Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1900-09-14

1S9H. to -. 81. lS8tS1l for the year ended
June 30. 100. constitutes one Of the most
sixnincant features Of the prosperity
movement. During the three years of
Republican rule the balance OF trade
grew to be 81. 4S3, 537 ,O94 favoring this
country.
This expansion deserves to be studied.
not only because OF its plain showing Of
millions and millions Of dollars increased
wealth to this country during the last
four years. but also because Of its In
structive relation to the many and di-
verse political theories which have been
loose from time to time among the Amer
lean people. especially among some col
lege professors who in the seclusion Of
their studies think too much, and know
BY actual experience Of the world too lit
tie, and BY men like Bryan. who think
too little.
The free trade school Of thought theor-
i1es on the equilibrium Of internationa!
exchanges. 1t reasons that IL one nation
adopts a protective tariff, it will cut down
imports. but that this will be balanced by
loss in volume OF exports on the clear
enough principle that nations, like indi-
viduals. cannot long continue to buy from
customers to whom they cannot sell.
Ii exports Of merchandise do not fall
Oh with imports, the reasoning concludes.
then there must at least be a balancing
outward movement OF gold which may
disorder home money markets. Some free
traders also indulge in the peculiar the
orizing that by hiudering imports We him
der property wealth from coming to US.
and that by not also hindering it from
being exported from US. we steadily grow
poorer.
Protection's Part In Prosperity.
The prosperity experience Of the last
four years has shown that q protective
tariff, wisely applied. can without Ques-
ton be means OF enriching a great ma
tion like our own. The passage Of the
Dingley bill was the direct means OF re-
storing prosperity to a large number Of
industries In this country, which, under
the Wilson law. could not compete in the
home markets with Europe. Given pro-
lection in their home market. these indus
tries were enabled TO pay attention to for
eign markets. The protected iron aud
steel industry gained so vastly in power
| and strength that il became the aston
| ishing wonder and dread Of the industrial
| communities Of the world. How Ameri
| can engines became used on the railroads
| OF England because they were better.
cheaper and could be made quicker than
| English built engines; how an American
| firm got the contract over English firms
| for the Atbara bridge in the Soudan
| how American air brakes, locomotives
and rails We're almost exclusively ordcN~
| I'd for the great new railroad OF Siberif,
were a few instances OF many which sur
| prised and daZed the whole ipdustriAf
world.
Luxuries from the other Side.
The prosperity that came to our work.
| ers in these protected industries was the
means of spreading prosperity to all home
workers, whether or not they belonged to
pursuits or callings OF the kind which
| needed to be protected.
Nor did SO much prosperity Rt home
| work to the harm of those other countries
which must continue prosperous, if they
\are to continue to be our good customers.
While American exports this last year
were $1.394, lS6,371, the largest in our
history. and were more widely distributed
throughout the world than ever before,
yet in some directions there were great
increases in imports. Our imports of
manufacturers materials this last year
| were Ndiueu at SOv-,-pf,1Oo, WHICH Is
about 40 per cent greater than for any
preceding year in our history.
BY being protected in his opportunities
! to make at home the articles that ought
to be made at home. the American indus
trial worker has more than we'll utilized
and justified such opportunity given him.
He has done his ork 70 increasingly we'll
the last four years that all the nations OF
the world have become his customers.
The whole outside world, instead of sell
ing him the things he can just as we'll
make himself, now sells him the material
which his increased work requires and
which it is not worth his own busy while
to prepare, and the silks. the satins, the
perfumes, the wines, the gloves. the jew
elry. the artistic fancy notions. the toys,
the tropical fruits, the tea. Coffee sugar,
spices. etc, which he could not very well
il ever afford to buy for himself. wife and
children. before the Republican party
gave him prosperity.
| no0cnEnt-N