Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1904-02-18
RETALIAToRY TARIFFS

the figures and per centages i'm
posed by the new German tariff
law against importations from the
United States. These excessive
duties were imposed against the
products of the United States
simply and solely because we i'm
pose equally high duties against
importations from Germany.
In 1902 the United States i'm
ported from Germany, merchandise
to the value Of $l73, 14S, $50.
During the same year we exported
to Germany farm produce valued
at 1882 100000. We have not the
values of manufactures exported
to that country, but the amount
was probably as much as the farm
produce.
But Germany is not the only
country that is studying the ques-
ton of retaliation against the
United States. Russia is enforcing
the schedules of a new tariff law
against this country, with the re-
suit that our expectations to Rus
sia have fallen off more than one
half. Russia is remote from us,
but our relations with Russia have
been amicable for many years, and
our trade with that country has
grown five fold in as many years.
And now Russia is retaliating
against us because of our high
tariff duties upon Russian products.
Even little Switzerland has also
recently enacted a new tariff law
with higher rates upon the agri-
cultural produce Of the United
States.
On July 81, last, France inaug-
urated new tariff law aimed
especially at the United States. In
France they have a maximum and
a minimum rate, and they are en-
forcing the maximum rate against
Uncle Sam. For some years our
exports of meat products to France
have been practically prohibited
because of her tariff, especially on
our hog products.
This is the commencement
Where it will end we cannot tell
But serious and important as are
the attacks made upon our com
merce and trade, there are con
ditions now confronting us which
appear to be more disastrous ant
distressing.
Great Britain has been the bes
buyer and the largest buyer of oul
produsts for many years, but t
new tariff policy is being discussed
in that great country, inspired as {
measure Of retaliation against thu
United States because of our higl
tariff duties upon imports from
that country and her colonies. Tn,
United States in 1902 sold il
round numbers merchandise of tn,
value of 81, $50, 900, 900 all over til,
world. Of this amount Grea
Britain and her colonies took 1872
900, 600 worth, or 55 per cent o
our total exports. The value o
the bread stuffs and provision
which we sold to Great Britia,
and her colonies in 1902 amounte,
to $3.50, 5000 worth. Grea
Britain has been for many year
our best customer for bread stuff
and manufactured articles alike
and any retaliatory tariff legisla
ton enacted by that countr,
against the United States is boun,
to effect our expectations to tina
country.
1t may be that these retaliator,
measures and discrimination
against the United States ma,
effect the people of those countrie
more disastrously than they will
effect the trade and commerce O
the United States. But at an
rate, it would seem the part c
wisdom and good policy on tn
part OF our own people to revis
the tariff duties now in existenc
in the United States in order t
hold the trade of our best custom
ers. We are not cow urging til
merits OF a tariff for protection Q
tariff for revenue. The immens
value OF our expectations and GU
commercial foreign trade is largel
responsible for the present pros
neritV Of our pnuntrv and IL xxa,l