The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1893-07-28
A BAR sARoUs SYSTEM.
American Eutcrprise Ilampc, ID by Re.
publican Legislation

publican Legislation.
Those who.havc 50 long shouted tina,
British gold was trying 10 break down
our tariff in order that the British
manufacturers might take away the
American market from our home pro
ducers will find it hard 10 understand
the warnings that are beginning to au.
pear in English journals. and from
theughtful EngliShmen, now that we
are about 20 reform orr barbarous svs
TEN and open afcw gates in our Chinese
walls.
To many OF tbese "Bntishers" il has
already occurred that free raw ma.
terials and fewcr tariff restrictions
with us mean bt a surrender Of Amer
lean markets 70 them, but a competi.
ton from Arperican manufacturers in
the neutral rSerkcts which our protec.
tive system Abandoned for the past
thirty ycars Many OF our own manu-
facturcrS ore beyinning to catch the in
spiration a. Nv industrial triumphs,
having l.aTysd that the nation which
I most errotfsr,y uses tho inventions and
forces Of modern production aud pays
the best wages TO It's skilled Sbor will
come out ahead In such a contest.
Singularly enough. this same alarm
was sounded more than fifty years ago
by no less a statesman than Richard
Cohdeb, then an unknown Manchester
manufacturer, in an anonymous pamph
let entitled England, Ireland and
America. We were then a people OF
$4,000, 900, while the United Kingdom
had $4,000. 900, but our exports of do,
nestle produce had reached 800, 600, O0C
as compared with their $3.50, 900, 900,
M Golden, Comparing the commerce
and shipping Of the two countries, said
that from these il clearly appears
that America, in proportion 10 its pop.
nlation, Is at this moment carrying on
n extensive a commerce as England OF
any other state in the world and
propl'eSicd that in thirty years the two
peoples would be equal in population
and his own country threatened by the
naval and commercial asccndancy OF
the United States. And for this latter
fact the explanation is on the surface.
When Mr. Golden wrote both nations
vera struggling forward in the bonds
of the restrictive policy-protective
tariffs and navigation laws. Both be-
gan almost simultaneously to unloose
these bonds, under the teaching of bit
ter experience England went steadily
forward even to the final goal Of com
mercial freedom. We suffered reac-
ton, first from the interruption Of a civil
war, and then, and far moro grievouSlv
from the fcttcrs which the Morrills and
Mckinlcys put upon us.
Our merchant navy has so languished
that little more than onc-cighth of
what we send out or bring back is car
ried in our own ships. Our foreign
commerce averages but 81 per head
of population. while that of the United
Kingdom has swollen to 500 per head.
In other words, half a century ago.
compared, our foreign trade
and our shipping had caught up with
those of the greatest trading and sea
was neck and neck, with every chance
of outstripping in our favor To-day
Yhat commcrce we have is.Garo
commerce. Our rival carries most . lit
for us, drawing in return a rich tribute
in freight charges. Her foreign trade
in proportion is four times greater than
ours. Under McKinlcyism we should
thus lag forever in the rear. But the
people have determined to
recover the lost ground
With a reform Of our tariff and a
breaking of McKinlcy letters, they will !
lake up anew their long-abandoncd |
icstiny. American enterprise, unbur-
Tened and untramwclcd except as pub |
lie necessities require, will close the |
rap and put into reality the apprchen-
lions expressed by Mr. Golden fifty |
'cars ago.-N. Y.&ord.