44 The Tariff and the Farmer. 



or Germany, the first-named country is right in the path 

 of the vessel on the return trip. And as that nation is 

 the world's market for agricultural products, this class 

 of merchandise is likely to furnish a return cargo. So 

 far as this is made up of products similar to those pro- 

 duced by our farmers, we lose such trade. Thus in the 

 three ways indicated agricultural trade has been, and is, 

 sacrificed to increase the profits of manufacture by the 

 protective system. It would not be strange if European 

 trade, driven off from our shores bv excessive duties, 

 had done more to develop agriculture in South America, 

 Australia and other foreign lands than all other influ- 

 ences put together. 



How an}^ one can believe that the heavy taxation of 

 foreign imports will not affect our export trade, the 

 larger portion of which consists of agricultural products, 

 is beyond comprehension. Surely, it is impossible to be- 

 lieve that a tax which averages 50% will not shut out 

 much merchandise from our ports which would otherwise 

 enter; and if our tariff has such effect, how can the retal- 

 iatory tariffs of other countries, aimed especially, as they 

 usually are, against our exports, imports in other lands, 

 fail to have the same effect upon products we would send 

 there? It is unreasonable to think otherwise. The 

 trouble in perception comes from the fact that it is not 

 the manufacturer's bull that is goaded. Were it his bull, 

 not a moment would be lost. Action would at once be 

 taken. 



It remains to explain the great expansion in agricul- 

 tural exportations in recent years. That it is not due to 

 high duties is obvious ; for if so, how can it be accounted 

 for that under practically the same heavy taxation of 

 importation there was little if anv advance from 1878- 



