The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-07-24
Mr.. Blaine's Letter to Sen. Frye.
BAR HARBoR, Me-. July II, 1890.

that American flour, under the new
duties imposed by Spain, cannot
reach the Cuban market under a
cost of 81. 46 per barrel, counting
the shipping price in New York at
81. so per barrel Spain holds the
market for herself, and is able to
send European flour at price
which totally excludes the American
flour from the markets of Cuba and
Porto Rico. Other articles ofAmeri
can growth are likewise taxed by
Spain to the point of prohibition.
This one sided commerce will seri-
ously injure the shipping routes,
which are still in American hands,
largely, if not exclusively.
1t would certainly be a very ex-
traordinary policy on the part of
our Government just at this time to
open our market without charge or
duty to the enormous crops of sugar
raised in the two Spanish islands
Cuba and Porto Rico furnish the
United States with nearly or quite
one half of the sugar which we CON
sumo, and we are far larger consum-
ers than any other nation in the
world. To give a free market to
this immense product of the Spanish
plantations, at the moment Spain is
excluding the products Of American
farms from her market, would be
policy as unprecedented as it would
be unwise
Our trade with the American re-
publics, as well as with the West
India Islands, has been for 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Since we repealed the duty on cot
fee, in 1872, we have imported the
products of Brazil to the extent of
1921, 806, 600, and have sold to her
only 1856, 1876, 600 of our own prod
ucts The difference 1864, GIL, 600
we have paid in gold or it's equiv
alent, and Brazil has expended the
vast sum in the markets of Europe.
You can readily see how different
the result would have been if in re-
turn for the free admission of Bra
lillian coffee in our markets, we mad
exacted the free admission of certain
products of the United States in the
Brazilian market. To repeat this
error with sugar Ito an amount
three times as large as with Coffee
will close all opportunity to estab-
fish reciprocity of trade with Latin
America.
The charge against the Protective
policy which has injured it most is
that it's benefits go wholly to the
manufacturer and the capitalist,
and not at all to the farmer. You
and I we'll know that this is not
true; but still it is the most plausi-
BILE, and, therefore, themost hurtful
argument made by the Free Trader.
Here is an opportunity where the
farmer may be benefited primarily,
incidentally, richly benefited. Here
is an opportunity for Republican
Congress to open the markets of
40, 600, 600 people to the products
of American farms. Shall we seize
the opportunity or shall we throw it
away?
I do not doubt that in many res
spects the Tariff bill pending in the
Senate is just measure, and that
most Of it's provisions are in accord
ance with the wise policy of protec-
ton But there is not a section or
line in the. entire bill that will
open a market for another bushel of
wheat or another barrel of pork. If
sugar is now placed on the free list
without exacting important trade
concessions in return, we shall close
the door for a profitable reciprocity
against ourselves. I think you will
find some valuable hints on this sub
iect in the. Presidents brief mes
sage of June 10, with as much prac-
teal wisdom as was ever stated in
SO short a space.
Our foreign market for bread
stuffs grows narrower. Great
Britain is exerting every nerve to
secure her bread supplies from In
dia, and the rapid expansion of the
wheat area in Russia gives us a pow
erful competitor in the markets of
Europe. It becomes US, therefore,
to use every opportunity for the ex-
tension of our market on both of the
American continents With nearly