The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-01-14
PROTECTION VS. FREm TRADE.
The Toledo Blade makes the inquiry

.
Will some disciple of free trade have
| the kindness to enumeTate list of "the
markets OF the world" which are open
10 tree trade? The list begins and ends
with Great Britain. There is not an
other country III the world where trade
Is worth anything at all that is not pro-
tectiOnist. And we should like to know,
at the same time, how tree trade could
possibly increase our export trade to
protectionisS countriesg We pause for
u reply"
Protecttonists, as rule ARE notnoted
for their desire 70 learn anything. Ii
they were, much of the darkness of the
middle ages that now fingers over the
fair face OF this age and country would
be cleared away. IL is encouraging to
find one who "would like to know" land
feeling that his case ought not to be
neglected, l beg leave to remark First,
that the most important lesson pro-
tectIuuist has to learn Is that a country
is as much enriched by imports as tx.
ports, perhaps more 50. IL is difficult
10 account for the origin of the idea
that imports impoverish country, but
that such notion does to a large eX-
tent prevail there Is no doubt.
The transition in England from
what was called protection to$a free
trade policy was begun in 1916, by the
repeal of the "Coin Laws, "and ended in
1850 by repeal of the Navigation laws.
The repeal of the latter was declared by
the prOtectionlsts to be the death knell
OF England, the transferring of her ship
building industry to the United States,
the disappearance of her flag from the
ocean, and the end Of her naval suprem
acy.
But what does the sequal show? 1t
shows that the foreign commerce Of the
United Kingdom which in 1910 amount
ed to 665 millions of dollars had in
creased In 1880 to 3,4S5 millions. The
exports of British produce which in
1910 amounted to 255 mlllians had in
creased in 1880 to ,115 millions, while
her imports had increased from 80 mil
lions to 2,055 millions. The foreign and
colonial produce exported from Great
Britain in 1910 was 80 millions dollars,
and in 1880 3l5 millions.
In 1910 the excess of British tonnage
over foreign tonnage entering the ports
of the United Kingdom was 100000,
In 1880 "a 100000. Ia 1910 the tonnage
of British vessels entering and clearing
at ports of the United Kingdom was
100000 tons, in 1880 4l,350,000 tons
In 1910 the quantity of wheat, corn and
-four imported into the British Islands
was AZ pounds per head, of the entire
population; in 1880, 210 pounds; of but
ter in 1910, pound, in 1880 pounds; of
bacon and hams in 1910, Ito OF a
pound, In 1880, 10 pounds; and this
without any diminution Of home pro-
duction, rather an increase. And every
dollar of this increased trade 1t must be
observed has been with protectionists
countries; for as the "Blade"
intimates, the list of free trade coun-
tries begins and ends with Eng
land.
Does the "Blade" or any other pro-
tectionist suppose that free trade
would help our commerce with free
trade countries only. Where did that
crazyiidea come from : Upon what facts,
If any, is:it Oased2 On the contrary,
| it is especially to enable us to compete
with free traders for the markets of
protectionists countries.
When the repeal of the Navigation
Laws was under discussion in Eng
land, member of the House of Com
mons, :.Mr. Robinson, stated that the
| present tonnage of the United States
was now nearly equal to that of Great
Britain, and the difference would soon
dwindle away If the navigation laws
were repealed. But what is now the
history; that In the thirty years from
1850 to 1880, the tonnage of sailing ves-.
sells had increased from 2,988,00O tons
| to 3,750,00O, and of steam vessels from
| lO8, 200 tons to 100000, and the num-
ber of steam vessels from 4l4 to 3,789;
while the ocean tonnage of the United
| States has decreased In the same time
from an amount nearly equal to Great
Britain in 1860, to next to nothing at
all in 1899. ..
If these figures furnish no instruc-
| tion to the Blade, and the rest, we must
say In the language of scripture, ''Let
them alone, they are Joined to their
| idols" A. G. DART.