New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-11
A TEST OF TARIFFS.

In the last twenty years the cotton manu-
facture in Europe has gained 81 per cent, or
has not quite doubled. But in this country it
has gained 1877 per cent, nearly twice as much
European consumption in 1S70-'71 was more
than four and a half times that OF this country,
but now it is not quite three times. Then the
United States consumed / ,1O9, 900 bales of 400
pounds and Europe All, 900 now this coun-
try consumes 1858, 900 and Europe s,S45,000
such bales. What an answer this is to the pre-
tence that this manufacture needs Free Trade
and is being killed by Protection. Even within
the last ten years European consumption has
gained So per cent, but American 80 per cent.
Yet this comparison is not fair to Protection,
for the main increase in Europe has occurred,
not in free-trade Great Britain, but in Germany
and other countries which since 1871 have
protected their industries. The great manu-
featuring nations of the Continent began eff
fectivcy 70 protect about twenty years ago. In
the first decade their growth was more than
double that of Great Britain, but neither gained
as much as this country in the same ten years.
Great Britain gained 81 per cent, the Continent
So per cent but the United States 81 per cent.
In that decade The manufacture here was effect
ualy shutting ont foreign products, taking the
home market for itself, and has since grown
with the growth Of tho home market and con-
seuuently at lower rate. Yet during the last
decade Great Britain has gained only 81 per
cent. the United States 80 per cent, or nearly
twice as much, and the Continent SO per cent
The explanation is that the Continent has
been wrestling trade in other markets away from
Great Britain The British rate of increase, it
may be noticed, was q per cent during the first
decade in spite of Continental competition, but
only 81 per cent in the second. Had both in
creased alike. the Continent would have con-
sumed $50, 900 bales less cotton, and Great
Britain that much more and this difference has
enabled the Continental manufacture to grow
faster than the American, even while the man.
ufacture in this country has gained more than
that Of Europe, Great Britain included. Twenty
years ago the British manufacture consumed
2.SO5.OO bales, against 1,1O9,OOU in this
country or more than % bales for every 10
consumed here Now it consumes 4,319, 600
bales against o,95S, 900 in the United States,
OF less than 10 for every 10 consumed in this
country That is one test of Protection against
Free Trade. Twenty years ago Great Britain
consumed nearly Is bales for every 10 con-
sumed on the Continent. Now it consumes less
than 10 for every 10 consumed on the Con-
tinent. for the Continental consumption is
1927. 900. and the British only 4,31S,000
bales That is second test of Protection
against Free Trade.
Yet the American manufacture is just now
passing through p9riod OF reorganization
which at the cost OF no little present depression,
leads to greater prosperity. The manufacture
at the Sonth is taking the work of spinning
the coarser fabrics, while the older mills in the
Northern States are gradually developing the
manufacture of finer fabrics than were ever
made here before. In a little while the ex-
panson Of the manufacture in that respect will
cut off another tax hitherto paid to foreign ma
tons, for America sent them nearly S30,000,-
600 for cotton goods in each of the last two
years At the same time the manufacture here
will! compete, as it has never competed be-
fore in other markets of the world, and par
tcularly in those of Central and South America,
cutting down the demand for cotton goods from
Great Britain and also from the Continent.