Los Angeles herald., 1890-08-30
American neighbors is in a prosperous

American neighbors is in prosperous
condition.
How can this state OF affairs be re M
edied? You have heard great de al
said within the past ten years by our
Democratic friends about the iniquity of
the Republican party keeping up the
war tariff. AS matter of fact the war
tariff has not been kept up. but has
been amended over and over again, until
the revision of 1883 left scarcely trace
of the actual tariff that was in oper-
alton at the close of the war and for a
few years afterwards. During the war
we were compelled to tax almost every
thing in the air, in the water, on the
earth and under the earth. The necessi-
ties of the government were so
great that we could allow scarcely
anything to be imported without paying
tribute, and | think no patriotic man
can deny that that was wise policy.
We were not then studying the phil
osophy of trade relations, but how to
save the life of the nation. Money was the
| primal neces sity, and we seized it where
ever we could reach it lawfully, but
during the last eighteen years great
change has been made. So entirely
has our tariff been abolished that in the
| fiscal year ending June 30th, 1889, the
articles admitted free were considerably
more than one-third of all the imports.
To be exact, the imported articles that
paid duty, exceeded $4SS, 900 in
value, and the imported articles that
paid no duty, exceeded $256, 100000 in
value. The inevitable tendency is,
think, toward the increase of the free
list.
GA great mistake was made when we
began to repeal the war duties on so
large an amount of imports. Any duty
repealed was favor and an advantage
to the exporting country, and we have
asked nothing in return. Instead of
this course, which l must say was only
carelessness and wastefulness by both
political parties, every repeal of duty
should have been succeeded by most
thorough investigation, and: whenever
it was found practicable to export any,
thing from the United States, and thus
establish reciprocity of trade, 1T should
have been done. 1 do not, of course. in
tend to declare or to imply that we could
have secured the free admission of $685.
OOO, 200 OF American products into coun-
tries whose products purchase we annual
ly to that amount. The richer country
cannot expect to get complete recipro-
city in amount from countries less
wealthy, but whatever we should have
received would have been a clear gain,
and in all future repeals of duties,
whatever we may be able to get will be
clear gain.
1T is not question of setting deliber-
ately to work to establish reciprocal
exchanges, but with all duties we have
thus far repealed, it has been a question
OF whether we should get something or
get nothing. We have chosen with our
eyes closed to get nothing. 1 hope now
with our eyes open that we shall in the
future choose to get something.
I'VE encounter opposition to this pol
icy from those who declare that if we
enter into reciprocity of trade with one
country, we must do so with all coun-
tries, and thus indirectly bring about
free trade. | do not see the logic,
and am sure the facts will not prove
what is predicted. We may enter into
reciprocity with a nation because we
find advantage in it. We may decline
to enter into reciprocity with another
nation because we see no advantage in
it. Reciprocity is simply policy of
circumstances to be determined favor
ably or adversely according as it's
operation may make or lose for us.
10 say because we enter into
reciprocal relations with one country on
one thing, we must enter into reciprocal
relations with all other countries on all
things, is, to my mind, as absurd as to
say that if l buy horse today | must
necessarily buy drove of asses tomor-
row; all objections of that kind are, I
am sure, unfounded and will not stand
the test of argument or practical trial.
"Our people do not realize the great
TACT that If specie payment is endan-
gered in this country, it is likely to be
endangered by our present system OF
trade with the Latin American states.
A few millions of gold that have gone
out of the country within the last three
months, have created an uneasiness in
certain quarters as to our financial posi-
ton. 1t is very extraordinary that the
loss OF those millions from the banks
in Wall street should be accounted so
serious an event, when we have lost
much larger amount during the same
period from the condition of our trade
with the countries south of us, without
exciting the least observation. When
our merchants and bankers come to
thoroughly appreciate this fact, we shall
receive aid and influence in the reform
OF our trade with quarter which thus
far it has been impossible to enlist"
The large audience listened with pro-
foundest attention, and the speech met
with great approval.
Hon. William E. Mason, of Illinois,
followed endorsing in an enthusiastic
speech, the principles of reciprocal
trade.
The meeting closed with an earnest
speech by Henry Cabot Lodge, advocat-
ing the federal election bill, and warning
voters that the government must pro-
tect all it's citizens in their right to vote.
Jail Birds Escape.
AUBURN. Cal August 29.-AbOut 7 40