Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 October 1891 — COMMERCE AND TARIFFS. [ARTICLE]

COMMERCE AND TARIFFS.

High Tariffs Restrict, Low Tariffs Promote Commerce—Wliat Lessons European Tariffs Teach—Shall the United States Be Classified with Russia and Portugal? No statement is more commonly made by the advocates of high tariffs Wian that our example has been adopted by many of the European countries, such as France, Germany, Sweden, etc. It is asserted that these countries have been influenced by the example of Great Britain to follow in the track of tne United States, and, finally, that their action In this regard affords the best possible reason why the United States should continue in its policy. A comparison of the imposts and customs duties collected by the leading nations of Europe will sufficiently show the falsity of such claims as the followers of McKinley are now making. Such a comparison is given in the following table: Bate Popu- Im- Customs ot. latton. ports, revenue, duty Countries. Mill’s. Mill’s. Mill’s. ct. Belgium. 1888 6. 307.5 5.5 LB2 Switzerland, 1890... 3. 165. 6,1 8.39 Netherlands, 1889.. 4.5 508. 20. 8.93 U. Kingdom, 1889.. .37.3 21C0. 100. 4.7 C Germany, 1890 48. 809. 58. 6.74 Aus-Hungary, 1888..40. 267.5 20. 7.49 Franco, 1890 39. 821. 75. 9.13 Sweden, 1890 4.9 81. 10. 12.37 Norway. 1893 2. 42.7 5.6 12.89 Italy, 1890 30. 235. 53. 22.55 United States, 1889.62. 745. 224 . 30.00 Bussia In Europe, 1889 88. 159. 58. 36.49 Portugal, 1890 6.2 41.5 19.5 47 00 The duties imposed by the McKinley tariff will raise the average rate in the United States to over 40 per cent, thus placing us next to Portugal in this respect. The McKinley tariff is regarded by Its makers to be the lowest tariff consistent with our protective policy. Such being the case, the United States and Portugal are the only truly protective countries; while of all other countries Bussia approaches nearest us in this respect In accordance with the doctrines of McKinley, all other countries have free trade tariffs. If Germany and France, with duties averaging 6.74 percent, and 9.13 per cent., respectively, are to be considered protectionist countries, how can McKinley justify an average rate on both free and dutiable goods of over 40 per cent as but fair protection for the United States? The above figures give a conclusive answer to Mr. McKinley’s statements that a high tariff does not restrict foreign trade. The feebler European countries, as shown in the above table, have a combined population of 308,000,000 and import annually $5,588,000,000 of merchandise. The first four nations having strictly revenue tariffs, their combined duties averaging only 3.90 per cent, have only 16. per cent, of the population and over 55 per cent, of the total commerce, The next three countries, or Austria, France and Germany, with tariffs which are largely for revenue and but slightly protective, their combined duties averaging only 8 per cent, have 41 per cent of the population and 34.8 per cent of the commerce. On the other hand, Italy, Portugal, and Russia are, like the United States, highly protective, their duties averaging over 30 per cent, have over 40 per cent, of the population, and only 7.7 percent of the total Imports. Briefly summarized, the amount of imports per head of population is as follows: Av. duty. Per cap. First group 3.40 per cent. *60.58 Second group 6.00 per cent. 15.34 Third group 90.00 per cent. 3.53 Can any evidence establish more conclusively the destructive influence of high tariffs upon commerce? Leaving out of consideration the effect of high tariffs upon the advancement of nations in civilization, why should we follow the policy of Bussia and Portugal, and restrict and pervert the development of our enormous resources?