Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1891-02-27


Emphatic Resolutions to Keep Out
Foreign Imports and TO Promote Native
Industries.
II we turn to other countries-tho
nations which have not hitherto held
such pronounced opinions in favor Of
protection as the United States have
done-what do we see? Why, a most
emphatic resolution to keep out foreign
imports and to promote native indus
tries.
Take Russia for example. That coun-
try during the past ten years has success.
sively passed and adopted protectionist
laws, and is even now engaged in pro-
ductng further measures In this drec-
ton, full particulars of which arc ex.
pacted to be published by the Russian
Government during this year. In June
and July, 1887, the rates on iron and
sted and various manufactures thereof.
motive Sachinery and other articles
were all 9aised. In the same year the
import duties on agricultural machinery,
twisted cotton yarns and buttons were
all added to. Severe alterations were
also made in the rates on wooden and
worsted yarns. But the last move was
the issue of Russian imperial decree of
September, 1890, which placed at once a
uniform addition Of 20 per cent on
existing rates As stated before. the
Russian Government is taking further
measures to protect native manufactures.
The Importance to England of these laws
is very great, considering that she has
been exporting thence large quantities
OF hoop and sheet iron, tin plate, cast
and wrought iron, tin and pig lead, steam
engines and general machinery. The
new tariff will no doubt render larger
commercial intercourse impossible.
The protectlonist party In France Is
using al! its influence 10 make the Gov
ernment Of that country adopt strin-
gent protectionist tariff when the exist
ing treaties expire a. the end Of 1891. It
proposes to have double tariff-one for
countries which will admit French goods
at a low rate, and the other one for hos
tile nations Practically, all the moro
important chambers OF commerce in
France agree that ono or another indus
try requires protection The proposal
will hit foregn-made cotton, wooden, and
other textile goods, machinery, tools,
hardware, hides, etc, very severely,
some of the suggested duties being ad-
vanced double for the minimum tariff,
and Of course more than this for the hos
tile tariff. The question of revision is now
being considered by the French Legisa-
ture.
The Spanish Government is now con-
sidering the advsability of amending its
present tariff and imposing duties on
cutlery, agricultural machinery. cotton
and cotton manufactures, and many
other articles. Already the import du-
ties on foreign wheat, rice, meat, etc,
are to be raised Italy is practically
fenced round by q protectionist tariff.
and most English manufacturers have
given up any attempt to send goods
thither. In fact, some British firms
have opened establishments in Italian
towns for the manufacture of goods they
cannot export.
Austria Hungary introduced a tariff in
1887 which increased the duties On most
cotton goods, locomotive machinery, and
metals. Roumanja has made several in
creases, covering a large number of arti.
cles. Switzerland feels the effect of for
eign imports to be too strong to be with
stood, and the Government is preparing
to abandon its previous free trade pol
Icy. and intends Introducing very soon
a new tariff. Roumania has made sew
eral additions to its rates within the last
three or four years; also Greece. Tur-
key, Bulgaria. Holland, Belgium, and
Denmark have not as yet taken action in
this respect Portugal, in 1857, made
large additions to the import duties on
castiron tubes, cotton tissues, cutlery,
etc. Germany continues to maintain
her present system of protection, al
though an international free trade con-
ference is proposed to be held shortly in
Berlin.
It will, therefore, be readily seen that
the European continent is protectionist
10 the core, and that the termination of
many CONNER ial treaties in 1891 and
1899 will accentuate this position and
make protection still more accom-
plished fact. England alone among the
leading nations maintains semi policy
OF flee trade, which is not absolutely
free, because she taxes good many i'm
ported articles for revenue purposes.
Mr.. Gladstone recently said that En-
gland traded with the whole world, and
not with one country, and thai was her
protection against universal law Of
prohibition. But all these countries arc
shutting their markets against her, and
in time England will oaly have her
colonies to look to-