The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-08-01
FOREIGN EXHIBITS AND THE
TARIFF.

If the worlds fair at Chicago prove a
failure it will be due to the Mckinley
tariff. Already mutterings are heard in
foreign countries that bode no good to
the great enterprise. Manufacturers
across the Atlantic show but little dispo-
sition to make an exhibit of their prod
ucts. which are practically shut out OF
the American market by eyorbitant du-
ties. They can not be blamed. They
are about in the same position as the
little boy who obtained permission OF
his mother to go swimming with the in
junction, however, that he must not go
near the water. Foreigners may go to
Chicago and exhibit their wares, but
they can't sell them. The Mckinley
tariff stands in the way Of their reaping
any benefit out of their displays. And
as diplomas and the admiration Of visit
ors will not compensate them for the
trouble and expense of packing and ship
ping their goods to Chicago, exhibiting
and caring for them while there and re-
turning them home. They can see no
money in it and therefore when APP
preached upon the matter of making an
exhibit their replies are not at all en-
couraging.
Not long since the Associated Press
correspondent at Paris took occasion to
sound the leading members of the sew
cral French chambers of con
corning the feeling in regard to the Nc
Kinlcy tariff and whether this feeling
will prevent French exhibits at the
worlds fair. The vice-prcsident of one
over which he presided stated that it
had passed a resolution declaring that
the new tariff law tended to render very
difficult, if not impossible, all trade be
tween France and the United States"
The secretary of another said that: "For
the present, at least, the Mckinley bill is
IN obstacle to the participation Of our
manufacturers in the Chicago eXhibi-
ton" He added that:
This fact is clearly brought out in the
ItIpy NlICI OuI CHdIlDcT lllduc wien the
minister of commerce asked recently for
u views in regard to the Chicago ex-
hibition. The text of that reply is as
follows: "On account of the almost pro-
hibitive duties which are laid on our
manufactures at American ports we can
not take the initiative in promoting an
exhibit at Chicago nor ask our merchants
and manufacturers to take part in the
fnIr Int III within n rnnc,,nIln 1npffh
of time a friendlier spirit is shown by
the American republic for our produc-
tons this chamber will then be ready to
second the minister's efforts. Such is
the sentiment in this region and such is
its expression"
Still another-the president of the
chamber of m at Roubaix-wrote
that French manufacturers would have
liked to further the commercial relations
between the United States and France,
but they consider the Mckinley tariff
has checked all advance in that direc-
ton. He added that: at cannot be de-
MED that the new tariff has produced
most unfortunate impressions through
out our commercial world" The gen
eral secretary of another says that: at
is not probable that many of our manu-
facturers will send to Chicago" The
statements Of others are in like strain.
Hence it cannot be expected that France
will take but little, if any, part in the
exposition. And what is true of France
is true of other countries whose manu-
features are virtually shut out of our
markets by the Mckinley measure. Chi
cago will hold her great fair, but without
exhibits from the leading manufactures
of the old world it will not be a "wOrld's
fair" by any means. A crcditablc, at
tractive and interesting exhibit of home
productions. can be made, which may
possibly demonstrate the truth of the
.oft-repeatcd declaration of high prOtcc-
tionists that the United States can live
within themselves; that they can build Il
Chinese wall Of protection about them
and snap their fingers in the face Of
foreign manufacturers and producers.
II this can be demonstrated a world of
good can be extracted from the Chicago
exposition.
AS INDICATING the growth of the
- IL =. l.