The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-03-25
PROJECTIONS WORK.
That Already Done and That Yet to
Be Accomplished.
Important Results of a System by
Which a Country Encourages
the Development of Nat
ural Resources.


In determining the future policy of
our league it may not be Improbable
to briefly review the past, and in that
connection to consider the duties of our
league as well as it's accomplishments.
The war with Spain, hostilities COM
mencing on April 1S, and terminating
on August 20 "a period of about 100
days., resulting in practical destruc-
ton of the Spanish navy, possession of
Cuba, Porto Rico andManila by our army
and navy, and armistice and terms of
peace practically settled, constitutes
national record of success which has
no parallel in history, and is so recog-
nized by the dominant nations of Eu-
rope. But there appear to be other
achievements in a commercial revolu-
ton which are far more significant,
important and profitable conquest
by our industries. AS proof of our
commercial supremacy the eminent sta
tistician Mulhall says:
Statistics of our production and trade
agricultural products greater than the
United Kingdom and Russia combined; in
manufactures with product greater than
the aggregate output of the factories Of
the United Kingdom, France, Austria
Hungary and Belgium combined; In ma
chinery with steam power greater than
the United Kingdom, Austria Hungary and
Italy combined; in mining with product
greater than the United Kingdom and
France combined; in railway transporta-
ton with a mileage 40 per cent greater than
all Europe in forestry greater than all
Europe and nearly one-half Of the total
product Of the would; In fisheries with a
greater product than the United Kingdom,
Russia and Germany combined.
From the same authority we learn
that the United States is twenty thou
sand millions of dollars richer than
Great Britain.
The total exports per capita have
grown from $11.37 in 1895 to $12.11 in
1896, to SALT in 1897, and to $16.6s in
1898, an increase of nearly so per cent.
in three years.
The exports of manufactured prod
ucts have been even more striking in
their growth in proportion to the per
capita of total exports, showing an in
crease of about IS per cent. in five
years.
Our conspicuous weakness is in our
commercial marine. Our strength in
this direction would be speedily in
creased if protective policy to offset
the unequal competition of the subsi-
died ships of European nations was
adopted by this country. 1t is to be
hoped that a measure having in view
the adequate protection of our mer-
chant marine will be adopted by con-
gress.
Brilliant as has been our success in
war, which inevitably immensely in
creased national taxation, it is to
commercial success that we must look
for the permanent enrichment of our
people.
In considering the causes which have
effected this wonderful increase of ex.
ports, 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 time in our history has this fact
been more conspicuous than at present
Under the Dingley tariff, in strong con.
.rast with the period of depression
diminished production and insufficient
employment of labor under the Wilson
tariff, the increase of exports has made
us creditor nation, and the decrease in
imports simply indicates that our wants
have been supplied by domestic indus
tries.
With abundant crops, our manufac'
lures and mechanical industries taxed
to their fill productive capacity, and
with high scale of wages, and yet with
money so abundant and cheap that the
rate of interest is less than in Europe
| we have become creditor nation. We
must continue, with our great natural
resources, aided by our enterprise and
skill, to hold this supreme position. But
perhaps no one agency has been so pc
tent in obtaining this result as that
which has wrought the wonderful de
velopment of our metal industry unde,
protection.
Political economists recognize thai
the commercial supremacy of England
was based on the possession of the use
full metals and fuel; but these essen
tial products are now more extensively
developed and possessed by US than by
any other nation, and think it may be
claimed that this rapid success of {
great industry has no precedent.
Thirty years ago large part of oul
iron and steel was imported. No Bes
semer steel was made in this country
To-day we mine coal and make iron
and steel at less cost than any Other
nation, thus reversing the course o.
trade by exporting to the markets from
which we formerly imported.
The cost of steel rails in 1872 lait
down In this country, duty paid, wa,
$3.50 per ton, to-day steel rails made
here are marketed at s1s per ton; thu!
In Is years this infant In the nursery
has developed into an industrial Her
cules.
As the direct result Of protection, cap
ital has been encouraged to develoE
mines, and to construct plants which