New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-28
COLD COMFORT FOR FREE TRADE
FRENCH VIEW OF SECRETARY WINDOWS
FINANCIAL SCHEMES.

FINANCIAL sCHEMEs,
xRoM Az occ AsioxAL CORRESPONDENT OF rHE Tribunal
Paris. Feb. 1o-In q highly humorous article. Le
Figaro, the other day attempted 10 correct the mis-
take Of those European journalists who wrongly In
tcrprcted some Of tho views recently expressed Dy
the American Secretary Of the Treasury. Here Is
literal translation Of tho most important paragraph
of that article which bears the heading OF America
Becomes Frccrrader7:
From the very day when The Snted states e, ,.e Of
theories tho doctors Of economical science ana
70 adopt so esoutely the protection Ssi thss
i-sait by predicting 10 the Yankee race the abomi
nation Of desolaton, ruin, brutishness and both IN,
dutrial and agricultural death. on very short noee
II Is known how that prophecy was accomplished
In few years the United states Of America has
paid enormous debt. and has become the nis'
agricultural aid Industrial nation Of the whole world
as we'll as The richest In labor and specie.
Of the free trade school with the robust faith sup
porting and consong them, they have waited ior
ment, which was some day to open tho eyes OF that
ment. The Minister OF Finances OF the Union has
communicated to Congress the fiscal situation OF
1882 from which 1t appears that besides the ordinary
governmental expenses and the paying Of the public
debt. there viii remain. under the present reyme an
annual surplus of about IA 100000. Therefore,
America Is dying not from exhaustion II is true but
from a plethora; nevertheless It is death And; as
for it, salvation through free trade.
such Is the conviction Of the economist, who arc
exuliant.
These economists have very wrongly understood the
meaning and bearing Of the new measures proposei
to Congress by the American Secretary. II they had
looked at them moro closely they would have seen
that they tend precisely To the reverse OF their views
judging, with reason. that the duty Of govern
ment Is 10 guard against inopportune accumnations
Of money, and that II is much better 70 make that
idle money rccnter the channels OF trade Mr. Window
ha, studied the best for diminishing tho excess
in the states receipts Therefore, with the admirably
practical sense which distinguishes competitors Of
succeeds in solving the question to the best interests
OF consumption and National production. ana in for.
to which that country owes Us Piodglous fortune .,
only agricultural product Of the United states which
Is directly taxed by tho GovcrnmenD and the ms
upon alcohol used in arts and trades. This eIempr
ton, of which the French consumer Is entitled TO 10
jealous. IS not believe. Of such nature as 70 de-
iopularize the protective regime among the Amerlcas.
since il Is To the prosperity born from that regime
that they will be indebted for that new advantage
But that measure being insufficient to attain inc inc
crease Dss the receipts Of the National Custom House
And this is what causes the heads OF our COCA tbn@
believe that protection in America Is no more.
Well. hear how Mr.. Window intends, 6y this
measure. To his country 10 enter IN the rrec'
| trade track!
pass over the dscu sion OF Mr.. WINDOWS pro-
grammc which is approved By the French economist,
| who says:
dom takes into account only the facts. and rpudates
all principles and formulas which might mortgase ule
future. Mr. NlnOOm 81 HttIe lltcHOS W oPch 'hc
gates of the American market that he speaks about
Increasing the tatf some articles. What articles
| ON those which his countrymcn are producing Win
| less success than their competitors.
You will admit that II requires good dose or con
yctiOn to In such a measure tendency 10 return
| to the free trade policy. . .
After having enriched themselves by protection. Il
I IL yet TO that system that Americans are about "a
turn the solution Of tho enviable difficulties caused
| them today bv their richness. They arc In need
| Of decrease in their Custom House receipts. How
| do they actl i II In throwing their doors open
| Not at all. II Is in decreasing their imporfatiohs
And how will they such and such importation
10 decrease By establishing prohbitive duties which
Will discourage their competitors and by stimulating
thus at home similar productions. which dragged some
what and consequently stu left some facility OF i'm
| pOrtatiOn to foreign competition.
In such Ingenious manner Of curing the Plethora
disease ~ their National Treasury. while aigmcntina
their sncitude for the defence Of native labor We Dc
not find ANYTHING which does not look like the Pro
| tectionis ideal.
| Free Traders will keep on. nevertheless; saying
| that America has started from false Idea. and
acknowl ID now" and tina. she suffers "Ie chaS
tl,emcn ~ the Protection,t regime and that she Is
| going II make public pcnance. .
| In judging nv the manner in which she darcs tn,
DAY Of retrbntion rather think that America vii
| die In final obduracy.