The herald., 1897-09-13
INTERESTING STATISTICS


statement of facts and figures touching
the increase Of the foreign commerce of
the United States for the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1897, that is of great in
terest as sign of returning prosperity.
1t seems that the United States sold
$40, 900, 900 more wheat abroad in the
fiscal year 1897 than in 1896; $40, 500, 900
more cotton; nearly $12,0O0,000 more
copper; SIG, 900 more iron and steel
goods: $7,70O,OO0 more wood; $1,000, 900
more zinc; s17Ooo,OOO more corn; $780,
900 more flaxseed. Even our export
trade in fruits increased $2,060,0 900, and
our sales of bicycles abroad expanded
s5,107 900.
On the other hand, the statement dis
closes the economic fact that our peo-
pie bought less furs last year from for
eign countries by over So, 900; they
bought 100000 less of gloves, $4,2O0,000
less of jewelry, $2450O0 less of wine, and
nearly s7,OO0,0OO less of tobacco. But
they bought sS5O,0oO more of ardent
s7S0,OOO more of foreign toys.
Now. our Republican friends will in
sist, of course. that all this gratifying
increase in our foreign trade is the eff
feet of a high protective tariff. Not
bit of it! We may quote just here what
the Pittsburg Post (Democra) has to
say in this connections: Under the
caption, Facts for Calamity Croakers,"
that paper says:
"It pleased the iron and steel rnen of
Pittsburg and vicinity, many OF whom
are what is called political manufac-
turers. to attack the Wilson law with
great virulence, predicting it woulo re-
suit in dismantled mills, smokeless fur
naces and hosts of unemployed Let
lis see how the iron and steel business
has proepered under the Wilson law as
compared with the productiveness unoer
the Mckinley law:
Iron and steel under the Mckinley
law:
Exports. Imports.
1892 .S2s SOC, $50 $2s,42o,7A
1898 ...... 3O1O7,1s7 S4,45o,74
Iron and steel under the Wilson law:
Exports. Imports.
| 1896 ............ SAL, ,160,SI $2oSSS,loo
| 1907 81. 49,, ,3O5 16096,6s1
Let readers of The Herald bear in
mind that the Wilson law was in force
through the whole fiscal year ended
June 80, 1897, and that the increase in
orr foreign trade and increase in our
national revenue occurred While that
law was in force
The Post continues:
The extraordinary increase OF exports
of iron and steel under the wilson
tariff is striking, and should cover with
| confusion the influential and pompous
citizens hereabouts who a few years
ago were predicting and croaking
calamity as it's assured results. In 1897,
for one year, we exported very nearly
as much of manufactures of iron and
steel under the Wilson law as we did
in two years under the Mckinley law
Further, while for 1892 and 1S9S under
the Mckinley law, the balance of trade
was against US in the iron and steel
business to the extent of 81, 96S, 364 under
the first full fiscal year of the Wilson
, law we sold abroad iron and steel to
the extent of S57, ,223, ,S9S more than we
bought abroad. Take note of these
figures.
There are other Influential an(
pompous citizens" as we'll as those o
Pittsburg, who should take note of tn
eloquent figures set forth above. l
, anything can confute misrepresent tios
as to the benefits Of high protectiv
tariff, it is the logic of facts and figures