Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-07-17

letter from Secretary Blaine has been
received by Senator Frye:
BAR HARBoR, Me-, July 12-Deer Mr.. Frye:
Ihave just received intelligence from the
highest commercial authority in Havana
that American flour under the duties i'm
posed by Spain can not reach the Cuban
market under a cost of s1L4S per barrel
counting the shipping price in New York at
$50 per barrel Spain holds the market for
herself and Is able to send European fiour
at price VIII ch totally excludes the Amer
lean flour from the markets OF Cuba ana
Porto Rico. Other articles of American
growth are likewise taxed by Spain to the
point Of prohibition This one sided COM
merce will seriously iniure the shipping
routes, which are still in American hands,
largely IL not exclusively.
1t would certainly be very extraordinary
policy on the part of the Government just
at this time to open our market without
charge of duty to the enormous crops OF
sugar raised in the two Spanish Islands.
Cuba and Porto Rico furnish the United
States with nearly CT quito one-haf OF the
sugar which we consume and we are Tar
larger consumers than any other nation In
the world. To give a free market to this i'm
mense product of the spanish plantations
at the moment Spain Is excluding the pro-
ducts of American farms from her market
would be policy as unprecedented as 1t Is
unwise.
Our trade with the American republics as
well as with the West India Islands has been
for many years In a most unsatisfactory
condition. The aggregate balance OF trade
with all Latin America is heavily against us.
A single illustration will suffice Since we
repealed the duty on coffee in 1872 we have
imported the products of Brazil to the
extent of s31,SO6,OOO and have sold
to her only sl56,lS5,lOO OF our own
products. The difference-$664 67l, 900
we have paid in gold or its equivalent
and Brazil has expended the vast sum In
the markets of Europe. You can readily see
how different the result would have been II,
in return for the free admission of Brazilian
coffee into our markets, we had exacted the
free admission of certain products OF the
United States In the Brazilian markets. 10
repeat this error with sugar Ito an amount
| three times as large as with coffee) VIII
| CLOSE all opportunity to establish reciprocity
| of trade with L Itin America.
The charge against the protective policy
| which has injured it most is that its dement's
| go wholly to the manufacturers and the
| capitalist, and not at all to the farmer You
and well know that this is not true, but
| still IL is the most plausible, and therefore
| the most hurtful argument made by the free
| traders. Here is an opportunity where the
| farmer may lie benefited-primarily, unde-
niablv, richly benefited Here is an oppor-
tunity for the Republican Congress to open
the markets of 100000 people to the prod
| ucts of American farmers. Shall We seize
| the opportunity or shall we throw II away
| do not doubt that in many respects tnai
| the Tariff bill pending in the Senate IS q
| inst measure and that most of its proyis-
| ions are in accordance with the wise policy
| of protection. But there is not section oI
| line In the entire bill that will open mar
| ket for another bushel of wheat or another
| barrel of pork. II sugar is not placed on
| the free list without eXactlng important
| trade concessions In return we shall close
| the door for a prof able reciprocity against
| ourselves think you will find some Yalu
| able hints on this subject in the President:
| brief message of June 10, with as mucf
| practical wisdom as was ever stated In sc
| short space.
| Our foreign market for breadstuffs grows
| narrower. Great Britain Is cXerting every
| nerve to secure her bread supply from lndii
| and the rapid expansion of the wheat arei
| N Russia gives MS powerful competitor II
| he markets Of Europe. 1t becomes us
| therefore, to use every opportunity for TIT
| extension Of our markets on both OF tn
| American continents. With ne rly $4,000,
| 900 worth of sugar seeking our mark
| every wear we shall prove our
| selves most unsklled Legislators If we d
| not secure a large field for sale and con
| sumption Of our breadstuffs and p: DIVISIONS
| The late conference of American republic
| DrOV, 4 the exist nc;. of 4 Common deS r
| for closer relations Our Congress shoul
| take up the work where the internationa
| conference left it. Our ticli of commerca
| development and pRo grcss lies south OF III
| Very sincerely yours, JAMES G. BLAINE
| Hon. w. p. Frye, United States Senate.