New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-04
PROTECTION AND FOREIGN MARKETS.

The idea that the United States has reached
sucb n stage Of It's development. through the
MD Of tho proto ctlve system. that II must now
sock extensive foreign markets for It's surplus
products and abandon that system ms no longer
necessary Is to some minds highly fascinating.
They seem 10 regard that kind OF transition
much as the heir OF great estate might regard
thc day he comes of age and casts OF restraints
hitherto imposed. But. however attractive the
idea may he. It has as yet, less solid foundn-
ton 20 support II than has been supposed II
some great industries are sceking foreign mar
kets with success. there are others when are
not vet by any means prepared to face unr"-
srIcted foreign competition here. Not the Ma
tional industries as n whole. but AT the most
only some parts Of them. can be said 10 nav"
outgrown the need Of defence.
Excessive production has appeared repeated
II in some Of The most important branches Of
agriculture which. except in few limited
tracts have not been in need Of defence
against foreign competition. The same condi'
t,ons which cause ovcrproduction in wheat and
cotton also cause II In branches of manufact-
urc not MS yet prepared to mec, competition.
Unlimited resources invite capital and enter
prise ali the time wlthout regard to the sufii-
new and rich lands Of Dakota and Washington
are put into wheat without thought OF the
result 10 farmers OF older States. exactly rs
rich and chcaply worked mines In the Mesnbi
are pushed 10 the utmost without regard to the
state of older mines In Michigan or Pennsyl-
vania or cw-Jcrsey.
The conclusion which some reach IS that for
cicn markets only can afford relief But tina.
Il. ,.r.
duce and sell cheaply at least considerable
part of the wheat crop Is indeed the condition
upon which success in foreign markets rests In
venrs Of ordinary productiveness. But In the
iron and most other manufactures the result
of ability TO produce and sell cheaply has been
a vast expansion Of the home demand. so great
that all sales abroad become insignificant 10y
comparison. Thus the actual consumption OF
ore and pig iron IN manufacture has now Tor
the first time risen almost 10 n million tons
Of pig per month. or twelve million tons In
year. but II has about doubled within the last
ten years, while. instead Of that Increase OF
more than five million tons In domestic demand.
we have realized n On demand for 262.Soo
tons OF pig In one year. and OF all iron ana
steel products exported not one eighth OF tile
gain In home consumption. The same state OF
things Is going on In other Industries. because
progress has made things cheaper, the Ameri-
can people themselves buy so much more large
~ that possible gains in foreign markets count
for little In compa ison.
All industries arc not or the same footing.
Some have advanced so far that they can with
profit ship their manufactured products to
other countries At the same time there are
other industries not less essential to the Ma
tional welfare, which have even now 10 face
large foreign competition in spite of heavy pro-
tcctive duties. 1t Is Il foolishncss once fash
ionabe to say that The highly protected indus.
tries are those which make .he least progress,
and are thus most exposed TO competition. II
Is not true of the rail manufacture, for in.
stance, which was for many years called 4
most offensive monopoly, and yet can now send
It's products anywhere. Other instances could
be given. But If the Nation means TO defend It.
self and to push forward In the magnificent
progress which has already attained such Splcn-
did results. II must keep ever In mind the ncccs-
sity Of constant protection for the industries
which show that they stand In need OF il.