Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-06-16


!" runs" fiihat do you think Of the
frst year Of McKinleyism draining our
people of over 100000 every day
The second year of the cooperation"
of the Mckinley law was worse than
the first, for that year our people pro-
duced and paid the freight on, and
gave away, at least they received
nothing in return, $l92,553,54 in
goods and gold and silver. And yet
the people who did this, Clarkson says,
were effected "by what might be call
ed intolerance of morality" when they
said by their votes that they had had
quite enough of him and his party.
Let me say here that no one can, in
deed any one who cares for the truth
will not attempt to, accurately settle
the question whether a years COM
mercial transactions have in the net
results, brought our people more in
debt to the people of other countries
than they have come to owe US.
Offhand we refer to Custom-house
statistics as authority. These give
exports and imports, but there is
nothing moIe misleading for they are
are neither full enough nor accurate
enought to to base conclusion upon.
No real argument can be drawn from
this source for many reasons.
First, if the goods are not on the tax
list, the quantity and value when they
enter the Custom house is that given
by the merchant who owns them.
While there may be little chance to
conceal the quantity, there is an in
centive to conceal the value, as the
duty is based upon that in most in
stances, and the merchant gives the
value at the place from whence they
were shipped. Second, if the goods are
not on the tax list, both the merchant
and the Custom officer are open to care
lessness in stating the value, especial
" the officer, us no fees attach.
Third, however much care and pains
are taken TO ascertain the value Of
goods going out Of this country by
way Of the high stas, the statistics Of
of exports by rail, by ferry, and by
lake vessels to Canada and Mexico,
are almost entirely worthless.
Fourth. the Custom house makes no
note of the purpose for which goods
are exported, hence our goods when
sent abroad to redeem Government
bonds held in Europe, pass through
the Custom house as they leave. and
their value as exports appears in the
statistics, but nothing is returned that
the Custom house makes note of.
This is true of thousands of millions
of dollars which we have borrowed of
foreigners, giving first mortgage rail
road bonds as security. we pay these
obligations with the products of our
toll, which pass through the Custom
house and make part of the statistics.
The redeemed bonds do not thus find
record there.
On the other hand, titles to mines,
mortgages on western farms held by
the great capital syndicates of Europe
leave this country without passing
through the Custom house, but the
large importations of goods which we
receive in payment. do pass through,
and form d part of the table of i'm
ports. We pay the annual, semi-an-
nual, or quarterly, interests, on stocks
bonds, and mortgages held abroad, by
exporting goods; their value appears
in the table of statistics, but against
this is set nothing of which the Gus
tom house takes note, no goods come
to pay for these exports, nothing but
some packages of cancelled coupons
return.
One thing more, it is IA confusion of
ideas, misuse of terms, to speak of a
nation as carrying on commerce.
Nations as such, do no trading any
more than they raise turnips or swap
horses. The United States carries on
commerce with England, nor with
France, nor with Germany, nor with
any nation-nOt cents worth. Eng
land carries on no commerce with
France, nor with Germany, nor with
any nation whatsoever.
The goods which make up the
worlds commerce are the personal
property of the people of the different
countries. Governments as such, "go
not down to the sea in ships in the
sense of carrying on commerce. Not
only this is true Of the goods, but the
ships in which they are carried are
the personal property of the people.
The exchanges are made between the
people of the different countries.
f. NJ. DYER
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