The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-08-06

No ONE can doubt that times are ex-
tremely dull. In all such cases we ars
apt to look for an immediate cause and
argue on false premises. Long continl-
ed depression, such as we feel now, is
due to some long continued abuse of tie
principles of trade. Many farmers in
Manitowoc county are inclined to d.
tribute the dulness to lack of enterprise
of Manltowoc business men, while peo-
pie OF broader views see that the cause
is national, but in shortsighted way
seek the cause in some recent event.
The fact is We have for years been
working on false principles. The poHti-
cal economist, who honestly seeks the
truth, sees this clearly. The capitalist
who for comparatively brief spell has
reaped large profits by a perversion of
the principles of political economy, is
blinded to the truth by the apparent
results of policy which seemed to work
solely to his advantage. Protection en-.
abled him to amass wealth and when lis
inevitable results are upon him he re
fuses to see that what at one time bene-
fitted him 80 much now prevents him
from securing legitimate returns. h
has borrowed largely from the future
and that now having become the present
is al exacting creditor.
The protectionist, no matter how much
he denies the fact. is opposed to foreign
commerce. A home market is his idea
of prosperity. If we refuse to admit
foreign produce without restrictions
which are in effect prohibitory, it is by
no means probable that foreign nations
will trade with us when not subjected in
other countries to the restrictions we i'm.
pose. Thus our foreign trade suffers
limitation more keenly felt as time ad-
vances. 1t has been computed that the
sale of agricultural products by the
United States abroad for the years 1888
and 1884, has been $1,000, 100000 less
than for the years 1880 and 1881. The
two years first mentioned were ones Of
prosperity; those mentioned last, of de-
preston.
But the farmer attributes the reduction
IN the price of agricultural products to
the opening up of new territories and the
greater production in consequence
Was there scarcity of provisions in this
country in 1880 and 1881 when there
We're sold 100000, 200 more of agri-
cultural products than in the years 1883
and 1884 2 The foreign sales represented
the surplusage over domestic needs
With the greater production because Of
the opening up of the territories to agri-
cultural pursuits, should not the foreign
sales be greater? Has the population
increased to such an extent as to con
sumo not only the increase in production,
but the amount represented by the de-
crease In foreign markets? 1t is evident
that if there has been over production
the practical abolition of trade with for
eign countries has seriously aggravated
the evil.
The manufacturer has been stimulated
to reproduction because being a mon
opclist he had the making of his own
prices. He has been cut off to certain
extent from foreign market by the
very policy which at first seemed to work
solely to his advantage. With an over
supply of goods on hand he shnts down
or does not run to the full capacity of his
establishment. Wages become less, and
many of his employees are dismissed
Their purchases are limited correspond
ingly with the diminution of their means.
The farmer who gets but 80 cents per
bushel for his wheat will not be as ready
to purchase, is he as able to-as
when the same quantity brought him one
dollar. Thus the manufacturer suffers,
the laborer suffers, the farmer suffers;
and what the advantage? The manu-
facturer has had temporary period of
prosperity; he has crowded into a brief
spell the profits which should have been
distributed over a greater period of time,
and he has lessened the ability of every
body to purchase his articles, disarrang-
ed the business of the country, caused
diminution in the aggregate business
volume of the country, reduced national
wealth, and destroyed the hopefulness
of the people. The laborer has suffered
more. Granted that for while he has
received larger wages because of protec-
ton. He has had to pay correspond
ingly higher price for everything but his
food stuffs. He has in that brief period
formed expensive habits which the future
cannot support. Nay, he has drawn
from the wages OF the future to purchase
Injuries for the present. They are not
Injuries while he can afford them. The
necessities soon become such when his
wages are reduced or he is thrown out
of employment by factories shutting
down. The laborer who gets one dollar
per day the year round, limits his expen-
ses to his annual income much more
judiciously than the laborer who gets
s. per day for half the year ard remains
idle the remainder, And this is particu-
larly true when he believes while earn
ing 81 per day that he will be employed
the whole year at the same wages. A
man earning 81 per day will indulge in
many things which he would deny HIM
self were his wages 81 per day.
The farmer is a sufferer at ali times
from protection even when the manu-
facturer and his employe are reaping the
richest rewards from the policy. 1t is
time they saw it and make free trade a
cardinal principle of their political opin-
ion Of for mora oopcoJpocaa bo