The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-26
BLAINE THE Wise MAN.
He Writes Another Strong Let
ter on Reciprocity.
SPAIN IS WILLING TO TRADE.
The Ways and Means Committe Were
Deaf to His Argumrn nts.
SPAIN IS WILLING TO TRADE.
Democrats Attack Tariff Bill in Senate,
and Are Joined by PIumb-Arid Land
Debate in Progress in House-PowelI
VIII Lose.

WASHINGTON CITY, July Ex-senator Frye to-
day received letter from Secretary Blaine, in
reply to his of recent date. Mr. Blaine says, in
part:
You ask me what assurance have as to
Spain's willingness to enter into reciprocal ar
rangements Of trade with the United States
iour question surprises me. for you
cannot have forgotten that only six
years ago the prime minister of Spain. In
MS anxiety TO secure free admission to
our markets for the sugar OF Cuba and Porto
hico, agreed to very extensive treaty OF reci-
procity with Mr.. Foster. then our minister at
Madrid In the year before in 1883, very ad-
mirable treaty of reciprocity was negotiated by
General Grant and Mr.. Trescott, the Unitsd
states commissioners with the republic of Mex
leo, treaty wei considered In all Its parts and
all Its Details, whose results would, / believe,
have proved highly advantageous to both coun-
tries
In view of the pending discussion, 1t is a
somewhat singular circumstance that both
these treaties failed to secure the approval of con
gress and failed for the express reason that both
provided for free admission Of sugar. Congress
would not then allow single pound of sugar TO
come In free Of duly under any circumstances
Whatever, and now the proposition is to open our
pcfIs iree TO eyerybody's sugar and to do 1t with
sucn rapidity that we are not to have q mo-
ments time to see il we can not make q better
trade by which We may pay for at least part of
the sugar In the products of American farms
ana shops. Our change of opinion has GER
tsinly been remarkable in 80 brief a period
Indeed, the only danger Of our mo- securing ad-
vaatageous treaties OF reciprocity now is pos
siole belief on the part of those countries that
we are anxious for free sugar and that by pa
tient waiting they can secure ell they desire
without money and without price.
Fearing that result, ! sought an Interview
with the eight Republican members of the CON-
mittee on ways and means more than five
months ago. / endeavored to convince them
that 1t would be expedient and wise TO leave to
the president an opportunity to see what advan-
tageous arrangements of reciprocal trade could
be effected. / was unable to persuade the COM
mit'ee 10 take my view.
1T is, think, q very grave mistake to oppose
this reciprocal proposition from the fear that ii
may conflict in some way with the policy of pro-
lection The danger is, think, wholly in the
opposite direction. The value of the sugar we
annually consume 10 enormous Shall we pay
Tor 1t all in cash, or shall we seek re-
ciprocal arrangements by which q large
part OF it may be paid for in
pork and beef and -four, in lumber and in salt
and iron, in shoes and calico and furniture. and
thousands OF other things? I think the latter
moce ID the highest form OF protection and the
List way to promote trade. When shall we en-
large our commercial intercourse with that
great continent of South America if we
do not now make a beginning? ii
we now give away the duty on sugar, as
We slready have given away the duties
on coffee and hides and rubber, and get nothing
in exchangewhich shall be profitable to the farm
or factory in the United States what shall be our
justification for the policy ?You have recently re-
ceived congratulations, in which cordially
JON. on carrying the shipping bill through the
Senate. Do you not think line of ships eeuer-
ously aided by the government Will have a bet
ter prospect for profit and permanencs if we
can give to them outward cargoes from the
United States and not colfine them to inward
cargoes from Latin American