Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-07-28
MR.. BLAINE ON SUGAR.

His Well Known Views ON Reciprocity
Presented in Another Letter.
WAsHINGToN, July Ex-senator Frye
has received the following letter from
Secretary Blaine, in reply to his recent
inquiries respecting the effect of reci-
procity on the sugar trade with Cuba
and Porto Rico:
BAR HARBoR, Me, July -, 1890.
DEAR Mr.. FRYE-I have your reply to
my letter, and am glad that the essential
part of it has been given to the p.ess
You ask me what assurance | have as
to Spain's Willingness to enter into re-
ciprocal arrangemeEA of trade with the
United States. Your question surprises
me, for you cannot have forgotten that
only six years ago he prime minister of
Spain, in his anxiety to secure free admis-
sion to our markets for the sugar of Cuba
and Porto Rico, agreed to a very extensive
treaty of reciprocity with Mr.. John w.
Foster, then our minister at Madrid.
A year before, 1888, q very admirable
treaty of reciprocity was negotiated by
Gen Grant and Mr.. W. Fl. Trescott, as
United States commissioners, with the re-
public of Mexico, treaty well considered
in all it's parts and all its details, whose
results would, | believe, have proved
highly advantageous to both countries.
In view Of the pending discussion it is
a somewhat singular circumstance that
both these treaties of reciprocity failed to
secure the approval of congress, and failed
for the express reason that both provided
for the free admission of sugar. Congress
would not then allow II single pound of
sugar to come IN free Of duty under any
circumstances whatever.
And now the proposition is to open our
ports Tree to eyerbody's sugar and to do iG
with such rapidity that we are not to
have moments time to see if we cannot
make better trade--a trade by which we
may pay for at least a part of the sugar in
the products of American farms and
shops.
Our change of opinion has certainly
been remarkable in so brief n period. In
decd, the only danger of our not securing
advantageous treaties of reciprocity now
is the possible belief ON the part of those
countries that we are SO anxious for free
sugar that by patient waiting they can
secure all they desire without money and
without price.
Fearing that result, sought an inter
view with the eight Republican members
of the committee on ways and means
more than five months ago--to be exact,
on the 10th day of last February, endeav-
ored to convince them that 1t would be
eXpedent and wise to leave to the pres-
dent, rs the treaty-making power, an
opportunity to see what advantageous an
rangements of reciprocity could he effected.
! was unable to persuade the committee
to take my view. mention this circum-
stance now because it has been charged
in many quarters that the suggestion for
reciprocity came too late. In fact, my
effort was made before the tariff bill
was reported TO the house or even framed
in committee.
1t is, think, very grave mistake to
oppose this reciprocal proposition touch
ing sugar from the fear that it may con-
flct in some way with the policy Of pro-
lection The danger Is, ! think, wholly in
the opposite direction. Let us see what il
proposed. Our government has hereto
fore collected heavy duty from sugar
amounting one year in the aggregate to
fifty-eight millions of dollars 1858, ,000, ,0)0),
and averaging fifty millions per annum
for a considerable period. We wish now
to cheaper sugar by removing the duty.
The value of the sugar we annually
consume is enormous. Shall we pay for
it all in cash, or shall we seek u recipro-
cal arrangement by which large part of
it may he paid for in pork and beef and
-four, in lumber, salt, and iron, in shoes
and calico and furniture, and thousand
other things
In short, shall we pay for it all in cash,
or try friendly barter in part? | think
the latter mode is the highest form of
protection. and the best way to promote
trade.
address this note to you, as did my
first because you have taken an active
and most intelligent interest in the in
crease Of our trade with South America.
When shall we enlarge our commercial
intercourse with that great continent il
we do not now make beginning2 II we
now give away the duty on sugar tas we
have already given away the duties on
coffee and hides and RUBBER and get moth
ing in exchange which shall be profitable
To the farm or the factory in the United
States, what shall be our justification for
the policy
You have recently received ccngratula-
tions-in which | cordially Join-on carry
ing the shipping bill through the senate.
Do you not think that line of ships gen
erously aided by the government will
have a better prospect for profit and fer
permananCe II we can give TO them out
ward cargoes from the United States and
not coniine them To inward caIg goes from
Latin Americay
am sincerely yours,
JAMES G.. BLAINE.