The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-06-07
PROTECT THE HOME MARKET.


PROTECT THE HOME MARKET.
The furore for the promotion OF for
csn trade may lead to OVERRIDING things
IN that direction. Already there are on
husiasts who are proclaiming tha' Amer
len is ready to abandon the protrctiv"
policy. and politicians are trimming their
sails in anticipation of free trade winds.
These are the fellows who never stop
between stations-who are always ~.
trrmiSts There is no need to hurry
The fact is American industrial conli-
tnns are the fruits of the protective poi
icy. There can be no doubt about that.
Now isn't It a fair assumption that what
creates will protect? And again is il not
Il fair presumption that what prevented
will destroy? There are facts in our in
instrial history which may well stand foi
evidence in favor of these propositions.
There is another thing to lie considered.
Excess iii the volume of trade does NOT
always Indicate the better condition
inone the people. Without going into
'i"tuil it is only necessary to say that the
domestic and social well being of the
people is tho matter Of supreme import
,ncc, md that commerce obtained mt
sacrifice in this direction would be dearly
bought Now rs between this country
and I'LL other rouhtrics-none excepted
the measure on test of domestic ana 50
cidl conditions show balance in orr
favor, and this was Just us true before
the balance Of trade was in our favor, as
it is now, so we alTirm that the domestic
ami social well being Of the people of this
country is not collateral of commercial
supremacy.
Whit we aim TO bring ont in this lis
"rs>ion is that the thing necessary to be
thought about i'll the time is the wei
fare of til" people generally. From this
pnint of view il does not seem to hc nee
rssary 10 abandon the protective policy:
md II. also appears that there max be Il
miSconccption of the intont Of the pro-
i trctive theory. Generally il Is accepted
~ policy adopted ID protect the manu-
farinrcf until such times rs he Shall IL
able to manufacture as chcaply rs his
foreign competitor. That il not all tho
protective theory effects. 1t saves III,
| home market 10 the home trader, ana a.
this has been the best markets. still tho
best mnrlietwhy sacrifice it III III,
chase after foreign commerce? We nm
dcrstand that it is now claimed that The
american output il greatcr than III,
home consumption. That however. /,
only true relatively. We mean by THAI
that consumption is not ms great rs il
I yhould he. My rs il Is said that abilit,
10 manufacture chcaply. and lower tn,
price " American products is the lasi,
hope for an enlarged foreign com
lnrrcc, why is not this same ability M
plicHllr for the lowering of the price il
The home market without relation 10 tn,
tariff III order to stimulate home con
#ilnlptlonS IT Is here we take it tia
a" tulIll Is to produce il, greatest bcnc
fits in the preservation of the home mar
kCiS and giving ID the American propl
Oh" advantages Of their own skill an,
enterprise. There is no good reason VIII
tariffs levied for protection should So
the micc If goods III American nartS
The object of the tariff is tn Keep for
oi.;n good, ont Of American martS, Will
the price Of American goods in the hom
market is simply i matter "a Do settle,
by supply and demand. With wages a
they are it has been demonstrated tina
American manufacturers can PM thri
wares III foreign markets prniitahly. I'M,
it it is to be- assumed that it cost NOR
10 make ship and sell III foreign mar
krt, which appculS to hr reasonable. THAI
III i homie market. there Is Il poSsiblit
of reducing prices /" home consumer
without reducing wages. This woul
stimulate consumption. foster the hon
market and DO that under circumstance
hcttrring local domestic and social condi
tionS.
In the furorc for the promotion of
foreign commerce the Importance Of til
home market should not be overlooked
Don't H. III 4 hurry 10 get rid Of til
tariff.