The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-21

commerce The United States discovered
the method long ago, land has made IL
serve as an effectuaI barrier to the en-
croachments of foreigners; and Great
Britain Is now considering the propriety
of copying 1t to save her domestic pro-
ducers from ruin.
1t is contended by Cobdenites that the
dumping evil is due to the Protective sys-
TEN. They assume that had the world
adopted Free-Trade the evil of overpro-
auction would not have manifested itself.
But when the idea back OF this assump-
ton is examined, II is seen that 1t rests
upon the absurdity that the world would
have been better off had II remained de-
pendent upon the United Kingdom for
Its supplies OF manufactured goods.
In that event II may be conceded that
there would have been no overproduc-
'tion. but II Is hardly conceivable that any
one Will now assert to the proposition
that the United States. and several other
countries that were In a notoriously back
ward state half century ago. are not as
well fitted today to manufacture articles
OF all kinds as Great Britain.
Being so fitted. IL Is proper that the
people OF those once backward countries
should develop their resources as ener-
getically as possible. They are doing 20
and the result is periodical overproduc-
ton. due to the inability Of consumers TO
make their demands TO keep pace with the
ability to produce.
This ability to produce In excess of the
ability to consume ie by no means an alb
solute evil. IL indicates abualLic of fe-
sources II the opposite we're the case
IL mankind were constantly demanding
more than could be produced there would
be want instead OF plenty.
Overproductton can never prove n Sc
rious evil so long as the excess products
are kept within the countries OF their
origin OF are shipped to countries which
need them. In the frst case the producer
soon receives the warning which compels
him TO curtail his output, and in the lat
ter the export of the surplus beneficial
by filing a want
Overproduction becomes a genuine evil
only when the surplus is sent TO countries
abundantly able TO provide themselves
with the articles dumped on their shores
In such cases the unloading r. invariably
effected by selling the surplus goods at
less than cost OF production. or. at least.
at prices lower than those which the
manufacturers of the invaded countries
can afford 10 sell at.
II was once the fashion OF Free Traders
20 assert that even such an invasion
could do no harm. and the belief was per-
sisted in until II was seen that imports
under such circumstances would sap the
Great Britain. Il Is beginning to be recog-
nized that the domestic producers inter
ests must receive the first consideration
In other word the British are having Il
borne I'm upon them that men must pro-
duce TO consume. and that In order 70 do
the latter they must be afforded an op.
portunity TO produce.
II is only by the Intervention OF
Protective Tariff that this opportunity can
be guaranteed. properly framed set OF
schedules can be relied upon Co effectu-
ally prevent interference with domestic
production. Back OF tho barrier which
well adjusted duties present 10 the unfair
encroachments of foreigners the domestic
producer may toll IN security. unvexed by
the fear that he may be made the victim
Of the deliberate purpose Of a foreign COM
petitor 10 undo him. or Of his rivals inca
pacity 60 measure demand.
That has bcccme the prime function OF