Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-01-09

times that of this country. but now 1t is
not quite three times. Then the United
States consumed l los, 900 bale of 400 lbs.
and Europe 4 95S, 600; now this country
consumes 2 95S 600 and Europe S,S45, coo
such bales. What an answer this Is TO the
pTetense that this manufacture needs free
trade and is being killed by protection.
Even within the last ten years European
consumption has gained 81 per cent, but
American 80 per cent.
Yet this comparison is not fair to pro-
lection, for the main increase in Europe
has occurred, not in free trade Great Brit
ain. Out In Germany and other countries
which since 1871 have protected their in
dustrIes. The g.eal manufacturing ma
tons of the continent began effectively
to 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 n per
cent, the continent SIS per cent, but thu
United States 81 per cent, In that decade
the manufacture here was effectually shut
ting out foreign products. taking the home
market for itself, and has since grown with
the growth of the home market and colse-
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
IS ks,I l.
cent. in the second. Had both increased
alike, the continent would have consumed
$50 900 bales less cotton, anu Great Britain
that much more, and this difference has
enabled the continental manufacture to
grow faster than the American, even
while the manufacture in tins country has
gained more than that of France, Great
Britain included. Twenty years ago the
British manufacture consumed 2,S)5 900
bales, against | 100 600 in this country, or
more than 25 bales for every 10 consumed
here. Now 1t consumes 4 1919 900 bales,
against 2,958, 900 in the United States or
less than Is foEevery 10 consumed in this
country That is our test of protection
against free trade. Twenty years ago
Great Britain consumed nearly Is bales
for every 10 consumed on the continent.
Now 1t consumes less than 10 for every 10
consumed ON the continent, for the con-
tineatal consumption is 4 1877 900, and the
British Only 43l8,000 bales. That is
second test of protection against free
trade.
Yet the American manufacture is Just
now passing through period of recogni-
ton which, at the cost of no little present
depression, leads to greater prosperity.
The manufacture at the south is taking
the work Of spinning the coarser fabrics,
while the older mills in the northern
states are gradually developing the manu-
facture of finer fabrics than were ever
made here before. In little while the
expansion of the manufacture in that re.
spect will cut off another tax hitherto paid
to foreign nations, for America sent them
nearly $50 000,000 for cotton goods in
each of the last Two years. AT the same
time the manufacture here will compete,
as it has never competed before, in other
markets of the world. and particularly in
those of Central and South America, cut
ting down the demand for cotton goods
from Great Britain and also from the
continent.