News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-11-06
ADVERTISING RATES.
Questions and Answers.
From the Troy Times.

lrFOIu ule Troy lines.
A correspondent asks the Troy Times
| :" VIII you please state in your paper within
a few days what amount is paid yearly by
| this country for imported goods; also, i'm
what way the money we pay for foreign goods
returns to this country? In what way would
it benefit this country to keep at home what
we pay for foreign goods?"
In 1889 the United States imports
amounted to STA, ,O94, 725. As our
exports during the same year
amounted to $S39,042, ,90S, the
money we paid for imported goods
was returned to us in payment for
exports, and $64, ,94S, 1S3 besides.
During the last seventeen years our
imports during any one year have
exceeded our exports but three times
in 1873, 1887 and 1888. When
our imports exceed our exports we
balance the account by a cash pay
ment, if a balance is called for, and
this money does not return to us un-
til the balance of trade again turns
in our favor. But an excess of a ma
tOn's imports over it's exports and
consequent balance of trade against
it is not of necessity an evil The do
mestic prosperity may be so great
and the demand for foreign products
so strong that it can well afford, and
indeed cannot do without, large ex-
cess of imports. But this excess is
not to be desired when it is brought
about by the importation of articles
which could be produced at home
were it not for the unfavOrable wage
conditions abroad. The United
States would not be benefited by
keeping at home the money expend-
ed for foreign goods, if these goods
were needed by it and could not be
produced in this country under en-
couragement sufficient to offset for
eign labor conditions. The contin-
ued Importation of articles which we
ought to produce under reasonable
conditions is neither wise nor benefi-
cial. Our importations will always
be large, but a wise national policy
will confine them very largely to ar
ticles we cannot produce at home.
If many of the goods now pur-
chased abroad were produced here it
is easy to see that the country would
profit in various ways. Itwould add
to the country's industries, and even
the Free Traders admit that a nation
prospers in proportion to its growth
in industrial activity. The creation
of new industries and the extension
Oh those already established would
mean added employment for Ameri-
can workingmen, and the wages thus
earned would be expended at home
for the necessities and luxuries of life,
thus extending the home markets.
Every one is familiar with the ef-
forts put forth by various communi-
ties to secure the location of large en-
terprises in their several localities, in
many cases offers of sites, buildings.
capital and even immunity from local
taxation being made to secure the
coveted prize Why? Simply because
the residents of any community rec
ognize the direct financial value of
local industrial activities. The local
population increases, the local mar
kets are broadened and every one
prospers. Stop the wheels in the
mill or factory and local financial de-
| preston follows. SO clearly is this
Understood that the most pro-
nOunced Free Trader so far as ma
tional affairs are concerned is willing
to eXpend his money as well as his
time and influence in building up
local industries.
In other words, in the mind of the
Free Trader, protection and en-
couragement of home industries are
things devoutly to be prayed for so
far as the different communities in a
nation are concerned, but are things
vigorously to be condemned when
touching the relations of one nation
with another.
And what holds true of a commu-
nity's prosperity holds true also in
national economies, yet the inconsis-
tent Free Trader declares that the
policy is suicidal which would build
up national industries by making
profitable the home manufacture OF
goods now purchased abroad. When
one community secures the location
of an important industry it may be
that it's gain is the loss of some other
community, but that fact does not
deter the Free Trader from favoring
the enterprise, for he sees how much
his own financial interests are bene-
flied. And no thought of possible
retaliation on the part of that other
community disturbs the serenity OF
his satisfaction. Yet when the ma
tion takes steps looking to the
broadening of it's industries and the
creation of wider markets at home,
he predicts that the whole country
will 90 at once into financial deca-
dence, that the people will be OPP
pressed and that the wrath of other
nations thus stripped of their enter
prises will descend with blighting eff
feet upon the United States.