The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-30

The San Francisco BuIIefin Is one OF the
nv professedly Republican newspapers Of
standing and influence that has taken issue
With Secretary Blains's reciprocity ideas.
In IL issue Of July 70 that paper. after de-
claring that There does not appear to be
much chance for successful argument
against him." proceeds In . microscopic
way to search for some small loophole for
adverse criticism.
Tacitly admitting that Blaine's PROPOSE
ton would work well for the country at
large. the Balietin suggests that "The sec
rotary Of state, whom his attention is called
10 Il, win not be likely to take the ground
that Protection should halt when it reached
the Sierra Nevada" And then 1t musters
up harley, and citrus fruits. and raisins as
articles largely produced IN California. and
IN the sale of which Mexico might become
: formidable competitor Of that state in the
markets Of this country.
Reserving for the nonce the pat and con-
elusive answer to these strained criticisms,
it's = fact of which the Bulletin should not
Be ignorant that for long series of years
the cultivation Of barley has been steadily
losing favor among the farmers of Califor-
mia. This Is not due to competition, or
lack Of demand, or . depreciation in price,
but because IL hase been discovered that
California lands, heretofore devoted to bar
ley culture, can be more proiitably used for
other purposes. Owing to this discovery
those lands have been enhanced in price
until they have become too valuable for
raising barley at any but an exorbitant
price. 1t Is hardly credible that the Bale
lin would favor q policy OF raising the price
OF barley merely that those lands might be
restored to its cultivation, when the same
lands, without such fictitious rise in bar
ley, can be quite as probably, and more in
accord with natural conditions, used for
other purposes.
AS to raisins, there are raisins and
raisins. The growing demand for the CAL
ifornia product is due to an excellence
which is partly due to climatic conditions
which are shared by some portions Every
limited, however). but mainly to skin and
honesty in handling and preparing for
market. The Bullctia has not studied the
two peoples, and is grossly unjust to its
own. II II supposes that Sonora and its
people can ever successfully compete with
the California raisins that are taking pos
session of the worlds best markets.
The same Is quite rs emphatically true in
respect to citrus fruits. These have their
distinct season in the one country and the
other. and the Buiietis must be aware that
The Tahitan, the Mexican and the Caiifor-
MIA oranges have their separate seasons in
it, own San Francisco market, and CON-
nete but nominally, il at all.
But apart from all of these oonsidera-
tions. the criticisms seem 70 imply that
Mr.. Blaine's proposition has been read but
carelessIy, II ct all. and with determine
zion not 10 comprehend its chief merit
II Is mainly protest against
and unconditional enlargement of the free
list It fsvors an extension of protective
duties beyond the limits proposed in the
Mckinley bill. And then it makes this
~cvernment the dictator of the terms upon
which, or If ct all. any OF these duties shall
be RENTED. To be consistent with this
,.aea there would be stiff duties an along
the line. Then IL it were found inconsist-
AMI with American interests. broadly con-
.idered, 70 admit Mexican barley. citrus
limits or raisins. there need Be no remission
Il duty on these lines, but in other direc-
1ions Ne might seek for offsets TO the Tree
Sarnfssion Of mining machinery. lumber
"a other manufacturss and products nom