New-York tribune., 1890-06-30
THREATS or COMMERCIAL WAR.

Free Traders are sending ont from Washing
| ton the story that foreign Governments, on ac-
count of the passage Of the House Tariff bill,
will retaliate by excluding American grain, pro
visions, cattle and other products, on the pre-
tcncc of protecting the health of their people
or otherwise This story puts the cart before
the horse. Foreign Governments have been
doing exactly what is threatened. For ten
years or more, while duties have been reduced
by the United States. these countries have been
waging commercial war against the United
States, by the exclusion of brcadstufs, pro-
visions and cattle upon pretcxts often the most
unreasonable. The war against the Amcrl-
can hog. for instance, has been the subject OF
many diplomatic representations. Now that
the United States no longer reduces duties on
products from Europe. and no longer invites
foreign industries to break down our own by
competition, while American products are shut
out from European markets as far as possible,
the representatives of those foreign Govern
ments begin to think that commercial war is
highly immoral.
1t is a noteworthy fact that the attempt to
exclude American products has not resulted as
foreign Governments expected. The American
ham, shut ont as far rs possible by continental
Powers, has gonc in enormous quantities to
Great Britain, and there got into different
covering. and thence passed on to consumers
on the continent without hindrancc. British
combinations to shut out American beef have
only resulted in greatly increased imports
Flour from this country goes all the way to
Spain, and is thence reshipped to Cuba 10 es-
cape the duty intended to prohibit American
imports In spite of all commercial hostility OF
European Powers. the value Of exports from
the great Republic during the fiscal year just
closing has been not far from 1854. 900, 900,
value never exceeded but in one wear 1880
81, when the average of prices in this country
was - per cent higher than il has been within
the last year, so that at the prices of lssO-Sl
the exports for the last year would have been
worth S1.O41, 100000 against 1902 1000
actually exported in that wear.
European Governments may make such laws
as they like, but their subjects will still eat
American -four, beef and pork; Will still be
absolutely dependent upon this country for cot
ton and for OIL and whether taxed more or less.
will still have to buy American products. That
is the lesson which the experience Of the past
teaches And the results Of " commercial war
for years past do not warrant any great ap-
prehcnson OF it in the future. Prices in this |
are low. but they have rot declined
materially more than in Great Britain or Ger
many Cheapcning of transportation has de- |
pressed prices all over the world. II would hc |
far more profitable 20 put nh export duty on |
American cotton, and thus to force all Europe |
to buy cotton goods from the United states,
than TO surrender the policy under which manu-
facturers of cotton, wool iron and other ma
terials have been developed. At present no |
necessity for that or any other change Of policy |
appears 10 exist.
Germany. France and Austro.lluncary, the |
countries which Free Traders say are about to
take concerted action against the United states.
bought from lis last year goods worth Sl12,-
D00 600, hut they sold 10 this country goods
worth S16O,O0O,O0O. Nearly everything they
send to the United States Americans can make
1t home. But large part of the products
which this country sends 10 them they must
get from the United States or not al all. 1t il
therefore questionable whether Governments of
hose countries will burden their own indus
rics and tax their own consumers in an at
empt I, force the United States To abandon n
National policy under which our prosperity has
been uncqualcd. Frcc-tradc newspapers aud
Congressman will not be able to scare this ccun-
nv into industrial submission 10 foreign Pow
,rs at present. especially as those Powers have
cr a long time been doing what they could 10
restrict our exports, and have no occasion 10
congratulate themselves upon the measure Of
success as yet attained
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