Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-07-31
The .FA.R TRADERS


A Small Faction Of English Tories Who Fur
nish Literature For American Protec-
tiooists-
There has recently sprung up in En-
gland small faction of Tory politi-
CLANS who call themselves Fair
Traders" These men are protection
lists, but they do not take that name in
An atmosphere where protection is An
outrworn superstition, discarded alike
by the Tory Lord Salisbury and the
Liberal Gladstone.
The Fair Traders" have only come
to the surface within the past few
years, and are totally without influence
upon the policy of England. However
they have started q little paper and are
determined to make themselves heard.
This little paper is never heard of on
this side of the water. except when it is
approvingly quoted by our protectionist
organ, the American Economist" to
show. forsooth, that England is going
to adopt the great protectionist system.
1t may be said in passing that it is a
most singular thing to see the Econo-
mist expressing pleasure over what it
fancies to be the growth of protection
in England. The Economist ought to
know that more than half of our ex-
ports go to England, and that the adop-
ton of protection there would be very
harmful to us-especially to our farm
ers who produce about three-fourths of
our exports
The flair traders" consider the pres
emit policy of England in trading with
other nations without any custom-house
restrictions to be unjust and unfair.
The goods of all countries are admitted
free into England, except few revenue
articles; but nearly every thing manu-
featured and exported by England has
to meet heavy duties upon passing into
other nations. This the ''fair traders"
say is unfair, and they propose to make
it fair, and hence their name.
But how do they propose to make it
fair? Let us take an illustration from
our treasury reports for the fiscal year
ended June so, 1889. During that year
we bought in England, in round num-
bers, S21, 600, 900 worth of tin-plate, and
our Government made the American
buyers pay the further sum of 81, $40, 900
as duty on it. Now we paid for our tin
plate. not in money, but in American
products of some kind. Let us say for
convenience that we paid it in -four.
The position of the English fair trader"
then would be this: ''We have sent
Americans S21, 900, 900 worth of tin-plate,
but the American buyers were compelled
by their Government to pay 81, 600, 900 for
the privilege of trading with us-and
that is unfair. But we will get even
with them; when they send over S21,-
600, 900 worth of flour to pay for that
tin-plate. we will make the English
bread-eaters pay $1,000 900 extra for the
privilege of buying bread. That will
make things even. Let US have fair
trade
The absolute ignorance and stupidity
of such proposition makes it almost
impossible to believe that there is any
one man on the earth who is capable of
such folly. 1.-The American Govern
ment makes it difficult for the American
people to can their fruit and vegetable
in our tin-plate; therefore we will make
it difficult for English workers to buy
American -four The man who talks
that way is ready for board of expert
physicians to examine into his mental
condition.
But it is talk of that kind that de-
lights the american Economist" for
it is nothing other than the great
american SYSTEM" otherwi known
as protection"
The absurd position Of the English
'3fair trader" is precisely the same as
that of the American protectionist; and
a fellow-feeling of stupidity makes
them wOndrous kind to each other.