New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-07
FOREIGN DISPLElSIRE.

It may be observed that several nations are
displeased because tie United States has defend
Ell IFS own industries by the new tlrif. There
is heard an oItcry FROM Great Britain about the
prosiration of tinplate works IN Wales. Ger
mans find the new duties OH sugar nnd on some
kinds Of cloths vcxatlouS, and France grIeyes
over some new duties on cloths and on gloves
Canada IL not pleased by The lumber duly or
The discrimination clause. Tlerr j. shown IN
some quarters a feeling that the United states
mus, have been actuatcd 10y hostility. because
H., course has unpca>autly affected the indus
tries Of other countries. But This IL an unbound
ed inference This country was engaged In re-
pairing the damage Of It's industries which re-
suited from the Democratic tariff OF 1894 That
measure gave immense satisfaction 10 other
countries. but placed the working people Of the
United States in "A bad position. from which
they resolved to escape by their votes last year
The advantage given In 1874 10 other nations
was not a perpetual gift. but only call loan
which has now been called. The settlement
may be announcement but there Is no unfriend
illness In asking 1t. The United States is sim
ply defending rs own laborlng people.
Suggestions Of retaliation are made In some
quarters II is within the right OF other Powers
81 course. 10 UPlfUu llI'll wv u lli's
need defence, but II Is not 70 their interest TO
subject their own people 10 great disadvantage
in order to make the ni.cl States suffer. II i
not many months since some persons in France
were talking about retallntory exclusion OF
some American grains But just now. with
bread getting dearcr every day AMI French
citizens threatening the political existence Of
the Government unless II suspends duties which
make bread dear II Is easy 10 see that France
would njure itself and not the United States
by trying to exclude food coming from this
country. The surplus here, for which other
countries are competing. Is in all probability
smaller than they will require What this coun
try does not send to France il VIII send some
where else. because II France should choose 10
draw It's supplies from other sources II would
70 that extent diminish the supplies from those
other sources which are available to Grcnt Brit
ain and Germany and the nations In need. II
France should choose TO buy the dearer wheat
excluding and leaving TO them the cheaper from
this country that would not trouble america
But II would trouble Frenchmcn, so that their
Government will do nothing Of the sort
Much the same principle applies 10 other sug
gcstcd steps Of retaliation. This country does
not send meat and corn. cotton. oil and tobacco
to distant countries across the ocean merely for
It's own convenience, but because they must
have snch products. and can buy them nowhere
else mora advantagcOusly than here. II any
country in Europe ut 10 deprive Itself Of
the most advantageous supply, and takes what
It needs from the worlds stock mt greater
cost, 1t only leaves so much less supply else
where for other countries, and SO much more
TO be had ut low cos; from the United States
The truth Is that the United States occupies n
peculiarly Independent position because It's OK.
ports are largely Of the necessaries Of life, Of
which the worlds supply Is at no time much
in excess Of the demand. II any nation shuts
out American supplies, 1t has to diminish the
supply Available from other quarters leaving
room and need for United States products else
where.
II would be another matter II European coun-
tries. by putting obstacles in the way Of i'm
ports from tie United States could develop pro.
duction Of the necessaries so far as TO be self
supporting This has been the avowed object
Of French and other duties on imported grain,
which have not succeeded so far as to prevent
danger of suffering. II is not so easy to push
forward agricultural production In the old and
thickly populated countries Of Europe, where
land Is dear and transportation also But II any
foreign nation sets itself to defend ts ayrl.
culture. the United States has no occasion 10
complain.