Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1892-09-15


valleys to compete with the country
merchants. Their goods were cheap, of
course, because Norway was made a
dumping ground for part of the surplus
OF German manufactures. The conn
try was no longer able to sustain. its
growing population, and the emf grafton
to this country reached enormous figures.
The heavy outflow of people to America
dates back to the first years of depres-
slon produced by the free trade policy.
A majority of the, Norwegian born
citizens Of Minnesota anil neighboring
states have come to this country since
then. TO them the picture outlined
above will be very familiar
They left Norway as free traders
and many of them have probably re-
manned free traders ever since Some
possibly mover drealnt that free
trade had anything whatever to do with
their coming to Am' RIGA. But if they
look back upon the conditions in their
old homes in the light of their wider ex-
perience, they cannot fail to perceive
that Norway's tariff for revenue only
was the main source Of the evils from
which they fed.
The severe lesson was not taught en-
tlrely i'll vain. The period of pinching
was a good time for ref ection. Some
began to question the inf .llibility of the
Golden gospel. AS usual. in tho
politics of Norway, the farmers
took the lead. They had suffered
severely from American competition
ana were raj idly going to the wall.
They wanted protection and had the
power to en-orce their demand. The
writer happened to be on 4 Vi it in Nor
way some five years ago. when the pro-
lection sentiment began to make itself
felt. Tie discussion and reasoning of
the people We're curious. Nearly every
body Was firmly convinced that free
trade Was al right aud protection all
wrong. Sill the conclusion was that
there was nothing to do but to apply the
remedy Of protection. The hands OF the
country were tied. however, by COM
mercial tire .ties. For the time being
little could have been dole in the way
of increasing the duties on ln,nufac-
turcd articles, even if the country had.
been ready for the change. A cautious
beginning was made by raisins the
duties OH agricultural pro lucts.
The experiment was satisfactory,
and gradually further steps were taken
in the same direction. Meanwhile the
protection sentiment attained greater
strength and consistency. A demand
fftH ~
and it is plainly only u question of q
very short time when the taIi.f of Nor
way will be revised with view to pro-
tecting home industries. The last
storthing made beginning But public
opinion is clearly III advance of legisla-
ton. Norway has very promising posi-
biliJies in the line of wooden manufac-
lures, IN the people demand ample pro-
lection for this industry. They do not
regard an al valorem duty of SO per
cent on woo?fni rs a too high price for
thu. boon OF wearing home made clothes.
However. it is tine heavy burdens Il
till'i. Tor rev, II 70 only throws upon the
coln.,.o pesrle which thus t;r, mainly,
has, attracted the attentionof Norwegian
statesmen. This barde1l had at last be-
come nnbearable, and the last storthins
found itself Compelled to do something
to relieve it. Il reduced the duties on
sugar and Illuminating oils, although
it could not do So except by resorting to
the extremely lnps pnlar measure of inn
pc.l " direct tx On property and in
comes. ASis well known, this fotnl of
taxa,iol is preferred to any other
by a small number Of theorists:
but the great majority of both
p.sties i'll Norway We're opposed to il at
nelrt. Its Adoption was the work of
necessity.
Howt provide sufficient revenue will
always be one OF the main objects Of
tariff legislation in Norway. III other
words, she is compelled to keep more or
less close to the path Of tariff for
revenue. Even If the majority desired
it. she could not at this time adopt q
tariff for protection pure and simple.
because such tariff would not produce
sufficient revenue. The Norwegian
people know this perfectly well. Their
change of heart ON the tariff. issue is
therefore all the more remarkable. The
country Is sill lL,mpere,i aud its hands
tied by buhgling commercial treaties.
They all cuntain the favored nation
clause, an nil-scientific, unbusiness like
arrangement which generally impairs
The usefulness OF s:lch trcafils and often
destroys Their value. WHAT will best
subservesNoTway's interests in This re.
spect is ct course separate reciprocity ar
range1nents with the various nations
with which she has intercourse. This
f1ntN hkaNs 10 4
duties with greater freedom AMI with q
vleW1o giving greater and more effective
protection to her home industries.
Nnrway's painful experience AMI her
efforts to get away from disastrous
tariff policy adds fresh chapter to the
history Of destruction and ruin wrought;
by free trade. This lesson NAV he
studled to great advantage by our
own people. It illustrates plainly and
forclbty how thoroughly free trade sars
and drains the strength of a nation. only
to leave it q helpless wreck Oh tile rocks
OF general nlpoverishnent and bank
ruptcy, unable to supply it's wants be-
ca'lse lncap.e isated for production either
Tor home consumption or exchanges.
N early every newspaper in the North
west has many readers whose expert
encas IN their old homes form !, part OF
this very lesson Tho change Is tho
public sentiment in Norway as evidenced
by her recent tariff and fiscal legislation
must needs appeal to them with
particular force. But here We are met
by the curious coincidence that while
the Norwegians ia Norway hive been.
endeavoring to geC away from frpss trade
considerable number Of tile Norwe-
gians in America have kept on Worship
ping the old holland votin for the very
policy which drove them out OF their
native country. General fpaAking. the
! /. Norwes 1ans IN America are ahead of
their klnsine en- ;lcross the Sc I: ba, ii this
SDartlcnlar instance they st.p i r3sA,g tar
behind. NIcoLsAY c; REsvgsrAp. -
.rispa