New-York tribune., 1908-08-30
WHAT FREE TRADE DID FOR TURKEY

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Referring the other day TO volume issued
by the American Tract Society in 1877. but now
out OF print entitled Among the Turks by the
late Rev. DR.. Cyrus Iiamlin. founder of Robert
College. Constautinope. and for thirty-fve years a
resident of Turkey. Csme across a passage relat-
ing the effect of free trade upon the industries
OF the Ottoman Empire. which. perhaps may con-
vey needed lesson for us. In view of Mr.. Bryan s
advocacy of evenue'-praCtically free trade
tariff. Under the running head, Influence of Free
Trade Dr. Hamln wrote:
But another more serious blow was struck to
sive efforts attempts to develop iron and coal
mines. etc. by English and French engineers az the
persuaded the turks % that free trade Would reno-
vste all their disoriered affairs The Mosems have
derstand. and II is probable that French
AS soon as the products of English and French
industry were admitted at tariff of per cent ad
valorem, the Ottoman worImen were astounded to
see their products initiated made more at
cheaper. Soon five thousand weavers in Scutari
were without employ and reduced to the most de-
terial of Darbekir disappeared the comb makers
and cutters shut up their shops. Brusa silks and
4 few years since. although Brusa full Of
found o1e only Of the old IN anufactories existing
and in that but three looms We're at work A few
as dear. it will last four times as long Thus all
Industries of Turkey have perished. except such
masons. cannot be supplied from abroad. There
Is neither capital intelligence enough 10 place
any industry upon its feet against foreign compe-
tition
Compare lively few OF the Ottomans have paid
the slightest attention the laws of political
omy. Being under the necessity of getting some
revenue from their custom houses. they taxed all
exports IL per cent. The beautiful silken goats
hair OF Angora is exported to England, and
comes back i'll fabrics which enhanced from
twenty to fifty and even one hundred. times. If
one part goes to the producer in Turkey and
fortynine to the manufacturer in England 1t hard
Turkey. gets the most from the Angora goats
The reason. then. why the Turkish government has
lavished many millions in vain efforts promote
manufactures is entirely the incompetence of
her people. for they naturally good mocha mics.
bIt it is owing to system which makes
impossible Russia has followed the example of the
United States. and protected her industries with
lead of England and France. and destroyed them
In both countries the 'jobbery'' which has weight
ed down all government experiments in manufact-
is probably about equal. and IN the compari-
may be eliminated. The difference in results
seems due to the different systems Free trade
while beautiful theory has evidently certain limi-
tations In its application.
Is not this significant Illustration of tho beauty
OF British free trade which Mr. Bryan would like
to introduce into this country? But We. we'll as
Turkey. have had some experiences in that line
which ought to satisfy even American Cobdenite
tor at least generation. The Dingley schedules
need revision. doubt. but for Heavens sake
don't let Turkeyize America
A VETERAN REPUBLICAN.
New York. Aug 20, 1903.