The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-29
MANUFACTURES AN
INDEX OF PROGRESS

Commercial and intellectual Develop.
ment Travel Side by Side.
BUSY WORKSHOPS AND SCHOOLS
Text of a Recent Speech by Governor
Lippitt of Rhode Island That Has
Practical Bearing on the Present
Campaign.
The consideration of protection leads
at once to the question of manufac-
lures. Are they necessary or adVan-
tageous in country like ours! FOR
more than thirty years, after 1861, Pro-
lection prevailed with an unbroken rec
ord in this country. For the past Few
years there has been departure from
this policy. We are about to decide
whether to return to the policy of Pro-
lection. or to continue in the direction
indicated by the Democratic party.
In such circumstances an eXamina-
tion of the experience of other nations
In relation to manufactures may help
us to determine our best interests In
South America there is not a single
manufacturing nation, as the term is
now understood Africa is in a similar
condition. The same is true of ASIA eX-
cept, in some respects, those portions
of that vast continent that have come
under the control Of the more enterpris-
ing nations of Europe. japan, perhaps,
furnishes an exception. Side by side
with the victories that she has gained
over her ancient enemy, China, come
accounts of her successes in manufac-
turing. The United States may find a
competitor from the West in addition
to those that have heretofore been met
from the East.
In Europe the situation is different.
1t Is the manufacturing continent of the
world Measure the nations it contains
by manufactures, and the order is Eng
land. Germany, France, Russia, Italy,
Spain. y comparative table of the po-
sition of these nations in manufacture
Ing was compiled for the year 1883.
United Kingdom ................$ $3.50 ,OVO
Germany ..........................2 2,S3LVB,VOJ
iahce ''''.'''.'...''..'..'.''''.. -'oov'V'o'oOo
Russia ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. l,i6bWocp'
Ataiy ..................,....... osSo"'oV'
opaln ............................ fiooW'oVo
The manufacturing product of the
United Kingdom, or England, exceeds
that of any other European nation. 1t
is more than equal to the product of
Germany, Italy and Spain combined,
and very nearly equal to the total
manufacturing products of France and
Russia
AN INFALLIBLE SIGN.
That the Importance of nations is in
dicated by manufacturing is well illus
trated by the comparison of the wealth
of the nations of Europe. a table of ma
tional wealth in 1883 was compiled by
the same authority as that for manu-
facturers.
Wealth, 1883.
United Kingdom $50, 1i6OOO,OoO
France NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Al, ,Si3OOO,OOO
Germany NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Sl,326OOO,U0
RUSSIA ............................ -f,'OpV",V"
ltaiy .......................... li,fl3oVuoVo
Spain Observation-Disclosures. l2,2iiVoo,VOJ
The relation between these nations is
in the exact order of the value of their
manufacturing products. except in the
case of France and Germany. The po-
stion of these two nations is transpos-
ed. England stands first as the richest
nation of Europe. Her wealth exceeds
that of Germany and Italy combined.
AS manufacturing supremacy indi-
Gates wealth, it is also a measure of in
telligence. In the United Kingdom,
France and Germany, the number of
people in hundred able to write varies
from So to SO. In Russia, Italy and Spain
the number falls to from Is to A.
Among the older nations of the world,
therefore, wealth, intelligence, and, as
we have reason to believe, from other
sources. national power. is generally
proportion to manufacturing pro-
ducts.
England is our chief competitor.
France and Germany are competitors
to a less extent, The United States
does not fear competition with the man
ufacturing products Of Russia. Italy, or
Spain. Asia, with the possible eXcep-
tion of japan, Africa and South Amer
lea do not contain a nation capable of
serious manufacturing conflict with
America. An examination of our pos
sible competitors for supremacy In
manufacturing reduces the number to
three or four nations.
ENGLAND AND AMERICA.
Compare England. the leading manu-
featuring nation of the world, outside
of this country, with the United States.
In 1860 the manufacturing product of
Great Britain was S2,7l0,00O, 900. In
that year the United States was second.
,fc
600, 900. During the twcnty-eiCht years
between 1860 and 1855, the basis Of these
comparisons being English figures,
England maintained what may fairly
be called a free-trade policy. The poll
oy of the United states was Protection.
1t is natural to suppose that, at the
end of this period, England had at
least maintained her lead OYER the Uni
ted States. a comparatively new nation.
In 1883, however, the manufacturing
product Of England was $3.990, 900.
In that year the United States had
overtaken and passed her great rival,
having increased her manufacturing
product to S7,022. .00O,0O Protection had
worked wonders for America. 1t had
made her the first manufacturing ma
ton OF the world. 1t had enabled her
manufacturing industry to exceed that
of the United Kingdom combined with
the product Of any other manufacturing
nation OF the world. AS would be ex-
the wealth of England and the United
States in 1888 stands in similar rcla-
pected from the result in other nations.
ton. That of the United Kingdom was
$45,7i6. 100000. The wealth of the United
States was 62,41O, 0O0,O
In intelligence the comparison shows
that 92 persons in 100 can write in the
United States. against 90 in 100 in the
United Kingdom