The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-30
THE SYSTEM OF RECIPROCITY.
Citizens Of Waterville Listen to 1
Masterly Address.
The Source OF Imports and the Destina-
tion OF Exports Examined Into aud .
Balance struck to Show the Adverse
Result.

publican party and the famous advocate Of a
progressive protective tariff Hon. James g.
Blaine In regard to national questions, Blaine
said:
Il wish to declare it as my opinion that the
United States has reached point where one OF
Its highest duties is to enlarge the area OF its
foreign trade Under the beueficent policy of
protection we have developed q volume OF man
uiacfures which in many departments oyerruus
the demands of the home market In the field
or agriculture, with the immense propulsion
given in It y agricultural implements, we can
do far more than produce breadsfuffs and pro-
visions for our own people. Nor would it be an
ambitious destiny for so great country as ours
to manufacture only what we can consume, and
produce only what we can eat
We are already in many fabrics and in many
products far beyond that, and our great de-
mand is expansion I mean an expansion of
trade with countries where we can find q
profitable exchange; we are not seeking an
nexation OF territory. Certainly we do not
desire that unless IL should come by the
yolition OF the people who might ask the price,
less boon of place under the flag of the
Union. feel sure that for long time 10 come
the people OF the United States win be wisely
content with our present area, and not launch
upon any scheme of annexation.
AT the same time think We should be un-
wisely content If we did not seek to engage in
For nearly thirty years now the United states
has had the great advantage OF a protective
tariff, and happily the great majority of the peo-
pie, without strict regard to party lines, believe
the results to the American people from this
protective policy to have been incalculably
beneficial, sggregating in quarter of century
national and individual wealth beyond any,
thing ever dreamed of before in the history of
the world.
Il do not mention protection because do not
speak in reference thereto before this audience
This would be needless, if not an impertinent
Effort Imerely wish to proclaim its victories
without protection the United States would be
poor indeed after the ravages of the war from
1861 TO 1866. With protection every section has
hourished and prospered, has grown and
gained
Even where revenue duties have been laid
with no expectation of developing industries
here have in many instances been great finan-
eiai and industrial results. The heavy duty on
silk was levied primarily not for protection
-ut mply to sesure large revenue from one
OF the large luxuries of the rich: but as q conse-
quence the silk industry increased so rapidly
that it constituted one of the leading fabrics OF
New Jersey, one of the largest manufacturing
'afes OF the Union could readily advance
ether illustrations to e same effect
AS have already minated. am here to
speak OF the expansion OF our foreign trade. not
oy any novel process, not by any mode that viii
shock or disturb our home industries not by
sny mode that will invite our people to rash ex.
seriments or that will launch US in doubtful
aud dangerous investments What mean to do
to speak briefly OF the system OF reciprocity.
Hot in conflict with the protective tariff bat sup
p'ementary thereto and presenting field for en-
,erprlse that viii richly repay the effort and
nergy of the American people,
I'VE shall find it instructive and valuable to
examine into the sources of our imports and the
destination of our ex ports, and to strike bal
aAee between the two. Take last year, 1889. In
hat year our whole exports to all
re countries in the three continents OF
1nrope, Asia and Africa. and TO Australia
Canada and Hawaii amounted in round num-
hers 20 So ss,oo0.600. and our imports from all
hose countries amounted in round numbers TO
<o39,0O000). showing that from that vast trade
We had balance of $l2Q OO0oO0 in
our favor. equivalent 10 that amount
II gold to our people, But when
counts closed. instead of having s12e ooo 600 in
our favor we had balance OF $l3 600, 600 against
IS from our foreign trade. We must therefore
ave lost s142 coo COO in our commerce with the
ountries outsiae of those to which have re-
ferved.
where could we have found such large ad-
serse balance? Let me tell you. We lost ST.
oo0o0 in Cubs. from which the imports were
SO, ,0oo, 600, and TO which our exports were only
~
rye sum to lose on one island in a single wear.
the republic of Brazil we LETT $751;
eoo0o0. Our exports to Brazil were 5000 600
IN Mexico We lost 100000 Our imports fror,
Mexico were 81 100000. and exports to Mexico
sllOo0,t00 To sum il all up, our imports from
re countries south OF Us were s2I6. .Oo0 o0a Our
exports 10 them were $74000O0o Ths balance
against us in our trade with these countries.
terefore is sI42.0O0.0oo, exceeding our gain
rom all the rest OF the world by Si3, 100000
by no figure of speech can we hatter our
elves into the belief that our trade with our
American neighbors is in q prosperous condi-
ion. How can this state of affairs be reme-
led? You have heard great deal said within
shc past ten years by our Democratic friends
bout the iniquity OF the Republican
party keeping up the war tariff As matter OF
fact, our tariff has not been kept up. bur
smended over and over again until the revision
Il lSS2 That revision left scarcely trace OF
,se actual tariff that was in operation at
ise close OF the war and for q
Few years afterwards. During the war
we were compelled to tax almost everything in
me air, in the water. on the earth and unde.
the earth. The necessities of the government
were so great that we could allow scarcely anv.
thing 10 be imported without pay
ing tribute, aud / think no patrioic
nan csn deny that that was wise
policy. We were not studying the philosophy
OF uhue feltiAoHs. puS now 10 save The lf6
of the nation. Money was the primal necessity
snd We seized 1t wherever we could reach il law
fully, bnt during the last eighteen years great
change has been made"
$50 entirely has the war tariff been abolished
that in the fiscal year ending June so 1859. arti
eles admitted free were considerably more than
one-third of all imports in value To be exact,
the imported articles thai paid duty exceeded
s4ss. eco COO in value, and imported
articles that paid no duty exceeded
$50 6,ooo,o0o in value The tendency is
think, toward an increase of the free list. Our
great mistake was made when we began to re-
peal the war duties on 30 large an amount of
imports. Any duty repealed was in favor of
and an advantage TO any exporting coaatry. and
we have asked nothing in return. Instead OF
this course. which must say WAS one OF care
lessness aud wiiifnlness by political parties.
every repeal OF dnty shoald have heea
preceded by . most thorough Investigation.
and whenever il was found pracriesb e
TO export anything from the United States, aud
thus establish reciprocity of trade, 1t should be
done I do not, OF course, intend to declare or
10 imply that We could have secured free ed
mission OF s2s6o ,olo into the countries whose
products we purchase annually 10 that anoant
A richer country cannot expect 70 get com pete
rectproeity in smhunt from countries less
wealthy, but whatever we should have received
would have been clear gain and in all future
fepeals of duties We may be able TO get will be
clear gam.
aIr 8 NOT q question OF setting deliberately to
work 10 establish reciprocal exchange, but with
ell duties we have thus far repealed il has been
q question OF whether we should get something