Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-09-03
PROTECTIONIsM IN THE UNITED
STATES.

journal des Eco1Omises Pafis, June.)
During a long stay in the United
States, l have studied with great
care the effect of protectionism on
the American farmers.
Everything that the American
farmer has to buy is much higher
in price than it is in Europe. From
his clothing, which very often costs
twice what it ought to, to the salt
which his family and cattle con-
sumo, all is excessively dear. An
exact calculation of the damage
done the farmer in this way would
naturally be difficult to make, and
the estimates which are put forth
vary much one from another. Any
way, however, these losses appear
to exceed billions of francs u year.
On the other hand, the sale of the
products of the soil becomes more
and more difficult. If the States
buy less from Europe, Europe has
less means with which to buy from
America. The United States buy
tea and silk from China and coffee
from Brazil, but send nothing to
these countries in exchange. Eng
land, which buys the most from the
United States, sends cotton stuffs to
the East Indies, which sell opium
to China. The difference of cx-
change proceeding from this COM
mercial movement and especially
from the European products which
the United States do not buy, is
such, that it can be demonstrated
that all the profits resulting from
exports to China and South Ameri-
ca go to England, instead of the
United States.
The income of American farmers
is determined by the price Of what
they produce at Liverpool and in
the other markets of the world.
+ The American farmer may be
considered workman who works
by the piece. He has better mar
ket than the agricultural workman
of Europe; his gains are larger than
the European workman of the same
profession; yet that is not because
his labor is more productive, but is
due partly to the rich nature OF the
soil, partly to his energy, his intelli-
gence, and the use he makes of ma
chimes and other labor-saving appli-
ances. On the other hand, all the
expenses of the farmer, as well as
of the other consumers, being in
creased by the tariff, he sells at a
good price, but what he buys is
dear.
The transport of products costs
more under a protectionist regime
than it would cost with free trade.
Ships, not being able to take on
their return voyages from Europe
cargoes of coal, metal and other
merchandise, which would contri-
butte to meet the expenses of the
voyage, are obliged to raise the
price of freight. The construction
of railways is also made more costly
by the tariff; so that from all points
of view, free trade would facilitate
the circulation of products.
IF there are in the United States
industries which prosper, it is only
because they have put a tax or
other industries under the form OF
duties. Thus it is that there are ii
Pennsylvania great FORCES which
| yield magnificent revenue to thei1
owners, thanks to the almost pro
hibitory tariff which permits then
to charge high price for their pro
ducts. It is the same case witt
certain proprietors of spinning fac
tories, of mines and SO on. Al
these industries, however, live lik,
parasites, at the expense of th'
farmers and other consumers o
their products.
Itwas these pensioned industrie,
which in 1888 poured millions o
dollars into the treasury of the Re
publican Darty. because thew feared