Year: 1877

some lmpOrttut Dfaucues Vi ihuuo'iy "AS Va


rested and all others with the single excep-
ton of agriculture languish, it is too obvious
that the most urgent want of the country Is
enlalged markets Our manufacturers Oh
metals fabrics and implements have pro-
dueed more than they can SELL and would
gladly produce up to their full capacity II
new markets were opened to take on
the existing surplus and the results OF
larger production. They would Willingly
| employ the artisans whose families
need fuel, shelter and bread if they were
able to dispose Of the products of their es-
adjustments. What our stagnant indus
tries need is markets, and even the growth
of the domestic markets depends on in
creased foreign sales OF our productions.
The domestic market is formed by the
ability Of our own people to purchase and
consume, which is in proportion to their
earnings When our luborers earn wages
they can buy commodities, and such an en-
largement Of the foreign market as would
give them full employment would have
double effect in promoting the sale OF goods.
Our establishments would produce to meet
both the increased foreign demand and tho
increased domestic demand


But how are better foreign markets to be
acquired? The free trade doctrinaires say
by abolishing our tariff system and opening
our own markets without restriction to all
the world They have been preaching this
doctrine for long time without any practi-
cal result, and that kind of preaching might
be equally fruitless for the next ten years.
The interests opposed to it are too powerful
to succumb to ''the foolishness Of preach
ing" Nor is there any certainty that free
trade would give us the markets we want.
Take Cuba, for example. by abolishing the
duty on sugar we should put money in
the pockets Of the Cuban planters, and
Spain might continue the enormous duty on
flour levied for the purpose OF giving that
market to her own grain growers i'll the
Peninsula But if we could make reci-
procity treaty securing the free admission
of our products into Cuba in exchange for
the free admission of her sugar into the
United States both parties would be bene-
flied and we should gain valuable foreign
market. In like manner, if we should
simply abolish our duties on wheat and
lumber we should fling away the
means of acquiring an important mar
ket in Canada. We must not give
her our market without gaining hers in
exchange. We must not leave her at liberty
to shut out our productions by protective
tariff. Even England, the great free trade
country, has extended her commerce by
numerous recipr rocity treaties, the progeny
Of the treaty with France negotiated in 1860
by Mr. Golden, her great free trade apos-
tie. France is protectionist country, and
her market could have been secured for
British products only by treaty. The
effect was SO beneficial to France
that after the war Thfers, though
lifelong and decided protectionist,
had to yield to the public voice and
continue the treaty The market it secured
for France was one of the means Of her
marvellous recuperation after the war. The
number Of reciprocity treaties made since
1860 is stated to be between fifty and sixty.
Our government, in attempting to acquire
foreign markets, ought, for the present, to
direct its efforts chiefly to this Continent.
These markets naturally belong to us
by geographical proximity and should
be ours by other titles. We manu-
facture nearly all the articles of which
they are large consumers There is no
likelihood that the American countries
south of US will manufacture for themselves.
The practical monopoly which England has
so long had Of their markets can be taken
from her now that our manufactures equal
many Of hers in quality and cheapness. All
that is yet needed is that we open our
markets to them as England has opened
hers. They must be able to sell to US in
order that they may buy of us. The great
source of the wealth of Great Britain is the
ability she has possessed to supply new
| countries which produce only raw materials
with manufactured goods at cheaper rates


than any rival. We have SO gained upon


her that in large classes of articles she
no longer possesses that advantage. She con-


only in virtue of her wiser commercial


policy. BY buying from the South Ameri-
can countries as we'll as selling to them she


enables them to pay for her goods and


enables the ships engaged in that trade to


get cargoes both ways, thereby diminishing


the cost of freight on her exports This


difference in freight is now the only circum-


stance that enables her to undersoll us il


the South American markets. Cotton goods


of an equal quality are trife cheaper in


Boston than they are in Liverpool but


the Liverpool shipper can deliver them


in any Mexican or South American


port ut about half the freight


charges, and therefore holds the market.


a Boston ship freighted with car..o of cot.


ton goods is likely to come back IN ballast
and must make the whole expense of the
| yoyaro ON what she takes out. But When