Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-12-27
BEST OF ETS
THE ONE THAT CAN CONSUME ITS
OWN PRODUCTS.

The platform of the American Re-
ciprocal Tariff league, which was or
ganlzed in Chicago a few days ago,
contains two important declarations, as
follows:
First -. The industries of this nation
''haYe expanded to such an extent that
they can no longer depend on the home
market for the consumption of their en-
tire product"
Second.-The present commercial atti-
tude OF the United States - is antag-
onizing foreign nations whose good viii
10 desire.
These statements, presented to the
country by body of men who intend
to try TO make serious changes in the
tariff Law, are either true or untrue,
aud the Amerie an people, invited to
sanction disturbing and, In measure,
revolution legislation, are deeply in
terestad in knowing just what is the
.Fa;n about the matter.
The belief is widely held that the
productive capacity Of the nation all
along the line of Industries Is ;Hcyeas-
ing so swiftly that the home market Is
likely to be choked and surfeited by
the oyerplus.
There is no particle of fact in that
theory.
1t Is a delusion assdiously propagat-
ed by the free traders. Tie statement
given above, the reader viii observe,
leaves out of account the coordinate
and simultaneous growth of the popu-
latlon OF the country The products of
industry are, indeed, multiplied in
wondrous fashion, but, also, tie mum
| Der of home consumers constantly in
creases with rapidity for which there Is
no precedent in the history of nations.
The final proof that the market Is
not overloaded with manufactured
products is supplied by the indisputa-
bic fact that we are bringing into this
country every year millions OF dol
| lars worth of manufactures of cotton,
| wool, silk, leather, iron and steel, and
SO forth, Of precisely the kinds made in
our own mills. If the figures repre-
| senting these heavy imports are to be
taken as evidence, they supply conclu
sive demonstration that American
mills In most departments OF industry
actually are unable to meet fully the
requirements OF the home demand.
The truth is that the people increase so
fast. naturally and by immigration,
and their wants and their wealth in
crease 50 fast that producers of the
necessaries and comforts or life can
hardly keep up with them.
rFhfu L. a IN
deed, from that represented by the
reciprocity convention at Chicago 1t
was probably because they We're afraid
that the facts would be produced that
| the managers carefully packed the con-
vention with free traders.
No wise American despises foreign
trade. He wants ell we can get with
out sacrificing something more yalua-
| BILE. Our home market is Il better mar
ket than any otter, and 1t ought to be
| preserved so far as possible for our
own producers. Our sales to Germany.
for example. are about $212, 100000
year, This is nice trade and worth
retaining. But the wholesale domestic
trade OF a single American town. the
city of Chicago. Is $l,TS1 .000,0 600 n
year. or more than eight times larger
| than our commerce with all the Ger
man empire. III we should lose the
whole of the German trade 1t would
| not amount TO more than the loss OF
business for day or two by this en-
| tire country.
There is not any more wisdom in the
| proposition made by the reciprocity
a I.uN
tariff duties ought to be relaxed be-
cause they gain for us the III will Of
| other nations. 1t Is a novel suggestion
In our history that American fiscal leg
| islation should be shaped by fear. Ev-
cry nation In the world has tariff that
| l., framed In accordance with what Ii
believed TO be its own Interests. and
| It's rights In the matter have always
been conceded to- be absolute.
That the German government win
actually send even a yelled threat to
| Washington is hardly TO be believed.
| The American people will warmly APP
prove a vigorous response from our
own government II the threat shall
ever be made. They are not likely TO
| consent that European government
shall control the provisions of our rev
enue laws. Only an American free
trader would find that humiliation ad-
mirable
The Chicago reciprocity convention
called for dual tarf'''-that is to
say, II tariff with high duties for the
nations which will grant rs no favors
aud low duties for the nations which
will give us low duties. The idea of
| the convention was to arrange this
kind of reciprocity by cutting the Ding
ley tariff rates whenever a favor ia to
| be exterdssi.
The protectiopiSts of the country viii
never accept the plan. They will, how
ever. cordially agree 10 make tue ex-
listing duties the very lowest rates and
| to advance them sharply upon the
goods OF any nation that shall attempt
| TO discriminate against us. II. for ex-
ample, Germany shall do so. congress
would be justified by public opinion II
! Il should Increase by - per cent all
duties upon German fabrics brought III
| 10 this country. That would bring
| Germany to terms iu hurry.-Phlla.
| delphia North American,
Applause Only.
Mr.. Bryaus name was cheered at the
aF Ohio 1arnDfr0fS Rut