Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1904-04-28
EFF no ntI nIEn
IT DOES NOT HINDER FOREIGN
TRADE DEVELOPMENT.

We Are Not Only the Greatest Pro-
ducers In the World, but We Sur
pass All other People In Sales of
Goods to Our Neiehbors.
1t has been steadfastly maintained
by those favoring unrestricted inter-
national commerce that protective
tariff Is direct hindrance to IL coun-
try in the development of foreign
trade relations. The reason for this
lies, we are told, in the supposed in
cliIation of every nation to resent In
terference with its commercial activi-
ty among other nations, resentment
which, it is claimed, finds expression
sooner or later in the placing of re-
taliatory duties upon the goods Of the
offending country.
Probably no better proof could be Of
fered of the fallacy of this theory than
is found in the report issued recently
by the department of commerce and la
Dor at Washington, through its bureau
of statistics, which shows conclusive
ly the rapid strides made in its for
eign trade by the United States during
the last eleven years. In reviewing the
figures given in these tables it is to be
remembered that the period from 1893
1903 inclusive, embraced the four years
of Mr.. Cleyeland's second term QS92-
go; so that but seven years QS9I-
1909 can properly be said to have been
influenced by protective tariff meas
ures. Even during that comparatively
No ia ,f
gain in the total exports of this coun-
try is shown TO be AZ per cent. while
during Mr.. Cleveland's term the in
crease was only IA per cent.
There is discovered rapid Increase,
even during the entire period from
1S93-1903, inclusive, in favor of export
over import trade. This gain amounts
to 63 per cent of the total increase in
our commercial relations with Europe,
to 90 per cent of trade with North
America, to 10 per cent of trade with
South America, to n per cent of trade
with Asia and Oceania and II per cent
Of trade with Africa and other coun-
tries, while in the total commercial re-
lations of this country with the rest of
in the increase to the extent of 60 per
cent. The exports to Europe alone
grew in value from $6T9,616,353 in
1898 to S1,0S7 ,049, ,S43 in 1908, or 60
per cent, while we were purchasers in
the same market to the extent of only
$527 ,S7S25G in 1908 as against 1892,
161.24S in 1893, 80 per cent increase.
4 aj, tafn Inr fit.st
four years of the period scheduled the
foreign trade of this country was con-
Quoted under lower tariff rates, and
yet, as if to remove the matter beyond
possibility of doubt, it Is found that
without single exception growth and
development have come to our foreign
commerce only after the establishment
of an adequately protective tariff. In
the years 1S97-1903 inclusive the value
of goods exported from this country to
Europe increased % per cent as against
q gain Of 10 per cent for the period
1S93-97 inclusive. Goods exported to
North America from 1S93-97 inclu-
sive showed u loss of 3 per cent In
value and gain during the years
ports to South America from 1S97-19O3
increased 80 per cent in value, while
showing distinct loss during Mr.
Cleveland's term, and in the total ex-
ports to all countries there is an in
crease of Al per cent for the period
from 1S97-19O3 inclusive against per-
centage of IA for the years 1S93-97 in
elusive.
To sum up few of the large trade
facts which are set forth with great
clearness in this report of the depart
ment of commerce and labor it appears
that we are today not only the greatest
producers and manufacturers In the
world, but we sell more goods to our
neighbors than any other people. We
buy of the outside world $1,000, 100000
worth annually, and we sell every year
to the outside world our products to
the amount of $1,50O,O0OOOO. And yet
free traders continue to prate about
the barriers of protectionv'