The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-07-13
The Country's Needs.

If the politicians would stop their war
cries long enough to study the real needs
of the country they might find better
material for their campaign tracts than
now fills the sheets sent out broadcast
over the land. Here is a man with stout
lungs crying out for protection TO
home manufactures" when anyone not
wholly blind ought to be able 70 see
that what manufactures need most is
wider market. There is not a leading
industry in the United States that can
not under a very moderate tariff COM
pete successfully on our soil with any
foreign producer of similar goods II the
home demand Is large enough TO ex-
haust its capacity. II is not more pro-
lection but more customers that is the
crying want of the American producers
of all classes. The common theory OF
the high tariff politician is that the
American fabrIcant, owing to higher
rates o. interest, a greater outlay for
wages and a more conscientious atten-
tion to the quality of his product is shut
out OF our markets, and is compelled to
see the foreign substitute made abroad
under cheaper conditions by half-starved
operatives take the place Of the home
made goods. The truth is that when
ever al American manufacturer of
desirable goods has come to grief. II has
been because our markets have been
glutted by over production and dOmes-
tic competition, and he has found no
relief in q demand for export. The
moment anything the product of human
ingenuity is wanted in this country
there are found erterprIsipg lubricants
enough TO produce IL. IF no more is
made than consumers demand the busi-
ness is profitable and the industry is
amply rewarded But the great peculI-
aritY of American enterprise is a mad
propensity TO overdo anything that holds
out promise OF profit. II our people
are celebrated for ingenious inventions,
they are still more remarkable for an
insane desire to seize for their own ad-
vantage whatever another has found
profitable. The over production which
has brought so many corporations and
capitalists to griet is seen and acknowl-
edged, but the remedy is sought for in
the wrong direction. The usual course
is to combine the competitors into a
trust or syndicate or pool, and to limit
the output of The industry. Artificial
prices are thus created and maintained.
10 the disadvantage of consumers and
to the ultimate injury of the producers
themselves. The true solution of the
difficulty is not curtaiimsnt of the
supply, but an enlargement of the de-
mard. Not fewer goods, but more peo-
pie TO buy, is the real need CT the mar
ket. 1t is not protection in making
goods at higher prices than this country
Leeds, but a wider market for its
varied products and manufactures.
There are some 300, ,000. 600 OF adults in
the world outside of OF this country who
| are buying To some extent of such pro-
| duce and merchandise as can be supplied
| from our fields and factories. WHY
should we let so many of our fertile
acres lie barren, and work our factories
on hall time, and wait for these custom
ers to get tired of trading ' it'll our com
! petitors of other lands ? Does anyone
say that the worlds markets are oper
| to us, and that all we have to do is to 20
in and possess them ?-N. Y. Journal o.
/, Commerce.