Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-09-25
WESTERN INTERESTS.

Manufacturers Iaexpedient and IniurI.
GUS for Eastern Representatives. to Dis
regard Measure Which VIII Promote
the Interests OF the West.
lii response to All Invitation to the an
nual banquet of the loot and Shoe cl,Ih
Col Clapp, editor Of the Boston JonYnnt
received u letter from Mr.. Blaine, in which
the secretary of state, referring to tho
portion of the invitation saying that tho
members OF the club are in hearty SYM
pathy with his views regarding the best
methods of extending American trade.
that he regrets that engagements will
not permit him to address the meeting.
The members OF the club he saws
can do great Sood by counteract.
ing certain phase of New En-
glands opinion, which lie regards IA
hurtful to New England's interests.
New England il to receive in the new
tariff the amplest protection for every
manufacturing industry within her bor-
ders. and it will be, in the Judgment OF
the secretary of state, both inexpedient
and injurious for her representatives to
disregard measure which will promote
western interests.
Mr.. Blaine refers to letter recently
received from Mr.. limbs, president of the
late convention of millers at Minneapo-
lis, referring to the excessive duties on
American flour in Cuba, and stating
that Americans would be unable to re-
tain any part of the Cuba -four trade
unless immediate relief was secered.
SIN view of these facts says Mr..
Blaine, sis it possible that protection
list congress can even think of opening
our markets to Cuba's products free,
while allowing great western industry
to be absolutely excluded from her mar
kets by a prohibitory tariff? With reci-
procity the west can annually sell many
hundred thousands of barrels of flour i'm
Cuba and Porto RIGA, together with a
large mass of other agricultural pro-
duets. Without reciprocity she will be
driven more and more from these mar
kets. Giving the fullest protection to
all eastern interests as the proposed tariff
bill does, surely no man of good judy
ment, certainly no protectionist of wise
forecast, wishes to expose a western in
terest to serious injury; especially when
it is manifestedly easy to protect and
promote it-manifestedly easy be-
cause at this very time boards of trade,
chambers of commerce and public
opinion in Havana arc demanding
reciprocal trade with the United
States. Certain wise men asked
how can we sell farm products in South
America, when the same things are pro-
duced there? Cereals are undoubtedly
grown in the southern-most portion of
South America, but the wise men will
remember that cereals and sugar do not
grow in the same SOIL and the sugar
countries of South and Central America
and the West Indies contain 10000, 900
people who import the largest part of
their breadstuffs. Indeed the largest
portion of the sugar product of Latin
America is at our doors, and we can
greatly enlarge our exchanges there if
congress will give us an opportunity for
reciprocal trade. Another class observe
that they want time to study the system.
To this I might reply that the best
method of studying the system is to OBJ
serve its practical workings. While
studying in the abstract and refusing to
take some object lessons these gentlemen
propose to open our markets to Latin
America products free of all charge, with
out asking Latin-America to give MS in
turn, some freedom in their markets,
The object lesson Immediately before us is
the treatment of the sugar question.
Shall we make Latin-America a gift of
that trade? When we have studied that
lesson we shall be prepared for the Sec
ond. The worst proposition of all is put
forth by those who say: Let us put
sugar on the free list now, and next year
take up the subject of reciprocity Ii
I understand their logic it is to mako
sugar free this year without condition,
and next year to ask Spain if she will
not kindly consent to grant us recipro-
cal trade. Holding the complete vantage
ground themselves, the proposed policy
transfers the vantage ground to Spain,
Those who take this ground belong to
that class of careful guardians OF prop
erty who prepare strong lock for the
stable after the horse is gone.
II do not mean in anything have
said to imply that reciprocity is only
western interest. 1t will prove beneficial
and profitable both to the farm and shop.
The many forms in which our business
interests will be promoted by reciprocity
cannot be known until the active COM
mercial men of the United States shall
have developed those forms of investiga-
ton and experience. We shall not
realize the full benefits of the policy in
day or a year. But shall we, therefore,
throw away countless millions of trade
in addition to the $6O,000,O00 we have
already thrown away and then ignorantly
declare without trial that the system
won't work?' Finally, there is one
fact that should have great weight,
especially with protectionists. Every
free trader in the senate voted against
reciprocity. The free trade papers
throughout the country are showing de-
termined hostility to it. 1t is evident
that the free trade senator's and free
trade papers have specific reason for
their course. They know and feel that
with a system of reciprocity established
and growing, their policy of. free trade
receives most serious blow. The, pro-
teetionist who opposes reciprocity in the
form in which it is now presented knocks
away one of the strongest supports Of
his system. The enactment of reciproc-
ity is the safe guard of protection. The
defeat of reciprocity is the opportunity
of free trade"