Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-03-05
Sophisms of Free Trade


re, enue tariff policy successfully COM
pete with any other peoplein the worlds
markets. High protection retsrds the
'versifcation of industries, and thus,
/ in stead of operating to widen the home
market for farm products clogs its de-
| velopment. Our tariff prevents a fol-
eign demand for our surplus products.
Revenue duties would open large for
eign market" The above is an extract
from the Dubuque Telegraph.
This is the same old argument reiter-
ated from 1916. Neither prophecy nor
promise of free traders was ever real
lied; all have proved failures. rresi-
dent Fillmore. in his message, Dec. End
1851 said: The value of our exports
of breadstuffs and provisions, which it
was supposed the incentive of low tar
if and large importations from abroad
would have greatly augmented. has fall
len from sos, 701, 1921 IN 1847 TO S21, 84S,
653, with a strong probability, amount
ing almost to a certainty, of still fur
| Their reduction in the current year. The
policy which dictated low rate of du-
ties on foreign merchandise, it was
thought by those who promoted and es-
tablished it. would tend to benefit the
farming population of the country by
increasing the demand and raising the
price of agricultural products in foreign
markets. The foregoing facts, however,
seem to show incontestably that no such
result has followed the adoption of the
policy"
In 1852 President Fillmore in his mes
sage said II wish to call your attention
to two other considerations: The first
is the effect of large importation of for
eign goods upon our currency. Most of
the gold of California, as fast as it is
coined, finds its way to Europe in pay
ment for goods purchased In the sec
ond place, as our manufacturing firms
are broken down by competition with
foreigners, the capital invested in them
is lost. Thousands of honest and indus
trious citizens are thrown out of employ
ment, and the farmer to that extent is
deprived of a home market for the sale
of his surplus produce"
"Our tariff preUents a foreign demand
for orr surplus products" A compari-
son of our exports and imports during
high and low tariff periods proves that
these assertions are not true. In The
last ten years of low tariff. from 1850 to
1860, the excess of imports over exports
was 1864, 1884, 43. and 800 millions of
this balance of trade against us was paid
with California gold.
During the last ten years of high tar
if the excess of exports over imports is
81, $40, ! 7l, $3.50, a balance of 1874 millions
a year in our favor, thus showing that
high tariff promotes foreign trade, in
stead of destroying it. We buy and sell
more with foreign countries under
high, than under a low tariff, for the
reason that high tariff stimulates man
ufacturing indutries. gives more con-
slant employment to the working clas-
ses and gives them better wages; they
make more money and are more prosper
Gus, and they consume more of both for
eigh and domestic products as a result
High protection retarls The III
rerstfcatton Of industries This
is another free trade assertion
without any facts to substantiate
it. The whole history of this country
proves the contrary. The history of all
nations show that no country, without
any exception, ever yet established its
manufacturing industries without pro-
lection OF natural barriers which acted
the same as protection. Under the Nc
Kinley bill our manufacturers haye
practically ''free raw materials" for all
that they manufacture for foreign
market, as SO per cent of all duties paid
ON raw materials used in manufacturing
are refunded if tho goods are sold
abroad.
Free trade with Brazil is a good
thing Free trade with all the southern
republics is good thing. Then why
not extend its limits and give us free
trade IN every market of the world?
The logic of the situation is as cheering
as it is MEMORABLE So says the New
York Herald. Let us examine this free
trade sophism All the nations of Eu-
rope are so situated financially that they
could not reciprocate like the South
American Republics. South America
Is nearly three times as large as the Uni
ted States; without manufactures. with
out wollen goods, without agricultural
implements, without telegraphs, with.