Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-10-22

/ regard the spendthrlft as most enviable.
He Is continually getting back all or
more than he gives. The trouble with
the free trade argument is that they
assume that because q permanent excess
/ OF imports Is not desirable therefore a
temporary excess Is unfortunate. Eng
land annually imports much more than
she exports, and contrary to free trade
theories this condition has every mark
of permaneuce. But who supposes that
England could exact this annual tribute
from other countries if she had not first
got them in debt to her? We want a
favorable balance Of trade, not as a
mark Of servitude. but as an evidence Of
thrift.
The profits Of the farmers as a class
are determined by the general laws Of
distribution. Those who have once en-
tered upon a given line Of work do not
readily change TO something else. But
a new generation is constantly coming
upon the stage and they are turned this
way or that, to the farm or the factory,
according TO the mbined influence of
attractions or repulsions and emolu-
ments in the various occupations. Here
is a force necessarily tending to equal
lie the status of the several classes of
workers. the only question for the
farmer to settle is whether he is likely
TO improve his condition by striking
balance with the inferior workman of
Europe, mourning the expense Of ocean
transit and suffering annoyance from
the uncertainty Of a foreign market, or
whether he is best off as he is, averag-
ing up his lot with that of the superior
American artisan, and finding a con
slant and reliable market for 50 per
cent. Of his products right at his door.
He will also take into account the fact
that a great part of his most lucrative
crops would be absolutely worthless but
for the presence of the neighboring fac
tory town.
By the combined influence of almost
unlimited land, highly perfected ma
chinery and cheap transportation the
Dakota wheat grower can undersell his
Yorkshire contemporary in the markets
of Liverpool. Does any one imagine
that the great railroad system which
makes this possible would now exist
Lub Oul NOhlAl41 AAOb ltDooCoSLAA Oil al III
IF trained artisans when the locomotive
made its advent?
Another phrase of the relation of con-
sumner and producer is met in the ques-
ton of wages, or the share of the work
man as compared with that OF his en-
ployar. This also is a question not to
any considerable extent determined by
tariff regulations. But the absolute re-
turns Of the laborer to those Of other
countries are at least influenced by the
tariff.
In order that the forces tending to
keep our wages above those paid else
where may operate. we must be to some
extent isolated from the rest of the
world Trade is a great leveler. Unre-
stricted it tends to equalize The vondi-
ton of all those among whom it oper-
ates. The protection argument is not
inyalidated by the admission that it is
scarcely probable that free trade would
reduce wages absolutely to the Euro
pean standard. The tendency would be
in that dire, ZION, and this tendency is
enough to lead US to set our faces against
the free trade policy.
In the application of the general prin-
ciple of protection to the several pro-
visions of the Mckinley law we must
bear in mind that a protective tariff,
satisfactory in most respects, already
existed. Our main work therefore will
be TO criticise the changes authorized by
this measure.
The distinguishing features of the Nc
Klnley law may be grouped under seven
heads: 1. An increase in certain duties.
2. A reduction in others. 3. An extern
sion Of the free list. f. Provision for
drawbacks. 5. a system of bounties
6. Reciprocity clause. Z. Certain
changes in the internal revenue regula-
tons, which we have already consid-
cred.
Under the first division the changes
that have excited most comment have
been these in the duties upon wool and
tin.
In the year 1890 we imported wool and
manufactures Of wool to the value of
81, 84g, 515, about 0 per cent. of all our
imports. Only two other classes of i'm
ports exceeded this sum in value-sugar
and coffee, neither Of which falls within
the pale Of protective operations. Now,
why should we import all these goods?
You have heard it said that the finest
grades of wool cannot be raised in the
United States. Perhaps not in New
York or Ohio or Michigan, but the fact
needs to be pretty carefully demon
strated before we conclude that nowhere
in our vast country, with Its great var
iety of soils and climates, can as fine
wool be grown as cheaply as anywhere
in the world. l doubt if such proof is as
yet forthcoming. However, the McKin-
ley law made very little change in the
rates upon the higher grades of unmanu-
featured wool, so that the most that can
be charged against il here is a negative |
attitude. On very cheap grades Of wool, |
valued at thirteen cents pound more |
or less), the duty was nearly doubled. |
But these certainly cannot include the |
fine grades that cannot be raised in this |
country.
The rates on wooden goods were ma
terially raised. No one, however, can |
show why CIR wooden fabrics should not |
be manufacl urcd at home. The critic |
can only reciIe the general free trade |
argument, applicable to the greater part
of our Industries. that our superiority is
less pronounced in this field than in
agriculture.
In the case of tin plate similar consid-
erations might be urged. The bulk Of /