The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-10-10
THE MARKET QUESTION.
FOREIGN MARKETS AND THOSE
AT HOME.

Shall Our Markets Be Opened to Other
Nations in Order that We May Gain Adj
mission to Foreign Markets?-Democrats
Want to "Michiganize" Iowa and Ohio
Ben Franklin's Belief in Buying at Home.
Let Free-Traders Read.
The relative value of LONE and for
eign markets, says Joseph Nimmo, Jr,
is the chief factor in the determination
of our tariff policy, and, as | think, is
conclusive of the whole subject My
successor in Office, Colonel William +.
Switzler, has courteously prepared for
me most valuable table, from VIII ch il
appears:
l. That the total value Of the exports
of merchandise from the countries of
Europe to foreign countries was. for the
latest year of commercial statistics,
81, 81, 423. 052.
2. That the total value of such exports
to countries other than those OF Europe
was 81, ,O34, 339, 541, of which 1857, 600, 600
was to the United States. The trade
between the different countries of Eu-
rope, and especially between contiguous
countries, corresponds with our inter
state commerce, and in the nature of
things it is hot a trade in which the
United States can to any extent com
pete. Without going into details, it APP
pears certain that in the competition
with the countries of Europe the United
States cannot now Increase its foreign
exports more than $1,000, 900. 900, and
probably not half that amount.
And now let US inquire as to the total
magnitude of our home markets. The
total value Of the products of industry
in the United States for the census year
1850 was, according to the official eXhib-
its, S9,253, 307,2Ss. This included only
the merchantabte products of American
industry 1t failed to take account of
many products Of industry, and it did
not include the cost of constructing
wagon roads, railroads, streets, sewers
or buildings, or other fixed improvements
ef any sort or description. Nor did il
pretend to embrace the products of any
establishment the annua value of which
was under $500.
In the year 1884. as Chief of the Bu-
reau of Statistics, | estimated the total
value of the products of American in
dustry at ten thousand million dollars
| (S1O. 600, 600, ,000l, and my friend Edward
Atkinson, of Boston, pronounced free
trader of the scholastic order, arrived at
the same conclusion by an entirely diff
ferent process. But Mr. Henry Y. Poor.
the most eminent railroad statistician in
this country, estimates the value of the
merchandise transported on railroads in
| the United States during the year 1887
! at S13, 500. 900, ,OC0. lie, however, takes
no account of the very largo internal
| commerce of the United States on water
| lines
| | believe, therefore, that the total
| magnitude of the available foreign mar
/ ketS is greatly overeStimated, and that
| the total magnitude of our home mar
ketS is underestimated in the following
| comparison: Value of foreign markets,
| 81, ,O00, ,00O 00O; value of homo markets,
! S13, 500, 100000 This shows the total
magnitude of the homo markets tt be
! moro than thirteen times that of the
! possible foreign markets But the home
| market is entirely our own, and com
| pletely under our control, while we can
| only hope to secure a share of the for
| eign market in hot competition with
| the countries of Europe, whore labor
| and capital are cheaper than in the
! United States.
| In his last message President Cleveland
| openly recommended general reduction
| in the cost of production in this country
| by admitting foreign competition, and
he defended this policy by declaring that
| it would give our manufacturers "a bet
| ter chance in foreign markets with the
manufacturers OF other countries" and,
"to their employees more certain and
| steady labor. y But this would simply
| be to invite all the world to a scramble
| for the advantages of our high home
| the most inviting field of commercial
| plunder on the glotc-fOr the privilege
| of competing in the cheap foreign mar
kets, worth only $1,000, ,CO2, 900 year.
This is the reason why England is so
anxious for the reelection OF Mr.. Cleve-
| land. Notwithstanding his late retalia-
| tory message.
| The foreign market, instead Of afford
| ing American "emplOyes more certain
| and steady labor" would furnish q most
unsteady and uncertain labor. The
violent fluctuations Of foreign markets
| have demonstrated this. Experience
has abundantly proved that it is only by
bringing producer and consumer closer
| together that greater certainty and
| stcadiness of labor are secured. This is
| one of the best fruits OF protection.
| The ex-Presidcnt and free traders
generally demand that the materials
| which reach our manufacturers Sha be
made free. During the census year o.
| 1850 the total value of our products Of
manufacture was -. 800, SO, 19l, and the
value of the materials used was S3, 800,
| So, $40, a sum three times as large as
| the entire foreign market available for
| the United States. The market value
| of such materials. usually denominated
| as raw materials" by free-traders. is
entirely the product of American labor,
| and almost entirely labor Of the lower
| grades receiving the relatively lower
| rates of wages and composing the great
bulk of American laborers engaged in
| agricultural, mechanical, and mining
| industries of the United States. Here
! Is lust where the blow of free trade
| would strike first.
| Our home market is at all times regu-
| lated, and the wages Of labor and the
| prices of commodities are at all times
| determined by the conditions which Sc
| cure American rates of wages to A!ueri-
| can laborers, and American labor and
| American capital are entitled to the full
| benefits which those conditions afford
| This is the key to our prosperity. Free
| trade is based upon the idea of a world
| wide scramble for cheapncss, while pro
| lection is based upon the idea of securing
remuneratiye employment in this coun
! try for every willing head and hand