The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-07-19
M'KINLEY

Secretary Blaine censures severely the
Mckinley bill in the letter which he has
addressed to Senator Frye, His censure
is severe in what it implies rather than in
the terms which the secretary uses. He
avows that he is a protectionist and
speaks kindly of the bill while he de-
monstrates in plain terms that it is the
work Of either a fool or a knave. Mr.
Blaine points out that we need larger
foreign markets-that England is draw
ing supplies from India and Russia which
may dlsplace in great part our products
India has, in fact, become such a large
wheat producer that Mr.. James j. Hill
employed an expert to report on the sub
ject, for his own information as the head
of a great railroad system as we'll as fol
the public benefit.
So long as we produce more grain thar
we consume, so long will foreign mar
kets be of vital Importance to US. Should
the foreign demand fall off the home
market would be over-stocked, price!
would fall and our entire commercial
system would be disturbed. Gold woulc
be drained from the country to pay fo1
imports and we would be as a people il
the condition of the merchant who woule
tnr to pay his debts with goods which hi
creditors do not want and will not &C
cept.
Secretary Blaine would provide fo'
emergencies by opening up new markets
He would retain the duty on sugar o.
perhaps increase it in order to induce
Spain to abolish or reduce the duties or
flour and other American products. Ii
like manner he would impose a duty OF
coffee for the purpose of inducing Brazil
to abolish or reduce the duties which ex
clude American products or retard thel
consumption.
These deals are always possible. Sci
interest would compel Spain to find
market for Cuban sugar just as it would
cause Brazil to find sale for her coffe'
which IS the main dependence of he:
people. In like manner Canada may b.
induced to admit many American pro
ducts duty tree, by a reciprocal arrange
ment which would give the dominion &C
cess to our markets for part of her pro
ducts. This would benefit the who'll
country and notably Montana, and al
other states on the Canadian border.
Other countries have demonstrated wha
reciprocity can accomplish. The Anglo
French commercial treaty expanded great
ly the commerce of the two countries. 9th
er British treaties with fol- eign countrie
have produced like results. The benefit
have been so great in some cases that tn
treaties are regarded as permanent, al
though provision was made for their ter
mination at short periods.
These treaties have proved beneficial
because they were made with deliber,
ton and not for the purpose of polltica
effect. Mckinley has acted otherwise
HIS plan is to render high tariff rates CON
pulsory by removing the duty on sugar
His scheme is also to delude the farmer
by placing duties on cereals and cattl
and abolishing the duties on raw sugar II
order that he might point to some posi-
tive reduction N the tariff. But as MI
Blaine shows this method deprives tn
farmer of the market which he woul,
acquire by a wise, intelligent policy. Ye
the party organs which have defended
the Mckinley bill will continue to de
fend it, and Blaine will have to keep il
the background.