The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-02
FREE RAW MATERIALS.
THE EFFECT THEY WOULD HAVE
UPON OUR COMMERCE.

of No Advantage, but Decided Dis
advantage.
Commerce differs from other industries
in that it depends upon, or exists on ac-
other industries. Its Office is not to
produce, in the sense of changing the
form Of materials. 1t only changes their
place. It is wFeag teidentify commerce
with trade between nations. Professor
r. E. Thompson defines commerce clearly
when he says that it is ''the interchange
of services OF of commodities between
persons or groups Of different industrial
functions.
In a rude industrial state where one
individual is engaged in doing what in
higher industrial state is divided into
several distinct occupations, there can
be no active commerce, but commerce
arises and increases with the division of
labor attendant upon varied industry.
With the specialization among workers
and the subdivisions within industries,
the industrial function of each indi-
vidual is narrowed, and with this mar
rowing of his industrial function his de-
mand for the services and commodities
of others is Increased.
If, by reason Of the creation Of new
interests in any section, more varied
industry is established, renewed activ-
ity will show itself in the conduct of
commerce.
It is undoubtedly true that If all the
claims made by Free-traders in reference
to production are valid free raw mate
rails viii increase the arneent of ocean
transportation; and it is but fair to sup
pose that under system Of Free-trade
the foreign commerce would be greater
than at present The increased importa-
tons from other countries, resulting
from g. policy of Free~trade, would oc-
casion increased activity In foreign ship
ping. The carrying trade of the world
is now in the hands Of ENGLAND. In 1889
the total earnings Of all countries arising
from shipping amounted in round num-
bers to $685., 600, 600. OF this sum British
ships received 1858, 600, 800, or 30 per
cent. The United States received $780,
600, 900, or less than 20 per cent.
When we add to this statement the
fact that three-fourths Of the tonnage Of
the United States Is engaged in the coast
wise and fishery trade, and the remain
ing one-foursh in the carrying trade, we
can see how small fractia-. of any in
creased activity m the carrying trade
would come to the United States. Any
fiscal policy we might adopt which tends
to increase oceanic commerce would be
Of direct benefit to the commercial inter
ests Of England on account Of her more
efficient merchant marine. 1t matters
not for our present purpose what is the
reason of her superiority on the sea, but
it could be readily traced in a great
measure to subsidiesa and the lower wages
Of her seamen. Our policy of Protection,
which offers to all industries the condi-
tons of successful production, and to la
Dor the highest possible rewards, insures
healthy commercial activity within the
United States.
If there is one, fact which has been es-
tabhshed as the result Of sound economic
investigation it is that under the modern
development of industry the greatest
measure of welfare to our nation cannot
be secured without a. varied or diversi-
fed industry. With our present popula-
ton we are a nation Of some twenty
millions of workers. All these differ in
their capacities and tastes. Some are
not productive when engaged in agricul-
ture. Others viii not find their full de-
Velopment outside the mines and fac
tories. The diversifcation of industry,
which offers to each the opportunity of
the greatest development and production
that the natural limitations of his facul-
ties permit, will give US the highest de-
velopment and largest production as
nation. We want to see something like
a balanced union of the four great in
dustrieS.
1t is not to be supposed that these will
grow equally, for conditions viii cause
q greaSsF extension Of one than Of an
other. Bat it can be expected that
through wise Protection industries which
are fairly capable of permanent prosper
ity may be offered favorable conditions
OF DEVELOPMENT With policy Of Free
trade enc industry, gzsows and another
languishes. The oRe industry which
possesses thsgre2teSt relative advantages
over that industry among other trading
nations viii be developed and ethers neg
lected.
It is possible that in some countries,
under certain conditions, this may be
best. These, csadiMons do not exist in
the United States today. Those parts Of !
the United States which have the most !
varied industry showe higher annual in
come to the farmer ana greater returns /
to farm laborers. Some sections of our
notably the south, in which
single industry has been dominant, have /
not acquired the wealth which has come /
TO other sections, nor Is the wealth so |
widely distributed These sections, with /
rich mineral deposits and extensive for /
ests, have chung 10 agriculture and neg /
iected their other resources. Those who /
look for new south, if they find it at /
all, will find it upon the basis of new
industrial organization, brought about |
largely by the Protection afforded to her /
raw materials.
If the principles of Free-trade be true .
and final, an encouraging prospect Is not /
presented TO worhnglnen- England has /
practically Free-trade, and her laborers /
in the factories and In the MINES get mis- .
erahle wages which compel the adoption /
Of low standard Of living. Her farmers
are not prosperous, and the Irish peas
antry, who proSpered IN their own coun-
ny under protection, and now prosper IN /
1urs. fare even worse. In 1885, with a