The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-16
TWO POLICIES COMPARED.

In an article i'm the current issue of the
Forum entitled us England's Industrial
Supremacy a Myth?" the author compares
the industrial systems of Great Britain
and Germany in a most interesting man
ner. In 1916. when Great Britain adopted
its free-trade policy and invited all the
world to join. Germany listened to a man
who did not believe in the Golden theories
and declined. At that time Germany was
one of the customers of Great Britain and
would have continued so until this time
had it opened it's markets free to England.
with it's factory system and its established
industries. 1t did not: on the contrary,
Germany adopted mildly protective pol
icy, united the German states which now
constitute the empire into q trade union,
and encouraged manufactures and the me-
chanic arts. At first the progress was
slow, but it was sure. Every advantage
was in favor of Great Naturalization.
capital. skill and certain presumption of
the trade of the world in the products of
the factory. If German statesmen had
been content with a policy inviting a mere
exchange of goods for goods, getting for
its rough material and agricultural prod
ucts the manufactures of Great Britain
cheaper than the former could then make
them, they would have adopted the Cob
den policy Fortunately. they were wise
as 10 foresee that diversified industriai;sm
would fuse the German states into a
nationality and create political power.
Under Bismarck. in 1879 the policy of
Germany became emphatically protective.
In the struggle the best technical schools
in the world were established and the in
ventions of other countries were secured
to improve. not initiate. What England
had done to develop manufacturing by
machinery. Germany did on the side of
lines the German artisan has become the
superior of the English.
The statistics Of the foreign trade of
the two nations will show which is the
wiser policy protection or free trade. Be-
cause of more hours and lower wages in
some branches of production, Germany can
undersell England in its own markets in
the same goods that the later exports to
other countries. To-day the iron industry
many is rapidly increasing. All other ma
tions can so to England to undersen her
home producers, and do 60 while every
one of them shuts England from it's
markets by protective tariff. Between 1874
and 1891 Great Britain's Importation OF
agricultural products increased from Gi1.-
HIST to e77,43S. $780, or IS per cent. During
the same period the manufactured i'm
ports of England rose from $40 1891 TO
f104. ass. $50. What is more remarkable. the
value of the manufactured exports of
England fell from e2O2 254. 53l in 1874 to
s157.7 i4.1s9 in 1894. The decrease of values
in imported manufactures in twenty years,
eSs. 900 or sl67 100000. was in those lines
of goods in which England could undersell
the world where the free-trade policy was
adopted. British manufacturers declare
competition ruinous. During these years
| German exports of manufactures have
| 1889 the value of German exports of manu-
| features increased from e36.OOo 900 TO Gl63-
| OOO, 900. or more than twice as fast as Eng
| lands exports have increased. The last
decade Great Britain's foreign trade has
fallen off while that OF Germany has sig
nincanuy increased.
Many of these unwelcome facts came be-
fore the Golden CiVb at its last annual
meeting. when the 4 Irman made the COM
| ing decline OF England's commercial pres