New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-27
SECRETARY BLAINE AND CONGRESS-


Secretary Blaine labors under signal dlSad-
vantage in his controversy over free sugar ana
reciprocity. He evidently is in possession OF
information which leads him to believe that he
can negotiate treaties with sugar-producng
countries that will be highly advantageous to
the United States, but he cannot for dlplo-
matio reasons disclose it. He is forced to dis
cusS the subject under serious restrictions ana
TO refrain from using his strongest arguments.
If he has reason to believe that he can nego-
tate commercial treaties with Brazil, Mexico
and the Spanish WestNIndicS by which impor-
tant concessions will he made in return for
free sugar, he cannot take the country INTO his
confidence. He can only refer to recent treat
les with Spain and Mexico, as he does in his
letter TO Senator Frye, as an unerring lndlca-
ton of the willingness OF those countries to
treat with the United States. Even then he
must assume that certain features OF both
treaties which were Objectionable and secured
their defeat can be successfully obviated in
future negotiations
On the other hand Congress is also placed
at a striking disadvantage in opposing Secre-
tary Blaines proposals relating to reciprocity
and the modification of the Tariff bill His
the mastery manner in which he conducted the
proceedings of the n-Amcrican Conference,
and the breadth of view displayed by him III
discussing every international question have
greatly impressed the country. When he ex-
presses confidence in his ability TO secure high
" advantageous concessions in return for free
sugar the American people are prediSposed 10
let him try and find ont what he can do. Con-
grcSs, in perscvcrng in the policy of reducing
the surplus revenues and cheapening an article
of common consumption, is embarrassed by the
consciousness that it is offering glatuitouSly 10
the sugar-producing countries concessions
which the Secretary of State declares will read
ily command large cOmpenSations in reciprocity
negotiations. This embarrassment is increased
by the restrictions under which the Secretary
labors III presenting his case. He cannot re-
veal all the secrets of his Department nor dis
close his real grounds for confidence in the
success of reciprocity negotiations and natu-
rally Congress. before modifying the Tariff
Act in the direction indicated by him. requires
full and adequate information.
There is also another source Of emharraSs-
ment under which Congress labors in this mat
ter. The SecretaryS precise attitude toward
When he appeared before the committee of
the House five months ago he advocated tho
framing of Tariff bill upon lines which would
enable the Administration 10 ascertain whether
advantageous arrangements of reciprocal trade
could be effected. He opposed in particular
the imposition of duty on hides and the re-
moval of the sugar duties. The House Com
mitf1e made one concession 10 him in keeping
hides on the free list. but withheld the other.
In his report on reciprocity he again adyo-
Gated the retention of the existing sugar Schcd-
uleS in the interest of reciprocity, and discussed
the practcability of making some kind Of
trade with the Plate countries on wool, especial
| " the coarser grades. I'm his last letter 10
Senator Frye he says nothing about wool, but
bases his argument exclusively upon exchanges
| to be made on the basis of free sugar. These
| are the authoritative uttcranccs Of the Secre
! tary, but Democratic journals and their leaders
| in Congress are induStriously working upon
the theory that he is hostile to the Tariff bill
as whole. The Republican majority in Con-
greSS would be more inclined 10 meet the Sec
rotary, views respecting sugar if the country
| understood precisely how far his criticism OF
the Tariff bill reaches Does it end with the
sugar schedules, or with Argentine wool coarse
or fine or does il 90 further and deeper?
TIE TRIBUNE has advocated the passage of
the Tariff bill and the enactment of all meas
ures in line with the various issues Of con-
tinenta policy preached at the Pan American
Conference II is not more fully and unrc-
| servedy committed to one policy than 10 the
other: and now that one seems to conflict in
some degree with the other 1t hopes and is
| confident that the Senate will be able TO mini
mize the dvcrgenccs and TO harmonic the
opiniOns Of Republican leaders. What was
done AT the close of the silver controversy can
be repeated in this instance if Republican
| leaders will only get together for full and
frank exchange of views. The party has united
on the Silver Elections and Pensions bills II
must present a solid front on the tariff and
reciprocity issues. and union can be effected
bv the Intervention Of the wiscSt and most
conservative leaders Of the Senate. If Sec-
rotary Blaincs criticism Of the Tariff bill is
adequately expressed in his letter to Senator
FRYE, there is possibility that satisfactory
compromise may be reached, for he is not OPP
posed to the principle of free sugar, which Re-
publican leaders have considered essential 10
success in the November elections, but to the
gratuitouS method of making il free without
commercial compensatonS. Congress and the
| Administration must be brought into harmoni-
ous relations on these National and continental
issues. Republican success in the autumn must
not be imperilled by divided councils
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FAILURE OF TIE ANTI-SLA VERY CON