Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-10-07
Let Free-Traders Read.


is the chief factor in the determination
OF our tariff policy, and, as | think, is
conclusive of the whole subject Ny
successor in Office, Colonel William T.
Switzler has coarteously prepared for
me D most valuable table, from VIII oh it
appears:
J. That the total value of the exports
of merchandise from the countries of
Europe to foreign countries was, for the
latest year of commercial statistics,
4,311, 423, 052.
2. That the total value of such exports
TO countries other than those Of Europe
was 1,034, 339. 541, of which 1857, 900, 900
was to the United States. The trade
between the different countries of Eu-
rope, and especially between contiguous
countries, corresponds with our inter-
state commerce, and in the nature of
things it is lot a trade in which the
United States can to any extent COM
II pete. Without going into details, it ap-
pears certain that in the competition
with the countries Of Europe the United
States cannot now increase it's foreign
exports more than $1,000, 900, 900, and
probably not half that amount.
And now let us inquire as to the total
magnitude of our home markets. The
total value Of the products of industry
1880 was, according to the official eXhib-
its, 50, 253, 3O7, 2S5. This included only
the merchandise products of American
industry 1t failed to take account of
many products of industry, and it did
not include the cost of constructing
wagon roads, railroads, streets, sewers
or buildings, or other fixed improvements
CT any sort or description. Nor did it
pretend to embrace the products Of any
establishment the annual value of which
was under $500.
IN the year 1884, as Chief of the Bu-
reau of Statistics, | estimated the total
value of the products of American in
dustry at ten thousand million dollars
($10, coo, 600, 000), and my friend Edward
Atkinson, of Boston, pronounced free
trader of the scholastic order, arrived at
the same conclusion by an entirely diff
ferent process But Mr. Henry V. Poor.
the most eminent railroad statistician in
this country, estimates the value of the
merchandise transported on railroads in
the United States during the year 1887
at S13, 500, 900, 0CO. He, however takes
no account Of the very large internal
commerce of the United States Oh water
lines
| believe, therefore, that the total
magnitude Of the available foreign mar
kets is greatly overestimated, and that
the total magnitude of our home mar
Kets is underestimated in the following
comparison: Value Of foreign markets,
81, 90. 900, 900; value OF home markets
$13, 500, coo, 600 This shows the total
magnitude of the home markets to be
more than thirteen times that of the
possible foreign markets. But the home
market is entirely our own, and COM
pletely under our control, while we can
only hope to secure a share OF the for
eign market il hot competition with
the countries Of Europe, where labor
and capital are cheaper than in the
United States.
In his last message President Cleveland
openly recommended general reduction
in the cost Of production in this country
10y admitting foreign competition, and
he defended this policy by declaring that
it would give our manufacturers "a bet
ter chance in foreign markets with the
manufacturers of other countries" and.
"to their employees more certain and
steady labor But this would simply
be to invite al the world to oramble
for the advantages Of our high home
market, worth S13, 500, 900, OcO a year
the most inviting field of commercial
plumber on the glole-for the privilege
of connecting in the cheap foreign mar
kets, worth only 81. 00c coz, 900 a year.
This is the reason why England is so
anxious for the reelection Of Mr.. Cleve-
land, Notwithstanding his late retaIia-
tory message.
The foreign market, instead OF afford
ing American "employes more certain
and steady labor" would furnish a most
unsteady and uncertain labor. The
Violent fluctuations Of foreign markets
have demonstrated this Experience
has abundantly proved that it is only by
bringing producer and consumer closer
together that greater certainty and
steadiness Of labor are securcd. This is
one Of the best fruits OF protection
The ex-President and free traders
generally demand that the materials
which reach our manufacturers sha be
smade free. During the census year OF
1880 the total value Of our products of
manufacture was s., 36e, SIC, 191, and the
value Of the materials used was 50, $685.
822, $40, a sum three times as large as
the entire foreign market available for
the United States. The market value
of such materials, usually denominated
as "raw materials" by free-traders, is
entirely the product OF American labor,
and almost entirely labor of the lower
grades receiving the re ativeiy lower
rates Of wages apd composing the great
bulk of American laborers engaged in
agricultural, mechanical, and mining
industries of the United States Here
lis Just where the blow of free trade
would strike first
Chr home market is at all times regu-
lated, and the wages of labor and the
prices Of commodities are at all times
determined by the conditions which Sc
cure American rates of wages to Ameri-
can laborers, and American labor and
American capital are entitled to the full
benefits which those conditions afford.
This is the key to our prosper ty. Free
trade is based upon he idea Of world
wide scramble for cheapness, while pro-
lection is based upon the idea of securing
remunerative employment in this cOun-
try for every willing head and hand.