New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-02
oCR EXPORTS TO RUSSIA.

There was a great outcry .alsed a few year.
ago over the prospective loss Of our export
trade 10 Russia II was provoked BY the de-
cision OF the United States government to treat
Russia just as Il did other nations, and to I'm
pose 4 countervallnS duty upon Russian sugar
upon which an export bounty had been paid
The Russian government denied that such n
bounty was paid though tie evidence was con-
elusive that a system was in vogue which prac-
ticaiiY amounted 10 n bounty. and all other na-
tons considered il to be I'm effect a bounty.
SO the Secretary OF the Treasury on February
Is. 1901. announced the imposition OF the coun-
tervailing duty. and two days later the Russian
government retaliated by announcing an TN
crease OF 30 per cent in the duties upon Ameri-
can iron and steel goods excepting agricultural
implements. TbereupOn. as we have said. the
outcIy was raised by some shOrtSiEhted folk In
this country tlat such tariff war would mean
the destruction of our commerce with Russia.
and that. Of course would be disastrous TO US
all around. This cry was especially raised by
exporters OF agricultural implements, although
their wares were specifically omitted from the
Russian rctaliatory act. We pointed out in
these columns that there was little danger Of
loss OF trade with Russia, even under such ad-
verse conditions, and that anyway our total
sales to Russia were small that the entire
loss o. them would be scarcely perceptiblc. But
those who had raised the cry refused to be com
Iortcd. and they actually declared that II would
be better for the United States to offend and
ALLEVIATE the commerce OF all other nations by
giving Russia favored treatment than to offend
Russia 10y giving her the same treatment that
we gave other countries!
Now LET us sec what has happened. Tho trade
in,
suffered. though il was concerning il that the
gravcst apprehensions were expressed. Says
the United States Consul ct Odessa in a recent
report:
The year 1908 has been a very satisfactory
one for the sale Of agricultural machines and
implements. The American articles In this line
continue TO hold the field. and their number 10
Increasing Harvesters. binders rea pers. mowers,
rakes. cornshellers etc, have ALWAYS been in Ia
vor In the country. and their sale has been lar
The American plough has now secured pefina-
nent foothold in Russia. and its future promises
70 be very satisfa Glory one. The sale OF gar
den tools of American make shows an annually
increasing market ia this country.
Nor have our general exports to Russia suf-
Tered the eclipse that was predicted. Let us
review the figures for the last ten years In
the seven years before the tariff war" began.
namely. from 1894 10 1907 inclusive. American
sales to Russia nuctuated somewhat generally
showing, however. q small increase. Their
average for those years was SS,l4T.277-an In
significant amount contrasted with the total
Of our export trade In 1901, the FIRST year of
the war" they showed. II is true. a slight de-
cline from 1900 Just as 1895 had shown a de-
cline from 1894, and 1898 from 1897; but they
showed decided increase over the average of
The seven years preceding their amount being
S9,eGT.3e5. The next year. 1902, they rose TO
SloSJO,3SS. the highest figures then on record
In the history OF our Russian trade. Finally.
In the fiscal year 1908 they were further In
creased TO the total Of 17,G06S12 or more than
twice what they averaged In the seven years
before our "ruinous tariff war; and in the cal
endar year 1903, rs our special Washington dis
patches on Saturday showed. they rose to the
phenomenal total OF 10.71OSo2
On the whole, therefore, we feel pretty we'll
/ confirmed and indicated In the practical profit
as well as in the theoretical righteousness of
cur contention Of three years ago. that This
country should give 10 Russia the same lust
and equitable commercial treatment that i;
1 gave 10 all other countries