The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-01
AUSTRALIAN rARIrF ISSUE.

AUSTRALIAN TARIFF ISSUE.
The new Australian commonwealth
has just passed through its first polih-
cal campaign. The central issue was the
tariff The question whether the revenue
of $4,000 should be raised by a duty on
imports laid so as to foster certain man
ufacturing interests has been fought out
with the advantage slightly in favor of
the advocates of free trade. Before the
confederation Of the Australian provinces
there was a marked difference between
them on the question of protection. New
South Wales and West Australia were
| free traders, while Queensland followed
the lead of her cousin this side of the
Atlantic
One of the fears entertained by the
anti-confederation party was the diff
Guilty in adjusting a national system of
commerce to the divergent views of the
members of the commonwealth. 1t was,
| however, thought possible to make
compromise that would not work an in
justice to any one colony for the benefit
of another
The question of protection is always
one of condition-a is local as to tinte
and place. Hancock was right when he
declared that the tariff question was
local issue. He was right, but it was
an unfortunate expression, Cor although
is always a national issue and can be
made nothing else under our system of
government. If the states of New York,
Pennsylvania and Ohio could erect tar
if wall against the Importation OF nli-
nois, Iowa and Kansas corn they would
do it, for the development of the corn
raising states has made that industry nm
possible in the eastern section Of tho
country. The constitution happily eiimi-
mates the everlasting controversy be-
tween sections Of the country which
would arise from possession of peculiar
individual advantages
The constitution of the Australian conf
monwealth provides for absolute free
trade between the members of the COM
monwealth, but leaves to congress the
determination Of the economic relations
between the commonwealth and foreign
powers. 1t is the broad question of a
national tariff which has just been voted
first session of congress.
The result Of the election shows a mod.
crate victory for the supporters Of the
general theory of free trade. The house
of representatives, which is composed of
seventy-hve members, will stand as fol-
lows: Twenty-nine free traders. TWEEN
ty-two protectionists, thirteen revenue
tariff, seven moderates and four labor
men. The moderates and a part of the
labor wing voting with the free traders
win give them good working majority
in the house.
In the senate the free traders have
eighteen members, protectionists fifteen
and moderates three. The moderates
voting with the protectionists will make
the senate tie. but voting with the free
traders Will give that party safe major
ity. The balance Of power is In the bands
Of the moderates, where it should be. The
result Of the election, so far as the peo-
pie of Australia are concerned, could not
have been improved upon. Neither party
has a sufficiently large majority to dare
to enact radical legislation The actual
workings Of the Australian congress will
be watched with unusual interest in this
country, for the very good reason that
the tariff question will be the one CEN
trail issue in the coming elections here.
Insomuch as many of the most notable
reforms in economic fields have origt-
mated in Australia, the world will look
TO the new commonwealth for a practi-
cal demonstration of many of tie so
called fads in the social and political
curriculum.