The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-08-30

save the life of the nation. |
Money was a primal necessity and we |
seized il wherever we could reach il law |
fully. But during the last eighteen years |
great change has been made. SO en-
tirely has the war tariff been abolished
that in the fiscal year ending June 20,
1SS9, the articles admitted free were con-
siderably more than one-third of all the
imports. To be exact the imported
articles that paid duty exceeded Siss,UD,-
900 in value, and imported articles that
paid no duty exceeded S255,OOO,UO IN
value.
The inevitable tendency 10, ! think,
toward an increase of the free list. Dur
great mistake was made when We began
10 repeal the war duties OH SO large an
amount of the imports that any duty re-
pealed was farce and an advantage Ia
the exporting country, and we have asked
nothing in return. Instead of this course,
which must say was one OF carelessness
and wastefulness by both political parties,
every repeal of duty should have been
preceded by a most thorough investiga-
tion, and wherever il was found practl-
cable TO export anything from the United
States and thus establish a reciprocity OF
trade, il should be done. ! do not, of
course, intend to declare or imply we
could have secured the free adj
mission of S2j6,OU,OoO of Ameri-
can products into the countries
whose products we purchase annually
TO that amount. The richer country eau
not expect To get complete reciprocity III
amounts from the countries less wealthy.
But whatever we should have received
would have been clear gain and IN all
future repeals of duties, whatever we may
be able To get, will be clear gain. Ii is
- flalfl atsaIk In
work To establish reciprocal exchanges.
But with all the duties we have thus far
repealed il has been "A question of whether
we should get something or get nothing.
We have chosen with our eyes closed 10
get nothing. | hope now with our eyes
open we shall, in the future, choose 10 get
something. We encounter opposition 10
this policy from those who declare that il
we enter into reciprocity of trade with one
country, we must do so with all countries
and thus indirectly bring about complete
free trade. | do not see the logic in this
and am sure the fact will not prove what
il is predicted We may enter into recip-
rocity with one nation because We iinda an
advantage in il. We may de-
cline 10 enter into reciprocity
with another nation because we see
no advantage in il. Reciprocity is
simply policy of circumstances TO be de-
termned favorably or adversely accord
ing ms its operation may make or lose
| for us. To say because we enter into re-
| ciprocal relations with one country on
| one thing we must enter into reciprocal
| relations with all other countries Oh all
| things is. To my mind, as absurd as To say
| that il | buy a horse to-day | must neces-
sarily buy drove Of asses tomorrow.
| All objections of that kind are, i am sure,
unfounded sand will not stand the test
of argument or practical trial.
"Our people do not realize the great
fact that If specie payment Is endangered
in this country il Is likely 10 he endan-
| gered by our present system of trade with
| the Latin American states. The few mill.
ions Of gold that have gone out Of the
country within the last three months have
created an uneasiness in certain quarters
as TO our financial position. Ii is very oX-
traordinary that the loss of those millions
from the banks in Wall street should he
accounted SO serious an event when we
have lost a much larger amount during
the same period from the condition of our
trade with the countries south of us with
out exciting the least observation. When
our merchants and bankers come To thor.
oughly appreciate this fact we shall get aid
and influence in the reform of our trade
with quarter which, thus Tar, II has been
| impossible 10 enlist"
The large audience listened with the
profoundest attention and the speech met
with great approval.
Hon. William L. Mason Of Illinois fol
lowed, endorsing in an enthusiastic
speech the principles of reciprocal trade
The meeting closed with an earnest
speech by Henry Cabot Lodge advocating
before the people, the federal election
bill, warning the voters that the govern
mcnt must protect all its citizens in tht
right To vote.