, 444. The Hawaiian Islands enjoy the blessings of free trade with the United States, and they, of course, must prove Mir. Hurds theory. But somehow the statistics do not show it. They very willing ly sold us $e ,23s, G41 worth of their pro- ducts, but they were contented to take only | $3, TIC, 665 of goods of all kinds from us. From the Spanish possessions, other thaa | Cuba and Porto Rico, our i'm ports were $10,617. .563, against the pal | try sum of $324, ,474 as our exports; the Ar l genuine Republic shipped to us $6, 192, III | and bought only $s, ,543, 196; British Guiana l sold us to the extent of $6. .437, 909, and pur- ,hased from us $2, ,58s, ,5ss; with vsnezuela I our trade was-imports, S. 9O1, ,724; exports, ports, $5, 121 ,S15; exports, g. oos. .467; and Peru imports $2, 526. .916 exports, $493, ,s94. Thus we have purchased from these twelve | $2O9, 784, ,O13 worth of their goods, while they bought from us only $49, 131, 47s | "a difference against the United States of | over $16o, 600, GOO.
 Thus is the alluring theory of the Hon. l Frank Hurd and the other free-traders set at | naught. O American manufacturers, turn | from this constant introspection to the | worlds, and the United States may yet sue ceed in buying seven or eight times as much as she sells