, 1890-12-04

friendly commercial exchanges OF fenor-
nous value tn other great powers. from
the time OF my induction into Office the
duty OF using every power ana influence
given by law To tho executive dephrt-
ment for tho development OF larger mar
kets for our products, especially our
farm products, has been kept constantly
In mind aud no of Jrt has bocn or VIII
be spared to promote that end. we are
under no disadvantage In any foreign
market except that We pay workinSrnen
and workingwomon better wages than
are paid elsewhere. do not douDt
that u very largely increased Foreign
trade "a accessible to us without barter
ing either our homo market, or such
products OF the farm and shop as our
own people can supply, or tho wages
of our working people. In many
of the Oroducts OF WOOD ana
iron and in meats and brendstuns we
have advantages that only need better
facilities of intercourse and transporta-
sion to secure for them large foreign
markets. The reciprocity clause OF the
tariil act wisely points the way by Hhith
we may secure large reciprocal trade in
exchange for the free admission TO our
ports of certain products.
The rights OF independent nations to
make special reciprocal trade TRANSACTIONS
is well established and does not impair
either the courtesy due TO other powers
or what is known as tho Favored nation
clause" generally found in commercial
treaties. What Is given TO ine Tor an
adequate agreed consideration can not ba
claitnnd by another. 1t will be freely
conceded tho state of the revenue is such
that we could dispose with any import
duties upon coffee, tea, hides and tho
lower grades of sugar and molasses.
IhPt the large advantage resulting to
the countries producing and export
tnp nj her AtNr gNIu
ing them OF the free list entities
us to expect IA fair return In the way OF
customs concessions upon articles oS-
ported by us to them was so obvious
that to have gratuitously abandoned
this opportunity to enlarge our trade
would have been an unpardonablc error.
There were but two methods OF MAIN
tanning control of this question open to
conuress--to place all of those articles
upon the dutiablo list, subject to such
treaty agreements rs could DO secured.
or place them all presently upon the free
list, but subject to the imposition OF
specified duties II the countries from
which we receive them should refuse to
| give us suitable reciprocal benefit. This
latter method possessed great advan-
tagcs IL expresses in ad vance the con-
sent OF congress to- reciprocity arrange
mcnts affecting these products which
must otherwise have been delayed and
unuscertained until each treaty was rati-
lied by the senate and the necessary
legislation enacted by congress. Expc-
rlence has shown that some treaties
looking to reciprocal trade have failed
to secure two-third vote in the senate
for ratification, and others having
passed that stage have for years awaited
concurrence OF the house. We now
have the concurrence of both houses in
II distinct and definite offer of free entry
to our ports of specific articles.
The executive IL not required to deal
in conjuncture As to whut congress- will
accept Indeed this reciprocity provis-
ion is more than an offer. Our part of tho
bargain is complete; delivery has been
made, and when countries from which
we receive sugar coffee, tea and hides
have placed ON their free lists such of
our products as shall be agreed upon as
an equivalent for our concession,
proclamation of that fact completes tho
transaction, and in the meantime our
people have free coffee, tea and hides.
The indications thus far given arc very
hopeful of early and favorable action by
the countries from which we receive our
large imports OF coffee and sugar, and 1t
is confidently believed that If steam
communication with these countries can
be promptly improved and enlarged
next year will show most gratifying
increase in our exports of breadstuifs
and provisions, US well as of some i'm
portant lines of manufactured goods.