The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-13
COTTON

According to the latest treasury state
ment OF foreign trade, our expectation
of manufactured cottons has been in
creasing in a most satisfactory way.
During the ten months ending with the
last day of April of the current year, our
exports of cotton goods amounted in
value to ~S11,179,605. From the same
of the previous year stood at the much
lower figure of So, 129,35o. If it is re-
m%embered that this increase of over 3d.
100000 has been achieved in the mar
kets of the world, and in face of the
vigorous competition and prior hold of
English, French and German manufac-
turers, there are several positions estab-
lished beyond possibility Of attack,
American ingenuity, American adapta-
bility and American enterprise can hold
their own against the competition of
every other nation on the face of the
earth, provided they can have a fair
field and no favor. That they are prac-
tically debarred from their natural ex-
tension and expansion is entirely due to
our prohibitory and absurd high tariff.
We tax many OF our raw materials at
the port of entry. OF necessity, that
proceeding raises the cost of the manu-
featured goods and the exporter. when
he enters into competition with the pro-
duce of other nations not similarly bur
dened, is at a decided disadvantage and
must go to the wall. This one item of
cotton affords ample proof of what our
strength might be. The raw materials
are untaxed, the manufactured goods
are consequently produced at a cheaper
rate, and we drive foreign nations from
the markets they have preempted for
years.
When we come to investigate the de-
tails of our cotton transactions, China
shows up as our most important custo-
Nor. ''Trade takes small account Of po-
litical considerations" For years we
have been steadily pursuing an anti
Chinese policy. The present admins
tration proposed to saddle on the Chi
nese government a minister who had
insulted their nation, and in many ways
we have not cared to conceal our aver
sion to the race. But all this has not
altered the fact that we have succeeded
in catering most efficiently for the Chi
nose trade. If they could have obtained
equally good OF better manufactures in
this particular line from any othor ma
ton, it is more than probable, it is GER
tain, that they would have done SO.
They are buying from US on a purely
commercial basis. The goods suit their
market, and that fact is sufficient to
overcome all sentimental objections to
us and our policy. During the periods
already mentioned, the exports of cot
ton fabrics to China have increased in
value from $780, O7 to s4,O77, 500.
Our market in Brazil, on the contrary,
is narrowing at the most astonishing
rate. The man from Maine must make
ha ste to leave Cape May, and see to it.
We have a treaty Of commercial reci-
procity. We made haste to recognize
the present form of government when it
succeeded in ousting Dom Pedro. We
have left nothing undone to show u
esteem and regard for our big South
American friend. Yet, as matter of
fact, from the passage of the treaty,
oil Brazilian trade in cotton fabrics has
gone down and down, and England has
completely the upper hand Of us.
Within the last four months our OK
ports of cotton goods have sunk to
l,42O,4SS yards against over 100000 in
the same months of last year. England,
on the contrary, has increased her ex-
ports from 57,l7G,7 TOO yards to CT, 929,8 300.
The natural inference is that we have
not yet succeeded in suiting the wants
and tastes of the Brazilian market.
One thing, however, is certain. II we
can compete with England under condi-
tions OF absolute free trade in the cot
ton manufacture, high protective du-
ties upon similar articles simply mean
the enrichment of the manufacturer
and the plumber of the home consumer.