The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-02
THE TARIFF ON
IRON AND STEEL
FROM die Brooklyn cltlzen.

From the Brooklyn Citizen
Persons not in the iron and steel BUSH
ness may notice with surprise the state-
ment that $500 tons of steel rails have just
been shipped from Baltimore, 1,sOO of them
for Bombay India, and 1,5O0 of them for
Barbados, both British ports and, also.
that an order is now being filled for $500
tons more to be used in laying railroad
In Ireland
Commercial men generally, however. are
well aware of the fact that American iron
and steel has been gradually erowding out
the manufactures of these metals in the
markets of the world for several years
last past; in evidence whereof it is stated
by one in the business that three years or
so ago there were at least 100000 tons Of
Scotch iron in Brooklyn warehouses,
whereas today there is practically none at
all.
The reason why American iron and steel
goods are thus supplanting the British and
German, even in their own markets and
for their own use, is two-fod First, it is
because American iron is stronger and
more durable than any other; and second.
because since the Alabama output got into
the home market, displacng that of New
York, Pennsylvania and other states to
large extent it has been possible to land
steel rails, bridge and truss iron, etc., in
foreign countries at a less price than these
can be produced for there.
NH - ;fe f1
given as slS ton, and that of English at
$23.- Consequently, If this difference is to
hold, and the quality of our iron continues
superior to that produced elsewhere, there
is hardly any limit to the extent of our for
eeign trade in that metal, in the future. The
prospect is that we shall supply Europe
with the chief part of its iron and steel
wares, to say nothing of China and Japan,
or the semi-civilzed countries of the earth
before very long.
The truth is that, in the present our iron
manufacture has got far beyond the stage
of ''infant industry" for the protection
of which the republicans still make pre-
tense that the high tariff policy is needed.
1t is now a giant ana using its strength
giant-like to crowd out its rivals the world
over. Why should it continue to be pro-
tected by tariff as it still is?
Suppose Great Britain should retaliate by
tariff following our hostile policy, how
much of our iron steel would get into
lands under her control? And is it not
lands under her control wherein iron and
steel wares are mostly called for or used,
except perhaps in the shape of warlike
weapons?
An effort to explain the anomaly of a
protective tariff on a manufacture that
needs no protection, is made by one repub-
for harmonys sake; for the principle; if
we took it off, there would be a general
cutting of tariff duties all through" Well,
why should there not be?
On what principle are manufactures that
need no protection protected except that
they may victimize the people on whom q
they live? If our goods can drive out the
foreign in their own markets. and do it,
the government gets no revenue from the
tariff on the latter; and thus the second
and last excuse for tariff duty on them is
taken away.
This has been made absolutely plain as
far as iron manufactures are concerned,
piled to many other articles included in
the tariff schedule; and what it shows is
that the only persons who are protected by
the tariff those who are using it to
plumber the consumer and force labor to
their own terms of employment.