New-York tribune., 1893-12-14
though on our bestequipped roads we can PROD
ably stand comparison very well with our
transatlantic neighbors
THE VORLD'S MARKETS.


Chairman Wilson and his colleagues profess
70 believe that American manufacturers with
free raw materials will speedily be enabled to
secure control Of the markets Of the world.
They do not explain how 1t has come about that
oxnorters have had small share OF foreign
trade during the last generation In those lines
Of manufacture for which free raw materials
have been supplied. For example, cotton manu-
foctures rubber goods, boots and shoes ana
other articles of leather and silver manufact-
ures Cotton rubber hides and silver have
been on the free list; but American manufact-
urcs of these classes have not been sold in
foreign markets in effective competition with
foreign goods Free raw materials have not
secured for these manufactures successful
sale abroad What reason Is there for believ-
ing that free wool will carry American wool
lens into the worlds markets; or that free lunl-
ber and ores will enable manufacturers to com
pete actively with European rivals?
It Is mercantile enterprise, not tariff legisla-
tion that captures foreign markets. The for
eign trade of Great Britain Is the legitimate
result Of several generations Of systematic ana
Intelligent work There are lines OF British
steamers running to every quarter OF the hab-
liable globe In every foreign country there
are British wholesale houses, where large stocks
are carried and where native retail merchants
can buy goods and obtain them without delay.
Wherever British merchants have gone they
have established banks Of their own for the
purpose Of facilitating international exchanges.
With low steamship freights, wholesale ware
houses and trustworthy banking facilities the
English and the Germans have secured n very
large share Of foreign trade Meanwhile Amer!-
cans during the last thirty years have been
devoting themselves almost exclusively to their
own market. They have allowed their CONNER
cial marine 10 decline; they have not opened
wholesale stores in foreign ports; and they have
made no attempt to supply merchants abroad
with banking facilities.
1t Is a prepOsterOus assumption that free raw
materials and cheaper labor will place Ameri-
manufacturers In control Of foreign mar
kets. Whether there is n high or low tariff
there must be maritime and mercantile enter
prise before English and German manufactures
can be displaced in foreign markets which have
been won by half a century Of organized effort
II free raw materials were the only element in
the problem. American cottons. boots and shoes,
leather goods and rubber and silver manufact-
ures would have the field To themselves In Eu-
rope and South America. Mercantile energy
has been lacking To carry them into the foreign
market
If Chairman Wilson and his colleagues were
really In earnest in their policy OF securing for
cign markets for American manufactures. they
would not be guilty OF the incredible folly Of
sllrrcnderng the best market In the world with
ont obtaining In return compcnsating adyan-
tages for the export trade They would sub
jcct the entire tariff scheme 10 Reciprocity con-
ditions. by which treaties might be made with
Australia. the Plate countries. Chill. Canada
and the European Continental nations Prefer
entail rates and commercial concessions Of very
great usefulness in developing the export trade
could easily be secured. The weight Of the
home market might be brought In as a factor
OF determining force in opening foreign coun-
tries To American manufactures and natural
products and in offsetting to n large extent the
advantages secured by the English and Ger
mans through half a century Of mercantile en-
tcrprisc. President Cleveland and Chairman
Wilson lack the breadth Of view required for
instituting such policy. They are blind Eng
lish theorists without practical Intelligence
They insist upon giving away the American
market TO all comers because that is the Eng
lish way. Then they console themselves with
the reflection that an abstract economic theory
will carry American exports into foreign mar
kcts and sell them