The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-07-06
Growth OF Protection Abroad.

tries. Nor is this gain confined to
the wage earners. Manufacturers
and agriculturists are fast changing
their views, and calling for defensive
legislation. The restlessness among
the workingmen of England particu-
larly is growing daily.
Of great significance Is the recent
action of the Chamber of Commerce
of Manchester, heretofore the hotbed
of free trade and Cobdenism, in unan-
imouslv recommending the imposi-
tion of duties on foreign products, in
cases where those products compete
with native industry, equal to the
fiscal burden borne by native pro-
ducers.
The Fair Trade League has become
a most influential organization. 1t is
daily adding converts to its ranks.
The workmen's association for the
defence of British industries is a most
potent ally in its endeavors to lift
the burdens from the -trodden
laborers of the United Kingdom.
In France the protective policy not
only has a strong hold, especially
among the agriculturists, but is stead
lily gaining in strength. There is
more likelihood of greater duties be-
ing imposed than that any will be
reduced or taken off.
Turning to Germany, the low
wages of whose workingmen are
held up continually as an argument
against the power of protection to
secure and maintain high wages, we
see a most emphatic refutation of the
charge just quoted. German tariffs
have aimed to be protective since
1880. The Customs Verein is really
the sire to existing German unity
and empire. But there was not until
recently any skilIful attempt to make
the rate of duty propOrtionate to the
quantity of labor involved in the
product, as in the United States.
In 1880 this question was agitated,
and on May IA, Bismarck, in speech
before the German Reichstag, said {:
because it is my deliberate judg-
ment that the prosperity of America
is mainly due to its system of pro-
tective laws, 1 urge that Germany
has now reached that point where it
is necessary to initiate the tariff of
the United States"
Germany adopted his views and
advanced its tariff. What is the re-
suit .? The increase in wages has
been almost continuous since the in
crease of its protective features.
Manufactures haye sprung up on
every hand, and Germany has passed
from an importing to an exporting
nation. OF course, one effect being
to greatly increase the number of EN-.
ployed, the per capita rate of wages
does not show the same increase as
in this country, though in compare
son with England it is most marked.
Moreover, Germany is now reaping
the benefit of home market, and as
the German workingman has eco
nomical tastes in dress and living,
and as he can buy cheaper than his
English brother, he is doubIy bene-
fitted by the existing protective leg
islation.
Recent Government statistics show
that the Iron and Steel Association
of Germany represents $50 firms with
a capital of S262,0OO,OOO Z; employees
$4,000 men. Ten years ago 1t was
represented by 800 firms. employing
only Isl 900 persons. Its monthly
wages have increased fifty-two per
cent, and this rule of increase will
apply to all Germany.
Going North to Sweden we again
see protection in the ascendency. and
with the usual result. Until ten
years ago Sweden prospered under a
protective tariff. The doctrinaries
succeeded in having their theories
adopted. For decade both agricul.
ture and manufacturing suffered, but
in a recent election the chief issue
was an overwhelming victory for
protection.
The editor of the New York Nord
Syiernen recently said: "For the first
time in a number of years Sweden
seems to have awakened from the
absurdity of her position, and has
come to think that she should become
a manufacturer for herself, and not
a mere purchaser and consumer of
goods from others. believe Sweden
is entering now on an era of prosper
ity, Protection has built the coun-