Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1891-05-05
FRENCH MKINLEYISM.
FRANCE IS REVISING HER TARIFF
UPWARD.

Farmer.
A wear ago we were in the midst Of the
tariff excitement growing out Of the Nc
Kinley bill. Committees of manufact-
urers were rushing back and forth In
Washington, some pleading for duties to
protect them from ruin, Others pleading
against proposed duties, likewise TO avoid
ruin.
France is now going through precisely
the same experience, "A commission hav-
ing been appointed last year to revise
the tariff. The French had caught the
tariff grippe from us. and with them
also to revise means 10 revise upward.
This commission has been at work for
months, and only recently it has brought
in it's reports. Discussion has begun in
the chamber of deputies and will con-
tinue till next fall. The tariff is to he
ready 10 go into operation next Febru-
airy.
The chairman Of the tariff commission
is NJ. Meline, who may be called the
French Mckinley. He honors the ideas
Of our Mckinley and parades them be
fore the chamber Of deputies in the garb
Of patriotism, much after the manner of
our lord high tariff maker. He appeals
TO the example set by the United States
as sufficient reason why France should
revise her tariff upward.
When our exports 10 France, there
fore, are cut down by the new French
duties, our farmers must thank William
Mckinley, of Ohio, for having narrowed
their foreign market This NJ. Meline
is thoroughly saturated with Mckinley
ideas. Here is a sentence from his re-
port: The best system for n country is
that which secures for it the greatest
amount Of labor" Most people of ordi-
nary common sense think that the best
system is that which secures the great
est amount of commodities, are quite
content 10 save their labor, and will even
invent curious and cunning machinery
10 save labor. But Mckinley and Me
line think that 1t is labor that we need
more and more labor.
But McKinleyism is stirring mp storm
of opposition in France. Last year, when
we were about 10 pass the Mckinley
hill with very heavy duties on French
products, the French made haste 10 put "A
duty Of fifteen cents bushel on our
corn. The result of this. along with the
rise in the price Of corn, has been to
close up "A number Of large distilleries in
Bordeaux. Marseilles and other places,
which were running mainly on corn i'm
ported from the United States. The
great distillery at Marseilles has been
closed mp, and the stockholders decided
to put il into liquidation. IL used about
5000 bushels Of corn per day.
II is pointed out by a French journal
that the distilleries of that country using
corn had capital of 5000, 600, that
they were in most fiourishing condi-
ton year ago, but that after eight
months of duties on foreign corn the dis
tilleries are ruined. In view of these
facts what piece Of grim humor for
NJ. Meline TO say in his report. "The
producer does not ask for any privil ege.
he asks for only one thing, and that is
justice.'
But the distillers are not the only PEG
pie in France who have been stirred up
by the tariff builders. In Calais, just
across the Strait Of Dover from England,
the principal industry is the making Of
cotton laces and nettings, the annual
production of which amounts to $l4,-
100000. The industry gives employment
to 1000 persons. Now, these laces are
made of kind of thread produced only
in Nottingham. England. The spinners
Of France do not produce the thread at
all, but NJ. Meline wants 10 make them
spin that grade in order to make ''more
labor" Accordingly he puts a duty Of
from thirty-seven to forty-siI cents =
pound on it.
But this is not all; the lace industry
must bear q still greater burden. Its
lace looms are not made in France at
all. but M. Meline wants to create more
labor" for the French people. He does
not want the French lace makers TO use
English looms, and so he performs a
great feat of McKinleyism and raises the
duty on lace looms, now $50 each, to
$3.50.
Of course the lace makers protest Wig
orously against these burdens upon their
industry. They point ont that the ex-
listing duties on cotton thread have Grip
pied the industry, 1900 Of the weavers
having emigrated to foreign countries to
carly with them the secrets Of their
trade.
Besides these cases the silk industries
OF Lyons, Saint Etienne and other places
have protested against the proposed duty
ON raw silk, and the commission aban-
doDed the proposal. But when the com
mission wanted to vote duty upon silk
goods, and when the great silk manu-
fscturers Of Lyons objected. the commits
sion went ahead and voted the duty
thus protecting the manufacturers In
spite of themselves.
A meeting Of the paper, book and
printing trade Of Paris, too, was held
to protest against the duties which
would prove burdensome to their in
dustry. The manufacturers Of linen
underwear. with an annual production
Of $4,000, 900, protested against the
enormous duties on their material,