New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-18


Justice and a Free-Trader. declared himself q
week ago I'm favor Of raising the tariff on wheat,
which already enjoys fair measure OF protec-
ton His third reason for this decision is the
question of exchange, which, he may well
saw Is very difficult and very obscure. The one
thing which he has learned from its study Is
that countries whose monetary situation Is the
worst can export their wheat crop into France.
which pays in gold. at cheaper rate IMAM me
French peasant afford 10 raise his own.
From this fact he argues directly 10 the need OK
a higher protective tariff. 1.-THE interest of ag-
riculture is closely bound up with the natiohai
interest: first, because the cuuvatOrs or wheat
in France represent the majority 90 1ils ldporeis
Of the country; second. because II there is any
dimunition in the sowing of wheat the farmers
will quit the country and come more and more
into the cities. and this Will only agsraVate pow
erty and the social question
An this which Is peculiar to the situation In
France should be set off against two other con-
illusions The first is the contention OF all
French Free-Traders that. everywhere and in all
countries Protection eventually favors the
farmer The second is the now admitted TACT
that the Protection which Keeps up me price OF
wheat has not in practice increased the p'i'e OF
bread for the French wOrkingman. As we sAau
see presently 1t has kept up his wages 10 ex-
once more 10 the financial conditions which seem
chiefly 70 determine the relative price of living
n would be instructive. in the present crisis.
to have a fair investigation made 81 the parai-
conditions with the manufacture which is the
chief object Of Protection in America, just as
agriculture is in France No DOUBT the eWiS
attributed to Protection would be similarly touhd
To have quite other causes, while the necessi-
ties of American manufacture would % seen 20
correspond closely with those Of French agr-
culture That is either American National IN
dus;rles must dwindle before a foreign COMPETE
tion which derives half its advantage from
different financial conditions. or else inc Aheil-
can Government must continue exercising me
-;.~l,, %
home productions And i'm favor of the Mckin-
lev tariffs it must be remembered that there Is
the additional financial argument OF inc revenue
which IL secures To the American Government
II has been left for the advocates Of "a tarn for
revenue only" 10 pass by every such considera-
ton Of finance in dealing with the subject.
This brings to fourth principle by wnlcn
the economic policy Of government has 10 be
regulated and which belongs as much TO Mr.:
Mckinley To NJ. Melne. The latter stated
II clearly in Yesterdays session OF the French
Parliament The object Of Protection is 10 keep
UP a production which is essential TO the coun-
try Now the Protective tariff simply repre-
scnts the inequality between producers at home
and producers abroad. \ duty is demanded
which compensates the difference between one
own conditions Of production and those OF
foreign countries With this must now be
comnared the one great argument of French
manufacturers against any further protec,
ton Of agriculture. namely. that II VIII
do away with the reciprocity required Tor
the successful expectation Of their products
into countries which depend chiefly on their own
agricultural exports. Granting the vanol,y OF
this one Is as far as ever from Free TRADE or
a tariff for revenue only. II Is simply Shech-
ing off Of the principle Of autonomous Pro.ec-
ton by the need OF reciprocity, which ltset mas
to be based on Protection TO be enectiNe. us
also has been clearly stated by NJ Meilne. me
State. by establishing Protective tarius. I'D no
wise interferes in the conditions OF competition
among producers az home It's Intervention
aims exclusively al the defence Of national pro-
duction in order that its citizens may compete
on equal terms with the foreign producer. ana
II Is this equality which should result from Pro-
tective tariffs.
As to the divergence Of interest which may
be thought to exist between a Nations Industry
and its agriculture. that has 10 be separately
considered in each case. When real Ohat IS
when the difficulties OF one or other branch ~
production actually result from a mutual ana
inevitable conflict Of interests. and not from
some monetary situation which Is independent
az both) then the State must proceed % one of
those compromises which commonly end all
wise legislation. II is like the female figures
named Industry and Agriculture. which stretch
hands 10 each other across the face of the my
franc notes Of the Bank Of France. The indus
trial laborer and the farmer are both necessary
to the community, and both must be protected
1t is the fallacy 90 FreeTraders tnot in France
alone) to pretend divergence of interest be-
tween the manufacturing capitalist and tho
landowner. That II is the actual workngmen
who chiefly concerned in both cases, may
easily be The decline Of national produc-
once lessen the demand and the price OF all
national labor.
Thus II is the workingman on the one hand
Din work and wages. and the State itself on the
other lin revenue). that eventually profit by
Protective tariffs This may stand as final
principle. 10 be learned from French finance.
The consumer his side in spite Of the cheap
goods. which are said 10 he denied him-Gt Is
not always true)-canno, help prohting BY the
general financial prosperity Of his country.