594 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



have not varied much for several decades. According to the cen- 

 sus of 1880, the total number of all who were occupied for gain 

 was 17,400,000 out of 50,000,000. (I will omit fractions in dealing 

 with these figures.) A little over twenty-three per cent, number- 

 ing about 4,000,000, were occupied in professional and personal 

 service. There can, of course, be no direct foreign competition 

 with this class through the import of products. Ten and four 

 tenths per cent, numbering a little over 1,800,000, were occupied in 

 trade and transportation ; there can be no import of foreign prod- 

 ucts to compete with this class ; it matters not to them what they 

 move or what they may deal in. Forty-four per cent, numbering 

 a little over 7,600,000, were occupied in agriculture as farmers and 

 farm laborers, fruit cultivators, shepherds, and the like ; and, 

 lastly, twenty -two per cent, numbering a little over 3,800,000, 

 were occupied in the manufacturing and mechanic arts and in 

 mining. All who could or can be subjected to any change in the 

 direction of their industry by alterations in the tariff policy of 

 this country are substantially included in the two latter classes — 

 i. e., in agriculture and manufactures. 



According to the valuation of the products of agriculture, 

 which was carefully revised by the Department of Agriculture 

 after the census had been taken, the total value of the product 

 of this great body of farmers and farm laborers, numbering 

 7,000,000, was a little under $4,000,000,000 ; that part of the prod- 

 uct which consisted of sugar, tobacco, hemp, flax, wool, fruits, 

 and the like, or of any other articles which could be in any part 

 imported from abroad, came to less than $200,000,000 — or less 

 than five per cent of the total. It follows that not exceeding 

 350,000 to 400,000 of all who were occupied in agriculture could 

 be subjected to any adverse influence by changes in the tariff, 

 even if a larger proportion of these necessary articles were im- 

 ported free of duty than had been imported while subject to duty ; 

 this estimate by persons being made in ratio to the relative value 

 of different products. 



In this consideration we of course leave out the Dominion of 

 Canada. Owing to the difference in climate and to our advantage 

 of position, there is a considerable exchange of products of agri- 

 culture between us and our neighbors in Canada ; the amounts 

 about balance. On the whole, we supply Canada with a rather 

 larger part of the products of agriculture than they can supply 

 to us. But the total traffic is relatively a very small part of our 

 commerce, and may be wholly set aside, especially since the advo- 

 cates both of protection and of freer trade are coming together 

 in sustaining reciprocity among the nations on the American con- 

 tinents, especially with Canada. 



On the other hand, in 1880, seventeen per cent of the value of 



