Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1891 — Competing at Home and Abroad. [ARTICLE]

Competing at Home and Abroad.

Protectionists are happy over the prospects of increasing our exports of manufactured goods to Brazil. But one grave question arises, How are we to beat England' in South America if we cannot beat her at home? In order to keep England out of our own market we lay heavy duties on manufactured articles. The McKin.ey duties on the manufactured goods which Brazil now promises to admit free are as follows: McKinley protection. Agricultural tools ajjd machinery 45 per ct. Mining and mechanical machinery 45 per ct. Scientific instruments and books. .45 to 60 per ct. Railway construction and material... .45 per ct. and those on which Brazil will rednce the duties one-fourth are as follows: McKinley protection. Cotton manufactures ....40 to 60 per ct. Manufactures of iron and steel 45 perct. Furniture of all kinds 35 jfer ct. Manufactures of India-rubber 30perct. Manufactures of leather 35 per ct. It is said that Brazil will be bound to admit all these articles on the same terms with England as from the United States.. Can our merchandise pay freights to Brazil and then compete successfully with British merchandise. If so, why does it need protection from England in New York, when it has no ocean freight to pay? This question was put to Mr. Charles R. Flint, of New York, who was a member of the Pan-Ameri.can Congress, and who is largely engaged in South American trade. Although a stout protectionist, Mr. Flint, says the report, “denied that the United States were unable to compete in their own market with European nations in those articles of merchandise which it was expected that the United States would find a large market for in Brazil under the reciprocity convention. The United States did successfully compete in their own territory with other nations in those articles specifically mentioned in the convention, and all those embraced under general terms, except such as were of a very high grad 6 and particular style, and produced only in Europe. The United States already successfully competed with other nations in Brazil in many’of those articles to the value of nine million per annum: and the object of reciprocity was not to create in Brazil for the United States a now non-existing market, but greatly to enlarge a market already enjoyed.” This being the case, the protective tariff can serve no other purpose at home than co give the protected manufacturer a monopoly of the boasted home market. An Indianapolis man went to Europe and on his return was searched at the doek in New York, and several tine watches were found in his pockets. He was trying to save a duty of 25 per cent. How does it happen that this man became a smuggler and ran the risk of going to the penitentiary, if it be true, ae the protectionists assert, that goods are made in America and supplied to the consumer as cheaply as in Europe? The devil never, to begin with, asks anybody to go farther with him than the next corner.