New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-25
COTTON GOODS IND DUTIES.

"Tho Free Methodist" religious pub
LEGATION OF Chicago, edited by a
clergyman, published by clergyman, and
with five other clergymen as its corresponding
editors, will not be uncharitably treated by
TIE TRIBUNE, although it several times i'm
plies that THE TRIBUNE insinuates what il
evidently scruples to plainly assert" that the
tariff on cotton cloths does not burden the
people. The truth is th1t "The Free Method
ist' falls into error through ignorance. IT may
be profitable TO others to show just what that
error is, for it is very common one Quoting
remarks from THE TRIBUNE regarding exports
Of cotton cloth to Great Britain and the queS-
ton. " How comes this to pass unless prices
here are actually lower than in Great Britain p
"The Free MethOdistn proceeds to say that
cotton goods are also imported, and could not
be unless they were cheaper there than here,
and asserts that American goods are sold in
England, and sold at profit, for from 30 to
so per cent less than the same goods arc sold
for in this country.D This is conceived to be
the true explanation Of phenomena otherwise
contradictory and inexplicable.
The bunder here is in surprising that il
some cotton goods are cheaper here all must
be- and vice versa. II is not true that the
cotton goods exported are sold at higher price
in this country. little comparison of price
lists would expose that error. Some qualities
are cheaper here. and are exported. Others
are cheaper in Great Britain. and are imported
The same duty is on not few OF both classes,
and the object of THE TRIBUNES inquiry was
to call attention of intelligent men to the fact
that it was an utterly false assumption that all
goods on which duties are here imposed are
thereby enhanced in cost TO consumers. The
kinds and qualities which are not made here,
but are imported, unquestionably may be-
though they often are not, enhanced in cost.
The other and far more numerous kinds and
qualities which are made here and are not
imported, as n rule, are not affected in price TO
American consumers III the least degree by the
duties on cotton goods. He who supposes that
all are lower in Great Britain because few
arc imported is incomparably more in error
than he who inngines that all are lower hero
because many kinds are exported.
There are personally known to TIE TRIBUNE
worthy men Of the pureSt character, and Of
noble service in Christian churches not many
miles from this office, who sell cotton goods Of
their own production every year to British
buyers and at price enough higher than the
same goods are sold here to afford good profit,
Yet these same men purchase every year cotton
goods of other kinds which they cannot aft ord
10 make, and which are imported. The duties
on the two kinds may be the same. In the one
case these duties have for years had no effect
upon American prices whatever, the goods be-
ing cheaper to American than to English con
sumers-so much cheaper that Manchester
makers actually steal the labels of American
producers in order to get better prices for Man
chester goods In tho other case, every Ameri-
can who pleascs to buy the foreign article pays
a revenue to the Government, but nobody else
pays any enhanced cost whatever for goods Of
those qualities, for none arc made here. II
The Free Methodist, had been aware Of such