New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-22
FOREIGN TRADE AND NATIONAL Duty.

FOREIGN TRADE AND NATIONAL DUTY.
The first duty of the Nation is to its own
citizens. none will deny. Yet the policy which
defends home industries is often st cmatzcd a>
organized sclfshncss, and now foreign critics
find new name of opprobrium for it. The
.Ercm,nnhatt' of Vienna denounced on ra:-
urday american ego,i>m in desiring to exclude
European products while preserving European
markets" Officials of European Governments
are again said to be consulting III regard to re-
prisals, in which Germany, France and Great
Britain with other Powers except Russia are
expected to join. Doubtless there arc many
Americans 20 whom it seems inconsistent or I'M
reasonable to protest against the exclusion "l
American products from Germany or France
while striving by means of new tarf to limit
importations from those countries into the
United states. Yet it is right which every
one of those nations recognizes to regulate ITS
foreign trade with intent to promote the IN
dus;rcs of its own people.
Inc solemn accusation that the American
policy is "cgo,isiic" need not he seriouSl!
regarded The Nation which actually consumes
obou; a third of the worlds entire supply oi
many important staples, with less than TWEEN
tich cf the worlds population. has som" ri2Et
t, reckon its market more valuable than ali!
Other and 10 consider first of all the happiness
and welfare Of the >iXty-tour million Americans
who have by wise government thus lar attained
such unparalleled progress. Il 1t pl"aSrS ST
| Austria editor 10 account sclf-proIccti"n
mark of cgoti,in Americans may well pity tn"
ci, ilization which has not vet taught him that
a nntion ought to caro- for the industries and
the bones of its people But is there not selfish
ness and injustice in i policy which threatens
the industry ana homes o: Austria or Of ter
many in order to hclp .\mt:Ican>'
One OhviotS answer Is that ctr Go"lN are
opcn. The Austrian can com" hithcr and share
all the nl",>ing> Of American pr"-p 'rny u be-
! v,c.>rS Those who come make Eirrc room Ia:
r.i countries for those who remain. ana !"ld-
tiycy increase the demand for their labor. One
Of the NEST potent Influences IN upiIitIng the
! wages ui workers throughout Europe dtri;ig
| the last thirty years has been III" immigration
! Cf more, than ten million persons 70 ms c)un-
| tlv Americans cannot be accused al lack 81
generosity SO long as all the blessings for which
! heroes have risk ID Their lives i'll the EoNo'u-
1ionarv and the Civ! Var and ion nich gr"a'
men haze !ahol,l and planned. al" f." ~
offered u everybody from other cpun'I"> Who
is willing to >hair both ,i!c burccn> aHd Sire
benefits Of >rMgovc,nmcnt.
BIT the American poli'y starts with In" id";'
that incomrartily the great >cr'l'" WA''h
/ this Nation can render t, Ia" world : +" maxi
flcc go\cinmcn, Il conplri" ani splendid sic
cess particularly in developing higher ma
! vid,lal prosperity and happiness Tor the great
| body of the people than can he found anyMilcr,
else To this end NmViiCa must nr>t of AL
and above all build up and d"sen" the ln'.us-
.rcs OF those who make their homes here. Thi'
is no denial Of the right Of other nations 10 De
frnd their industries also. The protests made
by American diplomats against III" prohibition
Of certain imports by France or Germany are
based SOLELY on the false reasons for that step
If either Of these nations secs fl II pr; Il heavy
duty on American hog products 10 representa-
tive of :ai> country ha, a T-ht to object.
Only that Intercourse between nation, is de
,iral,le which j, for the mutual benefit OF both
OF such exchanges there are enough, wthou
encouraging those which can only continue b,
frustrating the industries of one country or tht
other This Nation must uG"c for It's people
in fact, they judge for themselves. II free I'M
portatiOns Of this or that product in jurc then
they have a clear right to pr, the product i'll III
list of things in which open trade is not dccinr'
mutually advantageous. Thousands Of article
are produced in LuIopc which American, cil
more advantage6itsiy purchas, than pr"'iucc
Thousands are produced here which Eu
rope cannot adrantagcou,ly pIocur" OK
cent bv trade with III" United States
Exchange OF such articles is +, bot
nation, IA benefit. But IT is simply III
part of an impGdcnt bcggar to insist that thi
country shall suffer freedom of trade whic
is injurious to America, OH the plea that it
profitable to another country. No foreign
Power tha, respects itself will take 4 position
so Illuminating.