The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1890-10-02
SECRETARY BLAINE.

SECRETARY BLAINE.
He Writes Another Letter Scoring the
Mckinley Tariff Bill.
Secretary Blaine has come out in anoth.
er letter extending his views on reci-
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 IT protects
and benefits the East exposes and In
1ures 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 lstely received q letter from
Mr.. ]. =. Imbs, Of St. Louis, . leading
representative Of the flour interests, and
president Of the late convention Of nill'
ers at Minneapolis. Speaking for the
1eur and grain interests OF that great
section. Mr.. limbs says that "sdvices OF
recent date from Cuba state that the du-
ties now collected on American -four are
~ uCE E0t0 0Ao4 "So oo AASs 10y
posed to be the case"
And he adds: Il respectfully submit
that the American miller will be unable
10 rotain any part Of the Cuban -four
trade unless immediate reliof Is secur-
ed"
In view Of these facts is IL possible
that protectionist Congress can even
think of opening our markets to Cuba's
products free while allowing . great
Western industry to bs absolutely e4-
cluded from her markets by prohibit
ory tariff With reciprocity the West
can annually sell many hundred thou'
sand barrels Of flour in the markets Of
Cuba end Porto Rico together with
large mass OF other agricultural pro-
ducts. Without reciprocity she will b
driven more and NOSE from these mar
kets.
Giving tho fullest protection 10 all
Eastern interests ~ the proposed tariff
bill does, surely no man OF good 5udg'
ment-oertainly no protectionist Of wiso
foYecast-wishes 10 expose Western
interest to serious injury, especially
when 1t Is manifestly easy 70 protect II
and promote its msnifestly 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
StateA / selecA Cuba and Porto Rioo
for examples because In cortain quas-
tors II 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 Ms give the Spanish Islands IN 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 sanoo soil and that the sugar
countries OF South and Central America
and the West India Islands contain 40.-
O00, 600 of people who import the largest
part of their bresdstaffh Indeed. tho
largest part OF the suSas product Of Latin
America Is at our doors and we cal
greatly enlarge ous exchanges there II
Congress will give us the opportunity fos
reciprocal trade
Another class observe that they want
time to study the system. To this I
might reply that the best method Of
studying q system is to observe its prao-
tical workings While studying In tho
abstract and refusing to take sOme Oh
ject lessons, these gentlemen propose 10
open our market 70 Latin American
products free OF all charge. without aslO-
Ing Latin America 10 give us In turn
some freedom In their markets. The
object lesson Immediately before us 10
the treatment Of the sugar question
Shall we mako Latin America gift Of
that trade? When we have studied that
question We shall be prepared for the
second.
Tho 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 REQ
ipsocity." II understand their logic,
It IL to make sugar FREQ this year with
out condition. and next year ask Spain
II she will not kindly consent 70 grant
reciprocal trader Holding the complete
vantage ground themselves, the pro-
posed policy transfers the vantage
ground 10 Spain Instead Of granting q
favor to Spain to-day we are to ask her
for Q favor tomorrow. Those who take
this ground belong to that class of care
ful guardians Of property, who prepare
strong look fof the stable after tho
horse Is gone.
tdo net mssn n any thing have
said, to imply thas reciprocity 10 only
. Western interest As remarked, In
. note to Senator Frye 1t Will prove
beneficial and profitable both 70 the
farm and shop. What for instance
could ho more natural OF moro just than
that In giving free markst In the
United Statos to hides from the Argen-
time Republic. We should ask the Areen-
tins Republic 10 give ~ botesr market
than we nov have fos tho product Of
leather from the United States2 The
many forms in whioh ons business inter
ests will be promoted BY reciprocity can
not be known until the active commer.
oial men OF the United Statcs shall have
developed .hess forms by Investigation
and experience We shall not realize
the full benefit OF the policy in day o,
. year, but shall We therefore throw
away countless millions Of trade. In sd-
dition to the sixty millions we have al
ready thrown away. and then iRnorautly
declare without trial that the ''systen
won't work"
Finally, there is one fact shat should
have great weight, especially with pro-
tectionists. Every frcttrader in the
Senate voted against the reciprocity
proposition. The free trsde papers
throughout the country ars showing
determined hostility to It., II Is evi-
dent that tho free trade Senators and the
free trade papers have = specific reason
for their course. They know and feel
that with system Of reciprocity estab-
lished and growing. thsiz policy Of free
trade receives most serious blow. The
Rrotectioniss who opposes reciprocity In
the form In which it 10 now presented
knecks away one Of the strongest sup
/ ports Of his system. The enactment Of
reciprocity is the safeguard Of protae-
tion. Tho defeat OF reciprocity is the
opportunity Of free trade. Yours very
respectfully, JAMES G. BLAINE.