The morning call., 1892-02-07
WHAT THE FIGURES MEAN.

significant Analysis Of tho Past Years
Commerce OF THIS Country.
Washington spondence 20 the Globe Democrat.
There is a great deal of politics in the fig
ures Of American commerce for 1891 Just
made public.
Our total foreign commerce, imports and
exports combined, in 1891 amounted to the
marvellous sum of S1,798.611,928, an in
crease of Sill, 9lS, Gl4 over the total trade of
1880. and of sol, 179O97 over the total trade
Of 1889, and OF S533, OlG, 367 over the average
annual commerce for the ten years from
1881 to 1890 inclusive The annual report Of
British commerce for the year 1891 IS very
different and by no means encouraging.
There was a decline 10 their export trade of
nearly SS0,000 900, or about o. per cent ;
also decline OF D. per cent IN their tran
shipment trade, ana an Increase OF 3 3 per
cent in their imports. In the United States
there Is an Increase in our total commerce
OF per cent over the commerce Of 1890 Of
1889 per cent over 1889 and Of - y over the
average annual trade Of ten years
Heretofore the foreign commerce If
France has exceeded that Of the United
States. but in 1890 and 1891 the foreign
commerce Of the United States surpassed
that of France by over 100000, 600, and we
are rapidly gaining upon Great Britain,
which has boosted Of her supremacy for
centuries. Aud here is the summing up
Here are ten conclusions on the ODeTation
of the new tariff which cannot be gainsald
Confronted by them Democracy is Silent:
l. Our imports of merchandise in 1891
were S628, 312, 645, about $1,000 600 greater
than in 1890, SOL, 1876, 162 greater than in
1889 and S12G, 450, 216 larger than the annual
average for ten years.
2 During 1891 our imports Of merchan-
disc free Of duty were of the value Of S429,-
32G 779, an increase In free imports of $780,
1888 45l over 1890. and an increase of Sl6S.
1925 over the value Of like Imports of
1889
3. The percentage Of free imports in 1891
was 5l67; In $780, 3j.l, and in 1885, 1919 per
cent was Tree.
T. The large increase of free imports of
merchandise has been of such articles as en-
ter into the daily consumption of the people
o. The value OF our exports in 1891 was
S91O, 5O7, 2S2, nearly $1,000. 600 900, exceeding
the exports OF 1890 by the su II of Sll3 DOB =
734, and of 1889 by the sum of Sl43. 800 935.
or the annual value for ten years by the sum
Of sos, 563, l50
6. This immense increase in exports has
largely been in bread stuffs, cotton. Drovis-
Ions and manufactures of iron. steel, cotton
and copper.
z. The balance Of trade In our favor In
1891 was Sl42, 1913, 636.
8. The reciprocity clause OF the new tariff
has opened new markets for our Droduce
and increased our exports.
o. Our total foreign trade In 1891 was of
the value Of Sl,798, S6l, 92S, an increase of
| S117, 654 over the total foreign trade Of
1907 OF SOL, 179,097 over 1889, and of 1888.
| COG, 367 over the annual average for ten wears.
10. British trade is declining; the trade
| OF the United States is wonderfully adyanc-
ing. Thus do this facts and figures com
pletely refute and overthrow every asser-
ton made by the opponents of the new
tariff in relation to its probable or possibIe
| effects upon our foreign commerce. and AT
this time, remarkable as it may seem. of Ali
| the nRtiOns OF the earth prosperity exists
| only in the United States.