The Globe-republican., 1890-10-01
GROWTH OF PROTECTION.

GROWTH OF PROTECTION.
Spreading Over tho Whole World Even
Enxiands WorkinKmen Want t-Thc
Prosperity Of the United States the Envy
of All Nations.
The principles Of protective tariff
are steadily gaining ground among the
laboring classes of all foreign countries.
Nor is this gain confined to the wage
earners. Manufacturers and ac.:cvir-
wrists are fast changing their views
and calling for defensive legislation.
The restlessness among the working
men OF England particularly is growing
daily. OF great significance is the re.
cent action OF the Chamber of Commerce
of Manchester. heretofore the hot -bed
of free trade and Cobdenism. in unani-
mously recommending the imposition
of duties on foreign products, in cases
where these products compete with
native industry. equal to the fiscal bur
den borne by native producers. The
Fair Trade League has become a most
influential organization. 1t is daily
adding converts to it's ranks. The
Workman's Association for the Defense
of British Industries is most potent
ally in its endeavors q lift the burdens
from the down-trodden laborers of tho
United Kingdom.
| In France the protective policy not
only has strong held, especially
among the agriculturists but is steadily
gaining in strength. There is more like
lihood of greater duties being imposed
than that any will be reduced or taken
off.
| Turning to Germany, the low wages
OF whose workingmen are held up con-
tinually as an argument against the
power of protection to secure and main
tain high wages, we see most phatic
refutation of the charge just quoted.
German tariffs have aimed TO be protect
i've since 1880. The Customs Verein is
really the sire to existing German unity
and empire. But there was not until re-
Gently any skillful attempt to make the
rate of duty proportionate to the guam
tity of labor involved in the product as
in the United States. In 1880 this uues-
ton was agitated, and on May IA. Bis
marck, in q speech before the German
Reichstag, said: because it is my de-
liberate Judgment that the prosperity of
America is mainly due to its system Of
protective laws, l urge that Germany
has now reached that point where il is
necessary to initiate the tariff of tho
United States"
Germany adopted his views and adj
vanced it's tariff. What is the result?
The increase in wages has been almost
continuous since the increase of its pro-
tective features. Manufactures have
sprung up on every hand. and Germany
has passed from an importing to an ex-
porting nation. OF course, one effect
being to greatly increase the number of
employed, the per capita rate of wages
does not show the same increase as this
country, though in compar son with En-
gland it is most marked. Moreover,
Germany is now reaping the benefit on
home market; and as the German
workingman has economical tastes in
dress and living, and as he can buy
cheaper than his English brother, he IS
doubly benefited by the existing pro-
tective Legislation. Recent Govern
ment statistics show that the Iron and
Steel Association of Germany repre-
sents $50 firms, with q capital of $685.,
600, 900, and employees 235. men.
Ten years ago they were represented by
$50 firms, employing but Isl, 900 persons.
Their monthly wages have increased 80
per cent, and this rule of increase will
apply 70 all Germany.
Going north to Sweden we again SEQ
IL
the usual result. Until ten years ago
Sweden prospered under protective
tariff. The dOctrinaires succeeded in
having their theories adopted. For de-
cade both agriculture and manufacture
ing suffered, but in a recent election the
chief issue was the tariff and the result
was an overwhelming victory for pro-
lection. The editor of the New York
Nord Stiernen recently said: For the
first time in number of years Sweden
seems to have awakened from the abb
surdity of her position, and has come to
think that she should become manu-
facturer for herself. and not a mere pro-
Queer and consumer of goods from
others believe Sweden is entering
now on an era of prosperity. Protection
has built the country up. and while
Sweden has neither the extent nor the
variety of the United States, yet tho
stimulus which protection must give to-
the grain growing, milling and manu-
featuring industries cannot but be-
fraught with good results"
Even free trade New South Wales,
which has sneered at her protectoniss
rival colony, Victoria, for several years
past, at recent test vote could show
but one majority in her Parliament for
the continuance Of the present policy.
The benefits that Canada has derived
from protection are too we'll known TO
need more than reference.
In other countries the situation is
similar. and the practical business men
and the laboring classes are everywhere
com batting the theorists. The princi-
pies Of protective tariff and the advan-
tages of home market are more firmly