The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-16

The declaration OF leading German
newspaper that German agriculture must
claim as a right the enforcement OF
policy IN It's own interests as opposed 10
those OF foreign competitors win not be
very acceptable doctrine for President
Cleveland His belief that free trade on
the part OF Americans would lead 20 the
opening OF the markets OK the world for
American products Is not fortified by that
declaration. We now know that foreign
countries VIII take advantage OF our mar
kets for their own products, but feel un-
der no obligation to buy of as, and VIII not
do so unless II is 10 their own advantage.
There seems TO be no particular reason
why they should. The German beef-raiser
will not submit 10 competition which ne
can prevent in order to increase the profits
OF the manufacturer OF WOODEN goods VINO
is enabled by Americas policy TO extend
his sales TO this country.
All legislation relating TO commerce must
be based upon business principles. whi@h
seem 20 mean the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF self
ish interests. Ali that can be done is 10
so modify the laws that the benefits TO be
derived shall De as widespread and general
as possible People viii never cease to at
tempt 10 buy in the cheapest market and
10 sell in the dearest We frequently have
illustrations of the futility of depending
upon people to encourage competition from
sentimental considerations. The people CT
Oregon welcomed a steamship line which
should tend to reduce railroad rates. but
no sooner does the railroad reduce its
rates than the people rush TO its support
with risk staring them in the face of Kill
ing off the competition and subJecting
themselves TO still higher rates when the
defeated steamship line shall be with
drawn through lack of patronage. Men
VIII vote to impose on a community
heavy debt for years and years in the
future, in order to gain the immediate adj
vantage of a few months employment, al
though the total yield TO them In an en-
tire year would not pay three days in
terest.
The Illustrations of the advantage of
moderate protection 10 home industries
are innumerable and would seem to leave
little doubt in any mans mind, yet tens
OF thousands OF men whose sole earnings
arose from home manufactures voted 10
cripple them in order TO enjoy the antici-
pated advantage of paying few cents less
Tor "a yard Of imported goods whose entire
cost in the course of lifetime would not
consume a years wages; and to whom 1t
made no difference what the cost of for
eign silks. woolens, cutlery. etc, If they.
In exchange for the lowered prices. We're
deprived OF one months work or suffered
10 per cent. reduction in their daily pay.
dollar saved IS not always dollar
earned for the man who saves II. The
saved dollar may yield a profit 10 some
body else In the universal scheme of econ
omy; but the safer rule OF business is that
dollar wisely spent yields benefit to the
spender. What this country is most anx-
lous for now is the opportunity to have
dollar to spend. Too many people, thanks
10 Democratic misconception OF this coun-
try's condition. have been compelled to
practice a very rigid economy, and who
still DO not feel that the dollars thus saved
have been dollars earned.