New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-03
AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL SUPREMACY.
THE WONDERFUL WORK ACCOMPLISHED UNDER
THE PROTECTIVE POLICY.

THE PROTECTIVE POLICY.
From an address by lie Grand Cannon before
the Protective Tariff League
As proof Of our commercial supremacy. the
eminent sta,istlcian Mulhall says:
the tinted states leads with agricultural products
greater than the United Kingdom and Russia com
than the aggregate output Of the factories OF nc
United Kingdom France, austria tiuhsary anu
Belgium combined; in machinery with steam
power greater than The United Kingdom. Austria
Hungary and Italy combined in mining WIN q. a
product greater than ne Iilled hlnedo'n Anu
France combined; IN railway transportation WIN Il
mileage % per cent greater man al 1 LaTG 6ne
balf of the total product Of the world; IN fisher
les with greater product than the hited hlhb-
dom Russia and Germany combined
from the same authority We learn thai Tie
United states Is s2oo""n"oo richer than Greet
ne total exports capita have sT9 9Sz 1 from
81 IS in 1895 increase ~ nearly 20 per cent III
'9ree ynorts ~ manufactured products have been
even more striking in their growth In proportion 10
the per capita Of toa exports showing an increase
our conspicuous weakness Is IN our commeTcia,
marine our strength in this direction would ne
H. UNEQUAL competition OF the subsidized ships OF
European nations was adopted by this country. II
A. "a he hoped that measure having In view the
adequate protection Of our merchant marine VIII
RrIiliant as has been our success in war which
inevitably Immensely increased National taxation.
II IS 10 commercial success that we must look for
the permanent enrichment Of our people
In considering the causes which have effected
this wonderful Increase of exports. and especially
our exports Of manufactures. no one can dispute
that our periods Of progress and wealth have been
during the existence OF protective tariffs and that
these conditions have been Invariably reversed
under low tariffs IN the direction OF free trade
At no tine in history has this fact been more
conspicuous than AZ present. Under the Dinghy
tariff ia strong contrast with the period OF de
preston. diminished production and insufficient
employment Of labor under the Wilson tarif. the
Increase Of exports has made Ne creditor nation
and the decrease in imports simply indicates that
Our wants have been supplied by domestic indus
tries
Thirty years ago large part Of our iron and steel
was Imported. 40 Bessemer steel made in This
country. To-day mine coal and make iron and
steel al less cost than any other nation, thus re-
Vtrsng the course OF trade 10y exporting TO tho
markets from which formerly imported.
The cost u steel rails IN ls12 laid down in THIS
country duty paid, $3.50 ton. to-day steel
rails made here are marketed at SIS a ton: thus
IN tWsnty-nve years this infant Ia ths nursery
haa developed into an industrial Hercules
AZ the direct result Of Protection. capital has
been encouraged to develop mines and 10 construct
plants which are admitted 20 be tho most perfect
IN machinery. appliances and economies For tho
calendar year 1893 there stands to the credit the
United states as the result OF enormous eXcess
OF exports over Imports. a favorable merchandise
balance amounting to over 81 0)o 000
We have thus uader this wise National policy be
come the great creditor Nation Of the earth and
commercial balances must be settled on this
side OF the Atlantic. and our condition changed
from borrower TO a lender Of credits aud money.