Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1892 — A FOREIGN VIEW. [ARTICLE]

A FOREIGN VIEW.

What Oar Neighbors Say Concerning Our Protection Policy. The London Spectator of recent date, commenting on the political situation in the United States, says: —The Democratic party has with virtual unanimity not only adopted an antiprofectfdnist programme, but has chosen -as its candidate a politician whose name is synonymous with what we mean by free trade—that is, tariff for revenue purposes only. The manner in which the Democratic, party has adopted the principle of free trade is-especially remarkable. Protection—i. e.,the raising of duties for other than revenue purposes—has been condemned as unconstitutional, and therefore if the Democratic party triumphs protection must . go, root and branch, as something opposed to the institutions of the United States. The vote by which this decision was carried was a very heavy one. Five hundred and sixty-four members voted for it and only 343 against. Nor is this all. Mr. Shearman declares that “the most significant part of the vote consists in the fact that the minority was composed almost entirely of men who heartily approved of the decision, but who feared that the people at large were not prepared for such a radical utteranee, while the majority" included the entire delegation from New York, who have hitherto been among the most obstinate opponents of anything savoring of free trade, and who strove to defeat Mr. Cleveland upon that ground.” Mr. Shearman is confident indeed that the Democratic party as a whole may now be considered as unanimous for free trade and against the taxation of the consumer in the interests of the producer. But if the Democrats area large majority of the voters, and if the Democrats are determined to put an end to protection, it is obviously safe to predict that the days of protection are numbered.

England's Cotton Trade. England is evidently losing its trade in cotton manufactures. The government return, issued a few weeks ago, deals with the trade for the first six months of this year and the same period in 1890 and 1891. It makes the following statement of exports for the six months terms: isno. IP9I. isftj. Yarn andlt wist. £0,142.011 £5.034,416 £4,007.791 Piece g00d5.... 25.954.073 25j244,385 24.501,310 It is acknowledged that there must either be a reduction of wages or a curtailment of production. Either method would be disastrous to labor and lead to the inauguration of a great strike. The Liverpool Mercury states the situation as follows: Both manufacturers and merchants complain that at the present rate of outlay they cannot make both ends meet. The operatives, through their official representatives, urge that- the amen<F* ment of the existing state of affairs is not to be found in a reduction of wages, but in a diminution of supply. Ou all sides it is admitted that something must be done if Lancashire is to maintain its ■ present position as to the great field of this vast industry.