The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-11-07
s0pHIsTRY OF FREE TRADE.
Weakness of the Democratic Policy
Laid Bare by the Head of
the Treasury.

Secretary OF the Treasury Shaw has
the knack of putting things concisely
and poirtedly. This is valuable fac
ulty to one called upon. as he often is. to
discuss publicly questions of great i'm
portance, especially those relating to
economic and fiscal matters, says the
Troy Times. In speech at Akron, o.,
q few days ago. the secretary put much
truth In small compass when he said:
zone OF the most important problems be-
fore the American people Is that Of mar
kets. In this all parties agree. But while
the parties agree on the Importance of the
ultimate fact, they do not agree upon the
methods to be pursued In the accomplish
ment OF the desired end. The plan pro-
posed by the minority party is to throw
our commercial doors wide open for the
free importation OF products of foreign
labor. Members OF that party insist that
II We do this We shall OF necessity have
unrestricted access to the markets Of other
countries. They urge that II we will but
allow Europe to clothe us. furnish us our
glass, our earthenware, our hardware. our
steel rails, our structural iron and every
thing else We produce. We shall thus Sc
cure most wonderful export trade.
''They insist that the way for US to cap
ture the markets Of the world Is to throw
our markets open to the world. The logic
OF this opinion is, II We give away what
We have we shall then have an abundance.
England has had free goods for half a
century. but she has never had free trade
She has run against the tariff at cne en-
trance of every country she has attempted
to invade, and now her colonies having
become vigorous, are begging to impose
duties upon her products, and Mr.. Cham
berlain resigns his position in the cabinet.
and at the time of life when most men
are about to retire to the quiet Of their
homes goes out to make the fight Of his
life In behalf of protection. There Is great
difference between free goods from for
eign countries and free trade in foreign
countries.
Think of It, Our farms produce $780,
10000; our shops and factories produce
more than all the shops and factories OF
any other two countries on the map by
$3O000O.0O0 per annum. The productive
capacity, without Implications. amounts to
Sn 600 10000, out of which we export In
round numbers 1880, 10000 and import
81 o00o.oc0 We, therefore. consume prac-
tically So per cent. of all We produce. Sup
pose We open the doors and allow
Europe to clothe US and furnish our
manufactured products, who will consume
the products Of our farms. and what shall
We do with the products Of our factories?
mo, we will take reasonable care OF our
own, encouraging those who can afford II
to buy some Of their luxuries abroad, and
from the Importation of luxuries-laces.
jewelry and fancy fabrics-we will collect
q good portion of our revenue and We Will
sell our surplus in foreign countries"
This disposes OF a great deal OF free
trade sophistry. The fact is, that with
all the citing of England's example that
country does not possess and never has
lad free trade. AS Secretary Shaw points
out, its own ports are practically free to
reciprocate, and there is much pith In his
statement that there is great difference
between free goods from foreign coun-
tries and free trade In foreign countries"
England with It's free trade has no more
succeeded in getting such free access than
has the United States with its "prohibi-
tive" duties.
The case Is clear. It Is better to pro-
tect your own and take chances on other
nations buying Of you than to throw
open your industries to foreign competi-
ton, with the possibility of not pro-
ducing any manufactures which they
want to purchase.