Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-02-18
Free Trade Mathematics.

In theory the doctrine OF free trade Is
not wholly absurd but in endpayOringto
apply 1t to actual practice its adherents
often make themselves sublimely ride
uluus. The statistics show that during
the month of December, 1891, the eG
ports from this country amounted in
value to sil9,9l2 ,532 and that the value
Of our imports during the same period
was 500, 44t $3.50, leaving balance in
favor Of our exports Of $50 800 900. To
most people Of this country these
figures show gratifyi, & degree of
commercial prosperity, but to our
distinguished free trade friend, the
News, Of this city, this balance to
indicate prosperity should have been
on tue other side Of the ledger That
eminent mathematician reasons thusly:
ut will be borne In mind by the
farmer that the exports are the products
of the farm sold IN n free trade country
aud that Sll9 0i2 ,532 were only able
to buy $50, ii4 ,855 worth Of manufac
tured goods with the tariff added
The Press should have pointed our how
such a trade as tire above benefits the
farmer"
Most ilnanciers-that Is successful
lnaLciers- have become rich by taking
in more than they pay out, by making
their incomes exceed their disburse-
/ s.H ia IL.
in this country who have become rich
by spending more than they make. Mr..
J. &. Lands has | 900 bushels OF
wheat to sell. lie puts it on the
market and gets for II Sll0. lie must
buy $50 worth Of goods which he does
not produce on his fam. This will
leave him $50 net cash with which to
improve his farm OF which he can use
for pleasure or whatsoever he pleases.
lie has raised his wheat and sold IT.,
and has bought with the $50 all that he
needs which he cannot produce, and he
has besides his purchases $50 In his
pocket. But suppose the free trade
theory Of the News should prevail,
what would be this farmers condition.
Suppose he should sell his wheat for
only $50 and that he Is compelled tu
purchase goods which he cannot pro.
dnce on liS farm to the amount Of
Sll0. To raise the additional $50 he
must mortgage or sell horse, or draw
on some reserve fund for it and thus
his aggregate capital will he diminished
to that extent.
The United States is only an aggre-
CATION of people, aud the innexlble
rules of mathematics apply and are the
same whether applied to nations, com
munities, families OF individuals. II
during the last month of 1891, the
people OF TIE United States sold t.
foreigners $50 900 600 worth more
goods than they bought from them,
then the people II the United States
have put down in their pockets fifty
million dollars of the foreigners cash,
ana IL, as the News states, the exports
are the products Of the farm, then this
fifty million dollars will 60 toward
paying off tho mortgages and other
Indebtedness OF the farmers, about
which the News has been wont Ia
prate with such apparent glee during
the past year, n" business man whose
expenses exceed his income will sue
coed. No nation or community who's,
people consume more than they produce
will ever become prosperous people
theoretically the free trader argues,
that "we cannot sell where we do not
buy" Practically this is not true of any
nation on earth, and the result of our
foreign trade under the wise provisions
OF our present tarlif laws has com
pletely upset this fallacious doctrine
and is constantly getting its adherent.
into just such ridiculous attitudes az
our Cedar street contemporary nov
finds itself. If the News has labored
all these years under the delusion that
in order to accumulate wealth 1t must
see that Its expenses exceed the income
from subscription and job work, II
might be advisable TO try the republican
idea and see II II IL not more desirabl,
To have the receipts exceed the dis
bursements awhile.
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