National Republican., 1888-05-03
How Figures Can he Made to Lie

EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN: Holding
strongly to the protection principle in our
national politics am amazed that so ilimsy
arguments should find their way into the
free trade newspapers. | take II for granted
that a rcfutatiOn of them would not be
allowed in their own columns, therefore
ask the favor of place in yours. | cut the
following from the Washington Post:
To TuF EDITOR OF TlIE POsT In the very able
speech made by Mr. Burrows, of Michigan. Ia
the House of Representatives, lie stated the
growth Of our foreign trade during the twenty
years from 1860 to 1880. This, he argued, was
the result of the protection given by our tariff
laws.
The figures are as follows:
Foreign tradeo OF the United states
Foreign trade of the United states
IN lSCO..... .....".....'"............ OSi DO,OND
Increase In 20 yCars.."....,........ $4,000, 900
The population Of the Unitcd states was
III lSSu..,,,,. o. lJJ.IS3
IN leOO'...,,, 81 1881
During the same pCriod--from 1860 to lsS0-
the foreign trade OF Great Britain In merChan-
disc alone was as follows:
IN $50. iSS ?e0l5j
Increase in 20 yeaIs....."........ l,G12,0 2,059 035
The population of Great Britain was
IN lsSl'."''''''' 3llJSl %?
IN lSOO.'.. 2S,US,ill
Increase in 20 years. 900 III
Thus each Increment Of population in the
United States Of one million between 1860 and
1880 has been attended with an increase IN Our
foreign trade-Oi about Sl3, ,iiG 900, while each
nClClaellt Of population In Great Britain of
one million between the years 1860 and 1890
was attended with an increase In her foreign
trade Of more than $3Ol 100000, or almost
seven times the gain we made.
II Is difficult to see how any one can base an
argument in favor of protection, and against
WILLIAM II. BECK,
WASHINGTON, Apr. 30.
This strikes me as fair sample of the
specious reasoning Of some of our free
traders.
A glance at the article is sufficient to show
the percentage Of increase in foreign trade
is largely in favor of the United States is,
/ in fact, lis per cent. for the United States,
and is but So per cent. for Great Britain;
surely favorable showing against the ma
tiOn having the greatest export trade in the
wurld-and it is only by an absurd and far
fetched argument, based on the respective
| increase OF population in each country, that
any deduction favorable to free trade is
made which is quite like asserting that
| the time Of all Others which q farmer
| should select for bulldog an immense barn
| should be when he Is engaged in cutting,
curing and caring for large crop of hay
| to fill It.
For has England or any other nation than
| ours anything to point to like the immense
railroad traffic which has been built up in
this country during the twenty years from
| 1850 to 1850.
The number of miles built in that Ii me
Were no less than 62, III (probably more
! than We're built in all the world beside in
the same period, and certainly more than
exist at the present time In Great Britain
and Ireland, France, and Germany, the
building and equipment of which, furnish.
| ing employment to SD many thousands,
might be considered by any one not en-.
gagged in foisting speciOus free trade argu-
ments on cOnilding public somewhat Of
an industry Of itself, not to mention other
| numerous public works incidental to the
development OF new country. Besides,
any well informed person knows that
the principal occupation Of our
foreign acccsslons OF population,
also that of emigrants from the older states
| to the newer ones and the territories is that
of building new houses, clearing the ground
for cultivation, breaking the sod Of the
| prairie, and establishing new industries
which need not necessarily enter into the
| volume of foreign trade--all this to an cX-
tent unparalleled in this or any other cOun.
try, and our total commerce, foreign and
domestic, at the present time is probably
greater than that Of any other country In
| the world
1t Is but fair, You see, If the farmer is TO
build barn while he is getting in his hay,
that he should have credit for so doing, and
the barn building figure in the assets.
| WAsHNGToN, d. C., May /.