The morning call., 1890-09-17
RECIPROCAL TRADE.
A Measure Beneficial to Both
Field and Shop.
Secretary Blaine'S Method Of Extending
American Interests.
The Enactment Of Reciprocity a Safeguard
Of PrOteetiOn-Its Defeat an 0ppOr-
tunity Of Free Trade.
Special Dispatches TO THE MORNING CALL

BosToN, Sept. 16.-In response to an invi- f.,
tation to the annual banquet of the Boot
and Shoe Club of Boston, Colonel Clapp,
editor Of the Journal, has received letter
from Mr.. Blaine, in which the Secretary Of
State, referring to the portion of the invita-.
tiOn saying members Of the club are
in hearty sympathy with his views regard
ing the best methods of extending American
trade, regrets that engagements will not
permit him to address the meeting of men,
bers of the club. He says it can do great
good by counteracting certain phase Of
New England opinion which he regards
hurtful to New England interests. New
England is to receive in the new tariff the
amplest protection for every manufacturing
interest within her borders, and it will be,
in the judgment of the Secretary of State,
both inexpedient and injurious for her repre-
sentatives to disregard a measure which
will promote Western interests. MIR. Blaine
refers to letter recently received from
limbs, President of the late con-
vention of Milers at Minneapolis, re-
ferring to the excessive duties
on American flour in Cuba, and stat
ing that Americans will be unable to retain
any part of the Cuban flour trade, unless
immediate relief is secured. 'In view of
these facts" says Mr.. Blaine, sis it pos
sible that protectionist Congress can even
think of opening our markets to Cuba's
products free, while allowing a great West
ern industry to be absolutely excluded
from her markets by a prohbitory tariff.
With reciprocity the West can annually sell
many hundred of thousands of barrels of
flour in Cuba and Porto Rico, together with
large mass Of other agricultural products.
Without reciprocity she will be driven more
and more from these markets.
''Giying the fullest protection to all Eas +
ern interests, as the proposed Tariff Bill
does, surely no man of good judgment,
certainly no protectionist of a wise forecast,
wishes to expose Western interest
to serious injury, especially when it is
manifestly easy to protect sand promote it,
manifestly easy, because at this very time
Boards of Trade, Chambers Of Commerce
and public opinion in Havana are demanding
States. Certain wise men are asked
how can we sell our farm products
in South America when the same things are
produced there? Cereals are undoubtedly
grown in southernmost portions of South
America. but wise men will remember
cereals and sugar do not grow in
the same soil and the sugar countries
of South ana Central America and West
Indies contain forty millions OF people who
import the largest part of their bread
stutfs. Indeed the largest portion of
the sSgar product of Latin America
is at our doors and we can greatly enlarge
our exchanges there, if Congress will give
us an opportunity for reciprocal trade.
Another class observe that they want
1 might reply: The best method of
studying this system is to observe
its practical workings. While studying in
the abstract and refusing to take some OBJ
ject lessons, these gentlemen propose to
products free of all charge, without asking
them to give us in turn some freedom OF their
markets. The object lesson Immediately
before US is the treatment OF the sugar ques-
ton.
''Shall we make Latin America a gift Of
led that lesson we shall be pre-
pared for second. The worst
proposition of all is put forth by those who
say, Let us put sugar on the free list now,
and sC next Of Fyceprots yefP TAKE the unde9 sH9
make sugar free this year without
condition. and next year to ask Spain II she
will not kindly consent to grant US reel
procal trade. Holding the complete vantage
ground themselves. the proposed policy
transfers the vantage ground to Spain.
Those who take this ground belong to
that class of careful guardians of prop
erty who prepare a strong lock for
the stable after the horse is gone
l do not mean in anything l have said to
imply that reciprocity is only q west
ern interest. 1t will prove beneficial
and profitable both to farm and shop. Many
forms in which our business interests will
be promoted by reciprocity cannot be known
until the active commercial men of the
United States. have developed those
forms by Investigation and experience
We shall not realize the full
benefit of the policy in day or year, but
shall we, therefore, throw away count
less millions of trade in addition to sixty
millions we have already thrown away,
and then ignoranily declare with
out trial that the system wont
work? Finally, there is one fact that should
have great weight, and especially with Pro-
tectionists. Every free-trader in the Senate
voted against reciprocity The free-trade
ing determined hostility to it. 1t
is evident that free-trade Senators and
free-trade papers have specific reasons for
their course. They know and feel that with
system of reciprocity established and
growing their policy of free trade re-
ceives most serious blow. The protection
lists who oppose reciprocity in the form in
which it is now presented knocks away one
of the strongest supports of his system. The
enactment of reciprocity is the safeguard of
prntectiOn. the dpfeat of reciprocity is the