Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-10-02
SECRETARY BLAINE.
Hs Writes Another Letter Scoring the
Mckinley Tariff BIll.

oI Aotbtr eAteu9luB MS NleWS on reCl-
procity, as mapped out some time ago
in letter to Senator Frye, of Maine.
Mr.. Blaine goes further than ever to-
ward the free trade camp, and declares
that the Mckinley bill, while 1t protects
and benefits the East, exposes and in
jures the West. He declares further
that this obnoxious and wicked meas
ure arrays the East against the West.
Mr.. Blaine's letter to the Boston paper,
among other things, says:
have lately received a letter from
Mr.. ]. F. limbs, of St Louis, leading
representative of the -four interests, and
president of the late convention of mill
ers at Minneapolis. Speaking for the
flour and grain interests of that great
section. Mr.. limbs says that "advices Of
recent date from Cuba state that the du-
ties now collected on American flour are
at higher rate than was at first sup
posed to be the case"
And he adds: II respectfully submit
that the American miller will be unable
to retain any part of the Cuban flour
trade unless immediate relief is secur-
ed"
In view of these facts is it possible
that protectionist Congress can even
think of opening our markets to Cuba's
products free while allowing great
Western industry to be absolutely ex-
cluded from her markets by prohibit
ory tariff? With reciprocity the West
can annually sell many hundred thou
sand barrels of -four in the markets of
Cuba and Porto Rico, together with q
large mass of other agricultural pro-
ducts. 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 judg-
ment-certainly no protectionist of wise
forecast-wishes to expose Western
interest to serious injury, especially
when it is manifestly easy to protect it
and promote it; manifestly easy because
at this very time the Boards of Trade,
the Chambers of Commerce, and the
public opinion in Havana are demand
ing reciprocal trade with the United
States. select Cuba and Porto Rico
for examples because in certain quar-
ters it has been said that while we
might secure reciprocity with some lit
tie countries in South America, we could
do nothing with the Spanish Islands.
Let us give the Spanish Islands an op-
portunity to speak for themselves.
Certain wise men ask: How can we
sell farm products in South America
when the same things are produced
there? Cereals are undoubtedly grown
in the southernmost portions of South
America but the wise men will remem-
ber that cereals and sugar do not grow
in the same soil and that the sugar
countries of South and Central America
and the West India Islands contain 4O,-
900, 900 of people who import the largest
part of their breadstuffs. Indeed, the
largest part Of the sugar product of Latin
America is at our doors and we can
greatly enlarge our exchanges there If
Congress will give US the 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 system is to observe its prac-
tical workings. While studying In the
abstract and refusing to take some OBJ
ject lessons, these gentlemen propose to
open our market to Latin American
products free of all charge, without ask
ing Latin America to give US 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 gift of
that trade? When we have studied that
question we shall be prepared for the
second.
The worst proposition of all is put
forth by those who say: "Let us put
sugar on the free list now, and next
year we will take up the subject of rec
iprocity." II understand their logic,
1t is to make sugar free this year with
put condition, and next year ask Spain
II she will not kindly consent to grant
reciprocal trade? Holding the complete
vantage ground themselves, the pro-
posed policy transfers the vantage |
ground to Spain. Instead of granting
'avor to Spain to-day we are to ask her
or favor tomorrow. Those who take |
his ground belong to that class of care
ui guardians of property, who prepare
. strong lock for the stable after the
,orse is gone.
do not mean in any thing l have
aid, to imply that reciprocity is only
! Western interest. AS remarked, in
note to Senator Frye, it will prove
and profitable both to the
arm and shop. What, for instance,
ouId be more natural or more just than
hat. in giving a free market in the
United States to hides from the Argen-
inc Republic, we should ask the Argen-
inc Republic to give us better market
han we now have for the product Of
Gather from the United States? The
many forms in which our business inter-
sts will be promoted by reciprocity can
ot be known until the. active CONNER
ial men Of the United States shall have
eveloped these forms by investigation
nd experience. We shall not realize
he full benefit of the policy in day or
year, but shall we therefore throw
way countless millions Of trade, in ad-
ition to the sixty millions we have al
eady thrown away, and then ignorantly
eclare without trial that the system
'on't work"
Finally, there is one fact that should