The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-08-17

The "homo market" patriots tell us
that II we hadn't war taxes we would
be obliged TO buy everything we nee
abroad, and that IL is "protection' that
prevents us from being "invaded by
British goods" Lets see.
Certain things are "protected
and certain others are not, or (what is
the same in effecD the surplus output
is so great, as in the case of grain,
breadstu -, petroleum, cotton, meat
aud leading articles of agricultural
production, that we must export and
must go into the worlds markets and
sell at the worlds prices. This condi-
is exactly tquiqalent to "free trade, y
as will be readily seen; for the price
obtained for our exports, and of the
"home Market too, of the things ex.
ported is determined by the average
of all men--the wheat grower on the
Black Sea. in Southern Russia, in
Egypt; the cotton producer of India,
the cattle grower of South America
and the great oil producing field of
Baku in asiatic Russia, which is now
looming Into great Importance. These
are Americas competitors for share
of the worlds purchases of her export
able surplus. To repeat, therefore,
our producers OF these enum rated ar
ticles work under conditions exactly
equivalent TO perfect "free trade" If
the war tariff theory were correct,
such condition would result in swan.
ping America with Indian cotton, Rus
sian and Egyptian wheat, South Ame-
rican cattle and Russian petroleum.
As matter of fact, America has not
only her own "home market" in these
things, but exported during the quarter
ending March 31,1SSS,a quantity whose
value is fixed by the Bureau of Stats.
tics at 1925, $780, ,657, and for the same
period of the preceding year Sl52,211
402. The percentage that these ex-
ports of unprotected" productions
bore to the whole export trade were
1852 and 80.5 respectively. In other
words, we possess the ''home market"
in the productions not protected, add
in the first quarter of the current
year sold to foreigners an amount
equal to rs per cent. of all our export
trade. So much for one half of the
protectionist theory.
During the same period of this year,
the quarter ending March 81, 1888, the
United States imported merchandise to
the value of SlSS,410,S22, of which
S126,322,4 ,467, or GA, was subject to
daty, protected in other words.
That is to say, we buy of foreigners
quarterly Sl26,322. 467 worth of things
which the "home market" fellows tax
to keep out so that we can make il
at home" So much for the other hall
of the "h me market" theory.
Our farmers and producers of cot
ton, breadstuffs, provisions, petroleum
and meat have shown that they ican
carry tremendous load Of taxation
and sell abroad Is per cent. of all our
export trade without protection, and
under conditions which render "pro-
lection" impossible. If these men can
stand the injustice and actual loss of
being obliged to buy everything thev
need in taxed market, and beil g
compelled to sell in the free, open,
competitive markets of the world, and
yet be able to sell huge quantities
every year, why cant manufacturers
be put in the same category? All our
manufacturers need to be able to do
the same thing is to be relieved of
needless taxation on their materials.
Give all our citizens, farmers and
manufacturers chance.-Eyeming
Herald.