New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-26
4 FREE-TRADERS CHOICE.
4 CONSUMER OPPOSES CHANGE OF TABLE

THE COMPLAINT THAT GOODS ARE TOO CHAP
To the EdttOr NJ me Trf6une.
SIR: Bv accident house burned down, aud
pig caught therein was roasted whole. Its TASTE
was so delicious that the people burned down an
other house next day. when they wanted roast pig
to eat" Those who consider protection the he light
of human folly use this as witty illustration Be
it so at last we can all meet on common ground.
The pig having been roasted, even the sayageS knew
enough to eat it. But Mr.. Morrison would throw
il away because it cost too much.
Theorists may dispute until dOomsday about the
wisdom Of burning down the house. | open my
eyes, and see the progress of industry in this coun-
try, and it seems to me the house has not been
burned down at all. Though | think the cost Of
the protective system years ago was much larger
than its advocates were willing to admit, am not
80 blind ~ to imagine it has ruined this country.
But whatever the cost was, it has been paid. Tie
pig has been roasted, and ain in favor of eating it,
1t has been proved, it seems to ne, that the
present cost of retaining the protective duties Is
not large. Some offs solid benefits have been seems
cheaper goods for all the world goods cheap here
that we export many kinds to nearly all parts OF
the world, and a wonderful development of in
dustres | count it folly to throw away these benz
Gifts | read the debate at Washington. and tho
arguments of the sO-called free-traders seem 10 mo
enough to convert consumers TO protection by hs
millions For they tell Us that all our great industries
are Frustrated by oyer-prOducti0n that the tariff
has given excessive profits to manufacturers, and
SO has encouraged too many people to Manufacture,
until collapse of prices has come. AS consumer,
like that state OF things. Ii that the fruit Of pro-
lection, want more OF it.
What do those blind men want Is it cheapuessi
Or do they care moro for an empty theory Even
the prOdiga son knew enough to prefer something
i am not going to quarrel with them because they
did not come from trade shop.
Look at the iron interest" they tell mo. pros
trated because protection has built up too many
mills" How Is it that several hundred of tho
furnaces in free-trade England are idle als0f But
il get bar iron at 81 so per 100 pounds and steel
rails at $32 per tOn somebody else must 40 tho
grunbliug. "CottOn GOODS they say, "are
abundant and cheap that many mills are logged to
stop. Protection has induced people to put up
mills at the South, where goods can be made
cheaper than in ew-England." That is what pro-
tcctionists promised. If it has come to pass, why
should consumer Gud faulti "Woolen goods
at the lowest prices for forty years. says fol-
lower of Mr.. Morrison. Ii is enough for lie to know
that | can get cheaper and better goods than ever
dld under the latest Democratic revenue tariff Of
1887. Hear the complaints of the silk interest.
and sec the mills stopped becau of Ovcr-produc
ton" can remember that in 1860 we imported
all orr silks; make considerable part
more, by far than we then importcd-and get them
all much cheaper. " BUT the manufacturer, arc
forced to reduce wages in cotton silk, woollen and
iron mills" Being a consumer | do not complain
when the cost OF production IS lowered But |
know that dollar will buy more than it wOuld IN
$50. that the reduced wages every where higher
than the wages paid under the Democratic revenue
tariff OF 1860, and still got cheaper goods.
In my free-trade reasonlngs, see no Use IN trying
to cheat myself. If manufactures have been do
veloped l face the fact and am glad of it. But if
manufactures have been uuduly OF dsproportion
ately fostored how comes it that overproducton is
ais, the burden of the farmers lamcntf Zoo
much wheat" is the cry; the lowest prices foI
forty years; and vet something induces the
farmers at this very time to 90 on sowing .or
another crop of 800 900 200 bushels or for each
ilhlbltint. against l730O0,0OO bushels in 1860.
or less than for each mhabtant. Something has
induced the farmer to grow too many hogs. and lard
IA painfully cheap. and the markets Of the world
are but Just recovering from slut of cotton. Wool
is SAID ~ he so low that growing does not pay. But
Tie farmers were IN some way induced to raise
100000 900 pounds last year, or pounds io every
person In this country. against 60. 600 pounds
in 1860, or less than pounds per capita.
The takers az Washington will never convert
many consumers to free trade by complaining that
protection makes goods too plenty aud cheap Mon
who are not anxious e. deceive themselves VIII
recognize two facts:
|. There il a constant tendency TO over-prodGc'
ton. through increasing use Of hbor'Sayng
machinery where there is no protection as well a'
here.
H. In some way. tho policy Of this country.
whether the wisost conceivable OF not has operated
TO develop all the great branches of industry.
agriculture manufactures, mining and transDoEsS@