The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-07

emphasized too strongly, that the true
way TO promote trade, both foreign and
domestic. IL that which protectionist
statesmen nave adopted. BY stimulat-
ing the development OF resources Of ell
kinds, and by employing the energies OF
the population In every practicable form
OF industry, there IL production on an
enormous scale. and IL Is impossible for
that TO happen without there being a
CORE spondingly large trade. Things
when produced In abundance are ex
changed. 1t Is the sum OF these ex-
changes that constitutes trade, and this
fact should suggest to the most obtuse
which a great commerce can be erected
and maintained is domestic productivity
That assured. the rest and prosperity fol-
low as a matter OF course.
In 1870 imports into the United states
were valued a s436,000,0oo; in 1850 they had
increased to se03. .0oO 900. During the same
period the exports increased from 1916, 900, .
coo TO 81. .a55. 900 600. British imports. which
were 81. 25s, coo, 900 in 1870 were valued a.,
g.. 30. 900 100 in 1909, while the exports rose
from sS7L ooo. 600 10 81, 353, 10000 The total
value OF the external trade OF the United
States was ssl20 90 600 In 1870. and in 1902 II
was s.. .25S 0o0. 900. In the same period Brit
ish external trade Increased from S23o,-
ooo oCo 10 81. 5T3. .oo0eO. The foreign trade Of
the United States increased fi.4+S. M, 900.
while that OF the United Kingdom showed
an enlargement OF only sl.2iS.ooo.ooo.
These comparisons will serve to empha-
size the denial that protection tends 10 ex-
clusiveness for they show that the Unit
ed, States, which has the reputation OF be-
ing a nearly self-sufficing nation. has
actually increased its dealings, both alb
solutely and relatively. with the outside
world moro rapidly than Great Britain--a
notoriously dependent country, compelled
by lack OF raw materials and deficient
food supply 20 draw upon foreigners or go
out OF the business OF Manufacturing for
export.
Having thus disposed Of the stupid as
sumption that IL is the purpose OF Protec-
tionists 10 make a hermit nation OF the
United States. Il may be judicious 10 ex-
plain that while they do not desire to dis
courage a rational external trade they be-
lleve that the swiftest mode OF promoting
foreign commerce is through the develop
ment OF internal production and trade
Experience has demonstrated that
whenever the latter is made the objective
OF statesmen foreign commerce expands
more ra apidly than under laws designed to
tempt that result. The record OF American
exports and imports shows that every at
tempt 10 promote them by an approach TO
freedom or trade has caused them TO
shrink Tariff legislation "for revenue
only" has almost invariably been followed
BY a dlminutlon Of our foreign trade; de-
votion TO the extension OF domestic i'm
dpstry has produced the opposite result.
No one Will attempt TO dispute this AS
sertion after examining the American
Economists" graphic presentation Of the
Effects or tho Frce-T Trade Eclipse" pub
lished I'm 1900. which brought out the fact
I am dwelling upon more markedly than
any other. IL showed that under a tariff
levied for the prime purpose OF promoting
domestic industry our foreign trade rose
from sl,sa7.1se0os in 1890 TO 1857 SO il
1882: that under the menace OF An inter
ference With protection IL fell of 20 ST.
So. .33l,6l2 in 1895. and that after that date,
owing TO the stimulating influence OF the
Dingley act. II steadily increased rcach-
ing s., ,24f. 1893, ,543 In 1900. And when the pres
entation is continued. as II doubtless will
be next year. the total will probably ex-
ceed s.. 5oo, ,0c0. .0coit was s2,445. ss9, ,652 for
the fiscal year ending June 80 1898.