New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-29
ONE LESSON FOE TWO PEOPLE.

ONE LESSON FOB TWO PEOPLE.
IF the American speculator and the American
nol;tician will take look at the official returns
of foreign commerce for August, they may have
il borne in upon their minds that they are
public nuisances. What good they may nave
done. perhaps they can tell. What harm they
have done, the official reports are continually
showing. In August the value of exports from
the United States was only about $l3,OJo,ooo.
1t was less than the value of products exported
I'm any other month"; summer or winter, since
August, 1877, just eight years ago. Now the
population of this country eight years ago was
abont 10000, 900, and it is now about
5S. 600 900. so that there has been an increase
of 20 per cent. The larger nation ought to be
able TO produce more and sell more, since it
will certainly require more supplies of various
sorts, and in fact it does import much more
than it required to import eight years ago; in
the month of August, for instance, about
50 900, roo more. The disiculty is not that
the people are lazy. They do produce more
and the increase in production has been on the
whole greater than the increase in population.
In 1877 the country produced about
A. SOC. 600 bales of cotton. This year it will
raise something like 1000, 900 bales. In 1877
1t worked up 1,579, 900 bales into cotton goods
But during the last year, in spite of all dcpres-
sion in manufactures. 100000 bales OF cotton
are reported to have been consumed IN the
manufactures of this country. In 1872 the
country produced about 2,3OO.O 900 tons OF iron
Last year, Notwithstanding the unusual de-
preston. it produced about 1900, 900 tons, not
quite twice as much. In 1877 there were pro-
Snn On0 of anthracite coal. and
last year 80, zoe, 900, an increase of about 90
per cent. Illustrations might be multiplied by
tho score. The country has not only grown in
population, but has grown much more largely
in its industries and its production Wheat Is
scarcely an exception, for though the crop this
year Is phenomenaly small, it is only about
IS, O0O, 900 bushels less than the crop of 1877.
which was at that time the largest ever grown
in the country. And in 1877 the markets and
the granaries and the warehouses were nearly
bare of wheat, and the supply well-nigh eX-
hausted; but this year the country is carrying
over from the abundant crops of previous years
about 100. 600, 900 bushels Of wheat, making n
supply more than 100, 900 bushels larger
than the supply on hand III 1877. In spite OF
all these things the exports are scarcely greater
than they were eight years ago. Having vastly
more things to sell, the country is able to sell
less than it has sold at any time since August
1877. What is the reason
The spectators, who insist upon manutactur-
ing prices without regard to the prices of the
rest of the world, can perhaps tell us. They
have been holding the prices of wheat and
cotton and provisions, and of most eXpOrtable
products. above the level at which 1t is possible
to place them in foreign markets with profit.
Several people at different times have enter
tanned the idea that they were large enough to
boss the markets of the civilized w0rld-ilr.
Keene tried it, for example, in wheat, and
McGeoch in lard, and Ranger in cotton, and
Arnold in coffee; but the net result OF these
undertakings has not been encouraging.
Everybody seems to DO stronger than anybody.
Still, every year some new spectators rush To
the front fired with the idea that if they only
talk loud enough, and manufacture statistics
enough, and borrow money enough, they can
control the markets of the civilized world.
And then our politician We have always with
MS. He thinks this country suffers because
il needs more money. lie is numcrously mani
fest in the flesh Just now, affirming that 1t
would be cruel and wicked TO suspend the
coinage of silver. Just so eight years ago. he
was clamoring foI the repeal of the Resumption
Act, and the worst prostration of industry that
the country knew in those days came from the
uncertainty winch this creature caused. He
wanted to initiate the currency, and lac wanted
to tear down the taril, just as he does now.
Behold he is here again, and with him his
fruits