New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-03
SENATOR Hale on RECIPROCITY.


Senator Hale has rendered the country and
the Republican party an important service in
bringing together great body of testimony
and of facts in support Of the broader protec-
ton which Secretary Blaine urges. Indus
trious misrepresentation have led many TO
suppose that this policy would in some wa!
involve abandonment or weakening OF FRO
lection. Senator Hale quotes an editorial OF
TIE TRIBUNE. showing that removal OF pure
Nv revenue duties in exchange for free ad-
mission of American products into foreign
markets is in fact an extension and broaden
ing of the protective policy. Hitherto ITO
lection has depended for efficiency exclusively
upon duties which restrict foreign comlHtl-
ton in American markets. The duties i'm
posed for revenue only have not contributed III
the slightest degree to the upbuilding OF homo
industries or the enlargement of demand for
American labor. The proposal is TO make
those duties also-thcir removal as to products
of some States and their retention as u prod
ucts of othcrs-cOntributc powerfully to en-
large the market for American products ana
the demand for American labor.
Senator Hale shows that this is not an In
noyation or All experiment lacking the sane
tion of Republican authority. lie quotes al
length from President Arthur and Secretary
rreInehuyscn, showing that treaties which
they negotiated, whether altogether wise iii
details or not were intended to open foreign
markets for American products by means oil
remoyal or reduction of duties on things which
this country cannot supply by its own labor
The treaty negotiated with Spain was intend
ed TO have, and in the main would have
had, this effect. The report of Representative
Hewitt in favor of the treaty negotiated with
Mexico is also quoted. Senator Hale then
cites the language Of President Harrison ana
Secretary Blaine to show how carefully guard
ed and strictly protective in character Is the
proposal they favor.
The array of facts presented by Senator
Hale can be appreciated only by those VINO
examine them with some care From the
West Indies. Central and South America this
country has imported in ten years products
valued at one thousand five hundred and
twenty nine millions, while its exports t. those
countries have been in value only five hundred
and twcnty.scy'en millions, 90 that an average
exceeding one hundred millions year has
been paid III gold or goods to Europe In settle
ment for goods brought by us from those coun-
D.t
countries consume largely OF things which the
United States produces, but under eNlstlne
laws are led to purchase them mainly from
Europe.
The policy which Senator Hale advocates
would secure q larger part OF this trade id
exchange for removal Of purely revenue duties
Since Protection has now made this country
81 nryspcrous that the revenue derived from
duties ON sugar is no longer needed, and has
90 deyeloped our manufactures that they are
able 10 supply, not only the wants OF our own
noonlc. but the wants Of millions besides, 1t u
proposed to open larger markets for those
manufactures through the removal OF purely
revenue duties. Senator Hale quotes high
authority for the statement that Brazil. which
NOW produces 100000 tons Of sugar, could
in three years send to this country enough to
supply its whole consumption. Tho readiness
of Brazil to accept the policy embodied By
Senator Aldrich in his proposed amendment,
which Senator Hale judiciously approves as
essentially the same with his own resolution
in principle, has been declared by the Bra
lillian Envoy in this country.
Attentive observers will not fail to sec that
the inducements offered by the United States
70 Brazil, or tn other sugar growing countries
of Central or South America, would be ma
terially diminished if Scan should make sat-
isfactory arrangements on behalf OF her West
India islands. But that is matter with
which diplomacy can deal. The essential
thing is to establish the principle that this
Nation is now prepared to use retention on
remission of its purely revenue duties in order
to secure broader protection for American
labor.