Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-15
THE PEOPLES COLUMN.
Communications From Dispatch
Readers on Topics of Interest
A FOREIGN VIEW OF THE TARIFF.
Instructive Article in a Manchester Paper
on HarrisonS Election.
SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR GOOD ROADS

A city correspondent sends to THE DIS
PATCH an interesting communication which
appeared in the Manchester, England,
Coa:rcr the morning after the election OF
President Harrison in 1888. 1t was intended
TO open the ewes of the Britishers to the i'm
portauce of protection and TO the sheer
clap-trap of the cry that Americans were
improving themselves by protection. The
ISSUE is put so pertinently that perhaps it
NAV help to open some eyes as to the can
vass now pending In Ohio. 1t is as follows:
To the Editor of the Manchester Courier:
SIR-The return of General Harrison proves
that America holds firmly TO her traditional
fiscal policy. 1t has been a common thing
recently to hear free traders say America
Is coming round to free trade" ] suppose
now we shall listen TO the old platitudes that
1t would be bad thing for this country if
America adopted free trade; that America
suffers tor the want of wholesome compet'-
tion. md her citizens injure themselves for
competing with us in the markets OF the
world. etc. Allow me to question these
propositions. Our manufacturers and
merchants with trading connections in the
states would be delighted to haro q chance
of sending their goods into American mar
KrtS and il would result in O considerable
revival of trade in this country. Many of
us remember how the five years OF revenue
duties during the Civil War helped English
industries.
4 few words rs to the lack of wholesome
competition in the States. The protective
system in America has created industries
not sichly industries, but healthy and flour
ishiug industries. No wonder pro -ection is
the creed of the people. America has manu-
inctured for herself and she has prospered-
her citizens know the advantages of home
production for home consumption, and vote
accordingly. To show that America has
always supported the protective principle,
allow me to quote from Mr.. HamiltOn's re-
pOrt 10 COngress in 1909:
"But though il were true TINT the imme-
diato and certain effec- of a tariff was an in
crease Of price. If is universally true that
the contrary is the ultimate effect with
every aucceSSful mann "ture. The internal
competition which takes place sooE does
away with everything like monopoly, and
by degrees reduces the price OF the article
10 the minimum of a reasonable profit on
the capital employed. This accords with the
reason OF the thing and with experience.
Who can dispute this excellent reason
ing?
The Americans do not clutch at misera-
ble gain in the price of commodities by ad-
nIittinE the surplus goods of Europe fire
from taxation. No: they believe in devel-
oping their own producing forces. If n
paSt years they have paid a little extra in
The price of commodities, it has been tn e
means of creating national wealth ten o
millions annually-and finding employm 2nS
Ior their people.
Americans do not las the eminent dis
penseT of salvation to Separatists did at Br-
m1ngham the other day. marshal the nation
into two hostile camps-producCrs and con-
Eumers: they see that every producer is n
consumer, and that the masses OF the people
are producers before they are consumers.
As q fact, every consumer is a producer or
living entirely out OF the income of a pro-
dUcer. When we further the INTEREST," of
producers We help the common fund from
which all derive their incomes. 1t is
quite certain America does not make
distinctions between producers and con-
Sumcrs. All are regarded as members of the
same community, and her fiscal regulations
are framed to promote the well-being and
wealth of the whole nation. So far from
protective policy in America hindering her
world, it is quite the reverse. Foreign trade
represents overflow trade, and the sooner
America supplies her own markets, the
sooner will she be able TO compete with us
in neutral markets Whenever America
fully supplies her wants as regards cotton
manufactures let Lancashire cotton manu-
1:tcturers quake in their boots. As a fact
prctcctiOnist countries not only compete
with MS in the neutral markets" but they
are displacing us in our home markets, at
our very doorS. In proof of this observe
the enormous quantities of provisions and
manufactures sent into our home markets
bv the protectionisS countries of Northern
Europe.
MoTal-Developv YOUR own industrial forces,
and You will have plenty of employment for
your people, national wealth, and very soon
real cheapness into the bargain. Yours. etc. |
EDWIN BURGIs.
NOVEMBER s, 1883.