The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-11-06
Tariff and Commerce.
Written for the Democratic Advocate

Written for the Democratic AdVoeape-l
Much of the worlds happiness depends
upon the interchange of the products OF dit
ferent sections of the earth. All parts OF the
earth are not equally adapted for the produc-
tion of the same commodity. One section
nroduces wheat, rye, barley and corn; anoth-
or cotton. sugar and rice; and still another,
coffee. tea and spices. The metals also are
uneoually distributed. Some portions OF the
Garth are rich in metals, either useful or pre-
cious. while others are poor. And the best
agricultural regions are generally without rich
deposits of minerals, and the reverse;
The design of this distribution of things on
the earth is obvious. The author OF nature
intends by this means to promote intercourse
among the different branches OF the human
family. By exchanging the products OF their
different habitations and of their various forms
of industry, different races of men are to be
Joined together in the bonds of common
humanity. and the civilization OF mankind IS
to he promoted. The exchange of ideas and
sentiments which always follows upon the es-
enlistment of commercial relations between
separate branches of the human family, is one
of the most powerful means OF culture, and
serves to promote the highest interests of
humanity. =
The material comfort and prosperity of
each section of the earth also depend upon
the free exchange of its products Tor the pro-
ducts of every other section. 1t is upon TINS
exchange of commodities that the superior
comforts of civilization are dependent. The
savage eats, and drinks, and wears nothing
but what his own hand can produce within
the narrow habitat to which he rs confined,
and hence his comforts are very few, and his
life is ALWAYS wretched. The condition of
greatest material prosperity is that the In.
habitants of every section of the earth should
devote themselves to the production OF those
commodities to which their soil and climate
and circumstances are best adapted, and then
exchange freely with the inhabitants OF other
sections. This is one of the fundamental laws
of social economy, which can no more be
violated with impunity. than any OF the laws
of nature. :.
But any attempt at the imposition OF
protective tariff is violation OF this law.
The nation that makes the attempt declares
that it will shnt itselfnp within its own borders,
and that it will refuse to exchange its pro-
ducts, on terms of equality, for those of other
nations. The consequence of this is that for
eign commerce is crippled and at last annihi-
lated. that q large portion of the people are
led to devote themselves to forms of industry
which for the time at least are Improbable,
that the mass of the people are impoverished
in order 10 enrich few, and that the whole
industrial and commercial life of people
comes to rest on an artificial and therefore
insecure basis. For the proof of this propo-
sition the reader is referred again to the vari-
GUS articles which have gone before on this
subject.
But as far as the effect of the tariff upon
foreign commerce is concerned, which is what
we propose to speak of now, the proof of what
of, cd &c n the nf
all in the actual affairs of the country. 1t
would be incorrect indeed to say that the
United States is not now carrying on con-
siderable trade with foreign countries. But it
would be still more incorrect to say that this
trade is as large as it should be. Instead of an
export trade amounting to three or four hun.
dred million dollars year, it ought to equal
four times that amount And we believe that
if it had not been for the tariff policy of the
last twenty years that amount would even be
exceeded. 1t was this policy that has exclud-
ed our manufactured goods, and to consider
able extent the produce four mines and ofour
rich soil, from the markets of the world; and
it was this policy that has driven our mer-
chant vessels and our sailors from the ocean.
At this moment only about one-sixth of the
foreign commerce of the United States is car
ried in American vessels, manned by Ameri-
can seamen. This is the immediate effect of
protection. Under this policy no ships can
be built for service in the foreign trade; for
in consequence of the enhanced cost of ma
terial and labor, they could not be built as
cheap here as in foreign countries, and could,
therefore, not compete with foreign built
ships in the carrying trade of the world.
Hence ive-sixths of the foreign trade OF the
United States is now carried on in English,
French and German vessels, manned by Eng
lish, French and German sailors. For every
vessel the United States has afioat upon the
ocean at this time, there ought to be ten, and
for every sailor we have abroad there ought
to be twenty.
fit were not for the tariff, our navy yards
might now be alive with activity, from Maine
to Florida; and half million of men might
be employed in building ships, and another
million and a half in navigating them upon
the sea. Here thousands os men might find
remunerative employment, who are now stand
ing idle and vainly expecting help from some
magic operation of the tariff. And the mar
kets of the world would be open to our goods,
and to the produce of our soil, our mines and
our forests. We would freely import from
other countries the things which they can
produce more easily and more pro6tably than
we can, and we would export those things
which we can produce more advantageously
than others; and all the people would be hap
pier.
The United States ought not to fear the
competition of the world, and instead of shut
ting its doors to the importation of foreign
goods by means of protective tariff, 1t ought
to go forth with its own goods, and meet the
competition of foreign nations in their own
markets. The farmer and the planter would
certainly have nothing to fear from such COM
petition. 1t is just what the farmer wants;
and such is the generous fertility of his soil,
and such his facilities for raising his crops,
that, if he were not hampered by the policy
of protection, he could successfully and gpro-
fitably compete with his produce in all the
markets of the world.
And neither would the manufacturer have
any thing to fear from such competition,
Why should England and France be able to
supply the markets of South America with
manufactured goods, rather than the United
States? When we consider the immense re-
sources of the United States, and the inven-
tive fertility of Yankee genius, there is no
reason for this at all, other than the tariff.
If the price of living and the price of labor
| were not artifcially increased for the benefit
of the capitalist, the American manufacturer
would have as fair chance for supplying the
markets of South America, of Africa and Of
Australia with their goods, as those Of Eng
| land and France have. The adoption of the
policy Of free trade, as it would benefit the
| farmer and the planter, would equally benefit
the manufacturer. 1t would not shut up the
mine, the mill or the factory. Itwould bring
down the industrial and commercial life Of
the nation from an artificial to a natural basis,
it would open the markets Of the world to its
products, and depression of trade, suspension
Of production, srl striking of laborers would