Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-10-05
The BLESSINGS of Free Trade.

The following leading editorial of the
South District Advertiser, a government
paper Of Manchester, England, talks
plainly about English free trade
At the time of the passing of the Nc
kinney tariff, two years ago, many of the
newspapers in this country joined in a
chorus Of condemnation Of the measure as
a terrible economical bluDder, which would
affect most iniuriOuSly the interests of the
United States. They predicted that while
a few favored capitalists might be enabled
20 realize large fortunes the great bulk of
the American consumers would lind the
cost OF commodities so mach increased in
consequence that they would cry out at
once for the repeal OF the act We did not
take that view, ana events are proving that
we We're right IN not taking it. SO far
from the prophecy beng true, the very re-
verse Is found to be the case. Mr.. Mckin-
ley, the author OF the act, IS perhaps the
most popular man at this moment III the
United States. A commission appointed
to inquire into the working Of the tariff
has reported that 1t has had no aDpreciabIe
effect ID increasing the price OF goods to
the consumer. but that, on the contrary.
the increased domestic competition 1t has
called into existence has in many cases
leSSened the prices OF commodities.
But While America Is improved rather
than impoverished the Mckinley tariff has
told most diSaStrouSly on some Of our
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. tLIuuSlIlCS. Inc 1lOSl re-
markable example of this is found in the
winding up Of the affairs or Sir Titus Salt
* Co. The mills of this company are
monument Of industrial enterprise and are
among the largest IN the kingdom. The
Salt family not only established the works
but created d town on the banks of the
Aire, TO which the name of Saltaire was
gwen. Only short time ago an exhibit
ton was held there (Opened by the Prin-
cess Beatrice that attracted thousands.
The visitors were loud in their admiration
OF the complete appointments and Sur-
r0undingS OF the industrial colony which
had sprung into being at the bidding of
Yorkshire manufacturer, who had shown
that he had q heart as well as a head for
the management Of his undertakings
The secret Of Sir Titus Salts success was
his quick appreciation OF the value Of the
hair Of the alpaca. Vast quantities of
that article lay in the Liverpool ware
houses unn0ticed and dcSplSed. The we'll
known material he produced from the hair
soon secured for him both wealth and
fame.
A melancholy change has taken place
within the past two years. The business
has suddenly and rapidly declined, and
now the winding up Of the great ENTERPRISE
IS published. The Mckinley tariff has
killed the alpaca trade. There is still
great demand IN the United States for the
material manufactured at Saltaire, but the
new tariff shuts 1t out. Under the protec-
Tion of that tariff, moreover, factories have
been established which are already prOduc-
ing the goods nearly, if not quite, as cheap
~ as they can be produced here.
Salitare is not a solitary example Of the
disastrous effect of the Mckinley tariff on
British manufacturing industry. The tariff
has told heavily on other branches of pro-
duction. This has been the case in pecu-
liar degrAe with the tin plate trade. No
fewer than ten great factories are reported
hgT1a al 81, Nr1xI& 81 4 O.Snn
workmen are about to emigrate to the
United States, where the industry has
sprung into sudden and great importance
We may depIore the Mckinley tariff. but
what more can we do under our present
system We have cast away the only
weapons with which we could fight it.
The Silver Act of 1873.