The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-30

ENGLAND AND OUR TARIFF.
In America, farmers generally own the
land they till and everything on it; splen-
did crops are the rule with as, not the ex-
ception. America, therefore, is a country
where farming pays and fiourishes and
popular prosperity and contentment reign;
provided, Of course, the agriculturist at
tends to his farm, locates in good section,
and does not overtrade in land. That is,
the American farmer succeeds in America
wherever he obeys the same sound BUSH
ness maxims that are necessary in all
other callings. If . mans business does
not pay 1t Is either because he is not q
good manager. or because he has estab-
hshed his plant in the wrong place
The discontented farmers of Kansas,
Nebraska and other Alliance states, when
they are not suffering from the bellyache
of imaginary grievances, consequent upon
the windy oratory pumped into them by
demagogues, are in trouble either because
they have overtraded in land, have been
indolent or incompetent, or have not
sagaciously selected their place of settle
ment As rule, therefore, making due
allowance for 1.-THE hard tines that
affiict all kinds of business periodically,
agriculture in America is in a fiourishing
condition.
But in England agriculture is in state
of stagnation and the farmers in state
bordering on bankruptcy. Provisions Of
all sorts are very cheap in America and
the cost of living relatively low, for while
clothing, Injuries, labor and attendance
are considerably cheaper in England than
in America, nevertheless the average
American nottingham lives 100 per cent.
better than the average workingman does
in Great Britain, because he has higher
wages and cheaper food in greater variety.
Free trade makes England's food plentiful
and comparatively cheap, but she has to
import the greater part of it.
The United States is England's best
customer, but she Is beginning to supply
England and her colonies with many of
Englsnd's own manufactures The United
States csn grow all her own food and all
that Of England, too. England's only ad-
vantage, questionable one, Is her cheap
labor, which enables her, in spite of our
heavy import duties, to send TO our market
raw material and manufactured goods, but
under the protective tariff We are becom-
ing more and more independent of England
every year.
In 1880 no steel rails we're made in this
country, but In 1882 not less than II o00, 900
tons were made; We have outfooted Eng.
land in the iron trade under protection,
and under the Mckinley tariff we have
killed the Birmingham pearl button in
dustry, and Frustrated the tin plate indus
try of Wales and the plush industry of
Bradford. The london Economist tells
the Welsh tin plate workers that they
must reduce their prices, pocket the loss
and pay the increased duty themselves "or
the days Of tin plate trade with America
are numbered" Every new American
mill means competition and competition
means lower prices. and lower prices will
make rs as completely independent of
English tin plate as we are to-day of
English rails.
Exporting at old prices and adding the
Increased tariff 10 the consumers price no
longer serves the turn of the English
manufacturer he has TO reduce prices to
save himself against the increasing compe-
tition maintained aud multiplied by the
tariff
Under the Mckinley reciprocity San
Francisco is already feeling the benefits of
the enlarged export trade with Central
and South America and the West Indies.
The other seaboard cities ON the Pacific,
Atlantic and the Gulf will soon enjoy a
similar increase, and the whole country
viii eventually share in the gains. Under
the Mckinley act the American merchant
can set raw material. for, rs President
Harrison once pointed out, "the duty 10
not charged when such material is i'm
ported 90 be manufactured into articles
for expectation, and so the American
merchant viii be able to sell at the same
point of advantage as the English mer-
chant, with the additional advantage of
free entry into ports where treaties are
nade."
Under the Mckinley law cotton ties are
now turned out at the rate of twenty tons
day at Chattanooga, in every way as
good as the imported ties and Just as
cheap. Heretofore we made but ? her
cent. of the ties while eS per cent. were
imported. This year Chattanooga alone
will produce one-ffth of all the ties used
In this country, thus increasing our indie
rendenec Of Crest Britain.
"Internai competition" and its effect on
reducing prices 10 an important factor tha.
free traders, from Cleveland down. always
overlook in their predictions regarding the
Mckinley Law. and the linseed oil and
cotton duties by stimulating competition
have reduced instead Of increasing
prices England is every year hy
her own confession feeling the in-
ereasing severity of Americas competition
for the trade Of the world. In natural re-
sources Of wood. eeal, minerals and metals
Of sli sorts the United States is the richest
country in the world, and the means Of
transportation by water are cheaper and
more complete than in any country in ths
world. The United States, If walled out
from the rest Of the world, would ssill live
in plenty. while England could not live 9
day on her own domestic food supply.
While England under free trade allows