National Republican., 1874-05-30
RECIPRbCTT,Y 0FTR4DH

fuf assertion q the Anferic1n idea >oE nee
dom Throughout the entire contihent
RECIPRbCITY on TRADE
4 lwjl be renembered that We have fse,i
quentiy expressed the opinioh that.ft is the
true policy of the United States Govern.
ment to establish relations Of reciprocal
trade with all the countries upon the Amer
ican continent This opinion is based upon
thefactthatthe United States are the largest
manufacturing nstion-we might add that
| it salmost tie only one upon the continent
and that we necessarily draw a large por-
ton o, the raw material TO sustain these
manufactures from those 4 countries and
islands which sre adjacent TO US, but which
export their produce chiefly in raw state
1t viii be further recoliected that we have
demohstratsd by the statistics Of trade dur :
Ing the last quarter Of o century that our
immense consumption efiths-rsw moduct
tons Of our American neighbors, amount
ling 10 upwards Of one hundred, millions
annually. las drsYn largely upon our coin
| 70, pay the balances, which, we owe to them.
Why have We paid these balances in coinf
Simply owing to- difefentialo duties upon
those of our products and manufactures
| which good policy dictates that we, should
give them in exchange for their produce.
England, by her steam lines Of communi-
cation. keeps I heir markets glntted with her
manufactures tei the exclusion of oursssoa
The statesmen Of Great Britain with
that rare sagacity' which has long charac-
terized their commercial policy, never lose
an opportunity to cultivate friendly con-
mercel relations with all new countries,
They never fail to encourage, trade with
them. They have to- this end made pciiti-
cal economy and diplomacy, profession.
The leading feature In the mind of an Eng
lish diplomat ia the commerce of Great
Britain. His first duty is To- cherish and
foster markets for her htet m manufactures Her
ministers and eonsuls and commercial
agents are tutored and drilled in the, I'm
portance Of foreign trade ssthe vital ques-
ton paramount to all others, .'.o' H1e'
Hence her best and greatest men are se-
iected for the diplomatic service and retained
in it during life or good behavior. They
are never dismissed the service except
for neglect of duty or ineficiency.2. Over
zeal is scarcely possible, but, ifit should be
indulged, the error is forgiven, and the Of.
fender promoted 20 better position tn an
other country, while his fault Is condoned
with the aggrfeyed nation by an apology.
A British diplomat has no politics except
the Interests of British subjects and their
trade and commerce. These constrsin him
to protect the person and property Of all
who claim to be the subjects Of Great Brit
ain at all hazards. To enforce this he is
ever +, backed by the naval and military
power of his Government. t'rl Id bssrH.,
Commerce can nowhere thrive without
this protection being sssured, > Failure to
afford prompt protection to our citizens
abroad through the neglect cowardice, ig-
norance, or incompetency of the political
eunuchs whom we persistently send to rep
resent us abroad, on account of some fan
cied service they have rendered their party
in their more vigorous and palmy days, is
one Of the chiefcauses of our being dlstsnced
in the race for commercial supremacy.
When we do send men or power and spirit
who might become useful by experience,
they are recalled at the next change of
administration, and laid upon the shelf as
finished and unappreciated pa trioLs.
Any attempt at reform in this respect, and
to place ourselves upon an equality with
Great Britain in. the control of the commerce
of the world, would be greatly facilitated
by the negotiation of treaties providing for
reciprocal trade with those countries upon
this continent from: which we buy 30
largely. - >. = a---E2s 80. d" :. -,
/. Reciprocal commerce must not be con
founded, as is too often the case, with free
trade A fair exchange Of commodities
with our neighbors is not free trade, If
we can sell the Dominion of Canada our
manufactures and products in exchange
for her -four and lumber. which we need,
upon such terms Is may befound equitable,
there is no doubt but that the trade In those
articles would be benefited by the absence
of restrictions upon them. But we must
interpose our objections to such one
sided treaty as that which; formerly existed
under the name of reciprocity. The name
was about all there was Of reciprocity
about it. And yet our trade with Canada
grew and fourished under its provisions as
itneyer has done since its abrogation.,
With the Spanish West Indies, Mexico,
Central America and the countries of South
America and the Sandwich Islands, we be-
ieve that our commercial relations might
be greatly improved by reciprocsl treaties
Of commerce But as, before stated, with
regard to. Canada, these arrangements
SHOULD be really and truly reciprocal As
It is nov, we take the coffee Of Cuba, Yene.
zdela and Bfasii frces while their system Of
duties lays a heavy tax upon our products
and manufactures, which enables Great
Britain, to force ds out of the markets.
She supplies them with their goods and
we send her our gold to pay for them. If
we cannot get treaties which are reciprocal
In fact as well as in name, we had better
do without them. ! If we can secure true
practical reciprocity of trade with our
neighbors, On this continent, IT will effec-
trIaily solve and settle the problem of the
Monroe Doctrine, about which there has
been much talk and bluster, but in regard
to which nothing definite has jet been
determined- 1--we can control the COM
merce of a nationIgwe can dictate her laws
and her governmental policy, Crest Bri-
tain understands this and she Is our riyal.'g
THE ARGUMENTS G0VNSBB.
The marked contrast presented by the
arguments of Messrs Mattingly, Stanton
and Harrington, the counsel for the Board
Of Pubic Works; to those of Messrs. Mer-
nick and Shellabargor, on the other side, as
regards tone, temper dignity and weight,
must stcreates fayoraBle impression In behalf
of the board upon the minds of all who
read them without prejudice The former,
albeit they are examinations from men com
paratiysly youthful and incypehepced, tex-
hibit calm research into,l the facts Of the
easeoand a.cpmptehsnsiHs view of the rnag.
fftude o6f the work accomplished which