The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-05
THE nnC1rEoo1rx MOVEMENT.

i Hchoos from Mr.. Blaine's bugle blast In
favor q limited reciprocity are heard from
~ paris q the country. Its evident that
ne great leader has once more struck
popular chord and has outlined for the Re
publican party . policy which will
strengthen IL immensely and win make
easy thu achievement Of new victories.
The feeling In favor of reciprocity has
been increasing ever since Mr.. Blaine's let
ter 10 Senator Frye brought the matter be-
fore ne public. At first it was announced
thst the administration was hostile to the
idea, but the utterances of those known to
Be Ii the confidence of the President soon
made 1t manifest that this was not true.
Il was said that the letter of Mr.. Blaine
would be ignored by the Senate, but the
attitude Of the Republican leaders in that
body Is now such as to justify the belief
that the Mckinley bill will pass the Senate
with tho addition Of reciprocity amend
ment.
It il not among the party leaders, how
ever, that reciprocity finds its most ardent
supporters. It is rather among the masses
Of the people. This is especially true in
The farming states of the Northwest. 1t is
there that the free-trade heresy had made
the greatest progress in the Republican
ranks. 1t is there that it threatened most
seriously the ascendancy of the party. 1t
q there that the idea of reciprocity appeals
most strongly to the people. 1t has already
received the Endorsement OF the Republic
can state convention of Nebraska and of
the Republican state convention and the
Farmers Alliance convention of Mime
sofa, and there is reason to believe that It
Il acquiring wonderful popularity with the
farmers of the Northwest.
And why should such an idea not be pop
ular? Why should we not use the advan.
tages which circumstances place at our
disposalf Why should We not govern
our periodical readiustments OF the tariff
by the rules of common sensef When an
opportunity occurs by which q new market
may be opened for American products.
Why should we not take advantage of it2
when protected industry attains such
strength that its protection is no longer
necessary or desirable. the natural i'm
pulsc seems to be to place the product of
That industry on the free list without Civ
lne any thought to the effect which such
an act may have in other countries In
this manner it Is now proposed to place
sugar on the free list But the sugar pro.
ducina countries are so anxious for this
very action that they would gladly make
large concessions in order to bring it about.
Why should not these concessions be ex-
actcdf We are ready TO admit sugar free
anyhow, and why should we not derive
the advantage possible out of the situation
BY insisting that the sugar producing
countries in return afford q free market
for pork, for breadstuffs. or OF some other
article Of general use which we produce
"a excess of our consumption Mexico.
the Spanish West Indies and Colombia
would be glad TO strike such bargain.
why. then, should il not be exacsed of
themf
When : man who owns q horse finds
chat it is no longer necessary for him to
keep one. he does not on that account give
It 70 his neighbor or turn IL loose in the
hienway. On the contrary. he sells il at
The highest price obtainable. He knows
that, though the animal is no longer use
full to him, IL Is not on that account useless
70 everybody elsa Others are willing to
pay for II he pockets the money which
- purchaser presents, and his neighbors