New-York tribune., 1889-12-21
EXPORTS md THE FREE TRADERS.

Again in November in October exports
appear to have exceeded 500. 000, 900 in value.
To appreciate this fact il is necessary to notice
that this mark has been passed only three times
in the entire history of the country and those
months were separated by periods of two years.
Exports were ninety eight millions in Deem
ber, 1880 ninety-three millions in December
1882, and ninety one millions in December
1884. But they never had reached that point
in any other month until ninety millions
was recorded for October, 1889, and now No
vember, 1899, will probably report more than
ninety-three millions. The value of cotton
was forty and a half millions of bread
stuifs and of provisions ten millions each of
OIL four millions, and of cattle, two millions
making S73,662,372 in these items, an in
crease of more than S15,00O,0OO over last
year and the remaining exports last year were
S17, ,S76,342 so that small increase in these
would make the aggregate as estimated.
Yet there are Free Traders who perpetually
assert that this country kills its export trade
by a protective tariff. is it not strange that
these people do not pay enough attention to
facts to escape making themselves ridiculous?
In 1860, the last year of a Democratic revenue
tariff, when circumstances made exports larger
than ever before, the amount was only three
hundred and thirty-t three millions. and it has
since been over nine hundred millions Then
the average was SO 60 for every nhabtant
under free trade in 1881 it was S17 10 for
every inhabitant under protection. Nor has it
fallen in any year since nearly to the level of
1860. Yet persons whose knowledge of the
world is drawn exclusively from British books
keep on repeating the parrot cry that pro-
lection prevents exports.
Probably the aggregate for the year Just
closing will be over eight hundred millions. an
amount exceeded in only three years, when
exceptional demand existed abroad, as in 1860
Last year foreign crops were fair, and this year
have been large enough to prevent any unusual
demand. but the exports rise well toward the
maximum. The Free Trader is in the habit of
saying that the country can export only un-
manufactured articles, having made the process
OF manufacture too costly here by protection
But it appears that last year the country ex-
ported about ~ 900, 900 barrels -four, against
$4,000. 900 bushels wheat: its provisions eX-
ported were mainly manufactured products
anu tne OIL WIS mainly rcHHtu, anu OF the re-
naming exports the larger share was man
ufactured. In only ten months of this wear
over 100000 yards of cotton goods have
been sent to England, 22,OO0,OOO yards to
China, and 27,OOO,O00 to South America.
OF sole leather 26,OOO,OO0 pounds have been
sent TO Great Britain. In the fiscal year 1883
about ., 600 pairs of boots and shoes were sent
to England and about 5000 to other British
dominions. American stoves went to England
by the thousand, and SOD, 1000 worth to Aus
tralia. More than 100000 pounds of Ameri-
can wire went to British possessions, including
$4,000 to England Also $4,000 pounds of
American nails went to England, and over
600, 900 to British possessions, while saws and
tools, scales and balances in large number.
$3.50, 600 worth of sewing machines, and 90
stationary engines, all went to the country
which is said to have low prices under free
trade and from the country which is said to
have high prices under protection
1t is especially worthy of notice that the
manufactured exports have been rapidly in
crcasing of late. In books and printed mat