The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, JULY 27, 1894. THE AMERICAN TARIFF.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 23, 27 July 1894, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, JULY 27, 1894. THE AMERICAN TARIFF.

A few weeks back the colonial press and public were elated over what was believed to be the final i assage of the American Tariff Bill. The staple product of these colonies, wool, was among the articles to be admitted duty free iuto the United States, and therefore the best possible grounds apparently existed for self-gratulation on this side, for it meant a big commercial fillip to us. However, it is now too manifest, we fear, that it doesn't do to measure American political ways by our rule. Brete Harte need not have chosen the " Heathen Chinee " for an illustration of tricks that are vain and ways peculiar ; his own country's " boodlering bulldozing "— to use American terms— politicians, could i furnish an altogether superlative type in the trick. Usually it is wisest to predict after the event, but a corres ! pondent of the writing at the I time the above Dill was supposed to have become law above the notne de plumeof " Jumbuck " expressed strong doubts as to whether it would be carried into effect. He stated that bills fully passed by the Legislative and signed by the President did not always become law. Ve9tDd interests are the supreme powers, and the " trusts " and " rings " can buy everything from 41 justice" downward, and, in short dominates Government and people alike. The writer evidently guaged the true state of affairs We have been building castles in the air over this matter, which were unwarranted by the real facts. It is now clear that the Americans themselves did not ex pect wool to be admitted free, for their foreign purchasers of the article have at no time been above the normal. The hope that American ports may be opened to our wool, much and fer vantly though it is to be desired, is now, we fear, a vain hope. The chance of its happening, if it ever existed, has passed away for many years at least, for a reaction in favour of Protection is once more setting in among the American people themselves. Re cent state elections have shown this, and it is believed that by November a Protectionist majority will again bold sway. It is more than proba le, therefore, as " Jumbuck " predicted, that vested interests and the supreme power of capital is now being used to prevent the passage of a partial Free trade tariff that would inflict injury on certain home industries. It is a bitter disappointment to our wool trn-wurs, but as the tide of immigra mm to the United States has practifully ceased, it is possible that new markets and new avenues of commerce generally may be opening up else where. That is the only hope we may now fall back upon.