Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1891 — Is the Fcreign Market a Curse? [ARTICLE]

Is the Fcreign Market a Curse?

Our enormous crops, with good prices, which would not be possible in the narrow confines of the home market, are now teaching our farmers the value of their foreign market as they have never seen it before. While they are thus learning in a most practical way the immense importance of the European market, let them not forget what the protection doctrine about that market is. The principal American book setting forth the doctrines of protection is that of Carey. This is the greatest work yet produced by an American protectionist, and our high tariff crowd are accustomed to swear by Carey. And what says Carey abjut the foreign market? “Our country would be better off if the Atlantic were an impassable ocean of fire, and a prolonged war between this country and our best customer, England, would prove an advantage. ” Do the farmers think so? Let them imagine what would now be the price of wheat if the 200,0)0,009 bushels which Europe will probably call for this year were kept at home to glut our own market. But this queer doctrine is also the doctrine of McKinley. Here are his words: “If our trade and commerce are increasing and profitable within our own borders, what advantage can come from passing by confessedly the best market that we may reach the poorest by distant seas? In the foreign market the profit is divided between our own citizen and the foreigner, while with the trade and commerce among ourselves the profit is kept in our own family and increases our national wealth, and promotes the welfare of the individual citizen.” Yet “the poorest by distant seas” is now booming the prices of wheat in a way to make the farmers smLe Would it not be wiser to court that market very vigorously by taking moro freely what it has to offer in exchange?