The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-07-12
BLAINE vs.. REED AND MCKINLEY.


is not in accord with the congressional
leaders of his party, Messrs. Reed and
Mckinley, on the tariff and on the
election bill. He has tried to exercise
his influence quietly until recently
when seeing that that course was
fruitless he has begun to speak out in
meeting as it were.
But why should Mr.. Blaine 80 sud
denly aud energeticslly blaze against
the republican tariff policy.
The answer is that he has cable and
other dispatches from our ministers'in
Europe that the continental powers ac-
cept the Mckinley bill as u declaration
of commercial war. and are preparing
In concert q scheme OF retaliation. Al
this moment the state department il
bnrdened with dispatches from minis
ters and consuls, supplemented by semi.
official advices,a all tending.to show how
deeply the Mckinley ill has stirred
the cabinets OF Europe, and how little
disposed they are to admit any Ameri-
can product to their own ports that rau
possibly be excluded by r~etaliatory
duties or regulations.
1t is not alone the pending tariff bill
that has aroused this feeling, but the
general commercial policy OF the party
now In power at Washington, The
customs administration bill came fret,
pretending to be Q measure to simplify
the business OF importation aud to
suppress the evils of undervslualion,
but re ally 10 to obstruct imporia-
ton and to raise rates of duty by
indirection.
Then came the Mckinley bill, with
duties Intentionally prohibitory instead
of simply protective.
The news from Europe scared even
30 bold Q man as MIR. Blaine. The
farmers OF this country are thinking
tor themselves, aud no longer taking
his campaign buncomb for the truth.
He sees this and he knows that further
acts of retaliation by Europe against
the agriculture Of America will be fatal
to his party.
Count Kalnoky, the Austro- Hunga-
risn premier, In addressing the dele
cations q few days ago said of The
Mckinley bill:-..All 1 can say at
present Is that as there are other
European powers more seriously
affected than we are, we would have
accepted the proposition to take con
certed action. We have instructed our
minister in America to pay the closest
attention to this question. This is all |
can say at present."
The proposition to take concerted
action' to which Count Kalnoky re.
ferred, originated with Germany and
has been virtually accepted by France,
Austro Hungary. Italy aud Spain, and
possibly other powers OF less moment
to American commerce. In these
countries the American export trade
will be struck at partly through pro-
hibitory duties on cattle and swine
under the plea of stopping pluro.pneu-
monis. while canned goods, -four and
other staple articles are to be subjected
to higher duties.
Our exports OF merchandise in 1889
amounted to upward OF $3.50, COG, coo
and were the largest eve known ex-,
cept for the phenomenal years 1880 TO
1883, when crops were 30 short in
Europe. OF these, agricultural products
were nearly rs per cent. aud under the
new European concert the greater part
of these products can be hereafter shut
out by the convenient process OF the
OF sanitary regulations
without alteration OF any European
tariff.
This is the prospect which Mr.. Blaine
sees before his party and II 10 no wonder
he is pertarbed. bnt the purbliud pro-
Reed and Mckinley, will
stop in their career Of dranken
because OF anything Mr.. Blaine
say.
At last we are likely TO have Aa ex-l
emplifcation OF the imbecility of our
policy, which v 9 ibs blind
may read.