St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-19
THE AUsTR ALLAN EXPERT
MENT.

Protection, free trade and state So
cialism have each had their field OF eX-
Fermentation in the Australian prov-0
inces under conditions most favorable
for purposes of comparison and deter
mination Of the merits of the various
systems. 1t has always been the an
swer of free traders, when protection
lists referred to certain English condi-
tons as showing the evil OF free trade,
that comparisons were worthless unless
conditions were the same. LII the three
provinces of Victoria, New South Wales
and New Zealand, conditions are so
nearly Identical that a comparison of
the effects of restricted or free trade
and of state socialism can he Justly
made. Settled about the same time by
about the same kind OF people, having
nearly the same climatic conditions
and the same natural resources, these
colonies have been widely divergent in
their policies.
For twenty-five years New South
Wales has pursued the policy OF the
mother country, while for the same
time Victoria and New Zealand have ap-
piled that which has been enforced in
this country. In New Zealand, within
recent years, there has been an addi-
tlonal use of governmental power on
the lines of state socialism. Lit has
protected its infant industries by
taxing imports heavily; it has given
free rein to the demands of labor,
enfranchIsed women, and imposed a
graduated land tax. Victoria rivals
McKinleyisln i'll the extent to which it
protects its industries, and has devel-
oped the policy to a point where its
author, Sir Granam Berry, complacentlY
asserts that it is impossible to have pro-
lection in a more defined and pro-
nounced form than they have il in Vic
toria.
The Sydney Herald of June 5 notes
the fact that steamers arriving there
from New Zealand are crowded with
passengers, many of whom come to
seek work. 1t notes the further fact
that the population Of Melbourne, "the
home, the headquarters of Victorian
protection, the metropolis of protection
ist paradise" has within the last two or
three years lost from &c, 900 to 70.000 i'll
habitants by removal. In this counec-
ton may also be noted the ebbing OF
the tide of immigration in this country,
in a return of laboring nen to their
European homes, which has become SO
marked this year as to attract public
attention and comment
The Herald correctly observes that
1.-THE most effective analytical criticism
would be feeble as compared with the
simple statement of the fact" Human
endeavor, like motion, runs on the lines
of least resistance. 1t is attracted to
those countries where the conditions are
most favorable for the largest returns
for labor, and is repealed from those
countries where the conditions mini
mize the returns. Under the impact of
the trade depression which overlook
the Australian provinces in 1890.
New South Wales departed from its
free trade policy, and, yielding TO the
clamor of those who always, in the
times of stress, raise their hands in sup
plicatIon to the government for aid.
gave that province what the Herald
terms "a small installment of protec-
ton" The ministers predicted that it
would ''result i'll the establishing of
new industries and IN largely increased
employments for our people,"
No one Of these expectations have
been realized. On the other hand the
tendency in Victoria. as it has been in
this country, has been to Increase the
ciamor for more protection, and the pro-
tected manufacturers are now clamor-
Gus for absolute prohibition of imports.
Their unanimous declaration is
"unless we have prohibition pros
lection is no use to u.s." Sum-
ming up the results of these three ex-
periments in government, the Herald
sensibly concludes "that they hardly
support that view Of state and legislat-
i've omniscience and infallibiIity on
which the system is founded. So
far as at present appears, the
functions of government and iegisla-
ton are far better employed in Sc
curing law and order, liberty, and
fair road for all, than in attempting TO
build impossible Utopias when the only
possible means of procedure are by
wrongfully using the powers of the
state to take away the property ofone
class or of the general community to
give it to individuals of classes who are
anjustlY favored"