New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-13
TRUSTS and THE Tariff.

Exposed in the pretence tnaO uhe NOPper
Trust has been caused or helped by the
American tariff, "The New-York Times" now
cav, that the American mines, having been
protected by the tariff, had no business TO Join
In n combination adverse TO American con-
SINNERS. That is true. In this, as in many
other cases, a trust or combination is directly
hostile to the tariff. 1t aims to defeat exactly
what the protective system aims to do. ITO
lection tends to secure cheaper supplies to con-
mmers. The trust made copper so per cent
dearer TO consumers. The war between these
two hostile forces has apparently resulted IN
smashing of the copper ring by the enormous
increase of production under the American
system Of protection, and if the next result Is
serious loss to the American companies which
went into the combination, they at least will
have no claim to sympathy.
This Ia not the first time that protected pro-
ducers. having from the people OF the United
States those incalcnlable benefits which protec-
ton gives, have tried by combinations among
themselves to rob the public OF the compen-
sating advantages which protection promises
to consumers. The people make willing and
patriotic sacrifice for time, when they consent
that an imported article shall bear protective
duty. They do It, not for the private adyan-
tage of the individuals who engage In produe-
ton here, but confident that in tho eid great
advantages will result to the 7eople-that the
encouragement Of homo production will uls-
mately secure a cheaper permanent supply.
For temporary sacrifice, the consumer expects
final and lasting gain. Every trust or com
bination which attempts to rob him oil thai
benefit, and so to make the protective duty
nothing but sacrifice Of the people for tho
benefit of a few producers, is hostile to the
principles OF protection and to its aims.
Having engaged in foreign conspiracy
against the people by whom protection had
| been granted, copper producers are entitled 10
no sympathy whatever II the result is disastrous
10 them II will be a matter OF great regret
Il disaster comes to tho working people en-
Gagged. and to thousands in other industries
whose fortunes ultimately depend upon those
Of the copper producers. But the mine owners
who have been for many years defended In
control of the home market, and then combined
to deprive American consumers OF tho legin-
mate fruit and joined French monopoiists IN
making copper artifcially more costly, must
| expect that American COnsuluoio WIN ShOu "a"
tears when the combination ends In ruin. The
Protectionist reioices that once moro the tariff
proves it's power to benefit the people, and Its
efficiency to smash combinations that try TO
rob the people Of its results.
There is much talk OF the reconstruction OF
the great French bank which was wrecked by
engaging in this conspiracy, and the reorRan-
ization Of the syndicate under better manage
ment II innocent parties can be saved from
harm, very we'll But no power exists TO avert
the tremendous fall in copper which naturally
results from an increase in production far be-
yond the natural demand. and from vast ac-
emulation Of unsold stock. II is supposed
that tho world consumption prior to the last
year may have been 100000 tons; last year
the production was $50, 900 tons, the consump-
ton fell to 100, 900, and the accumulated stock
Is now about $780, 900 tons-nearly whole
years consumption. A syndicate powerful
enough to held this stock indefinitely would
still be wrecked, unless 1t should lower the
price so far as to raise the annual consumption
far beyond what IL was two years ago. No
financial or business management will prove
equal TO the performance of an impossibility,
and the capitalists who undertake it will have
to face their loss.