The Portland daily press., 1890-07-15
A LETTER FROM SECRETARY BLAINE.
Another Plea for Reciprocity with
IatIn-AmerIcan Nations.
The Markets of Cuba In Return for
Free Admission of Sugar.
Our Trade With Brazil Instanced as
a Case In Point.

WASHINGTON, July 14.-A letter from
Secretary Blaine was received today by SEN
tor Frye. The Secretary writes as follows:
BAR HARBoR, Me-, July II, 1890.
Dear Mr.. Frye:-I have just received in
telligence from the highest commercial au-
thority in Havana that American flour, un-
der the new duties imposed by Spain cannot
reach the Cuban market under the cost Of
S11.46 barrel, counting the shipping price
in New York as $3.50 barrel. Spain holds
the market for herself, and Is able to send
European flour at price which totally ex-
cludes American flour from the markets Of
Cuba and Porto Rico. Other articles of
American growth are likewise taxed by
Spain to the point Of prohibition. This one
sided commerce will seriously injure the
shipping routes still in American hands,
largely II not exclusively. 1t would GER
tainly be very extraordinary policy on the
part Of our government, just at this time, to
open our markets, without charge OF cutys
to the enormous crops Of sugar raj ed In the
two Spanish islands. Cuba and Porto Rico
furnish the United States with nearly or
quite one-half of the sugar we consume, and
we are far larger consumers than any other
nation in the world. To give free market
to this immense product Of Spanish planta-
tions at the moment Spain Is excluding the
products Of American farms from her mar
ket would Re policy as unprecedented as
unwise.
Our trade with the American republics, as
wei as with the West India islands has
been for many years in a most unsatisfac-
tory condition. The aggregate balance OF
trade with all Latin-America has been heavi-
ly against us. A single Illustration will
suffice. Since we repealed the duty on .ffee
in 1872 we have imported the products Of
Brazil to an extent OF SSH, ,SO6, 600 and sold
to her only S156, 135, 600 OF our own products.
The difference we have paid In gold or its
equivalent and Brazil has expended vast
sum in the markets of Europe. You can see
how different the result would have been II,
in return for the free admission OF Brazilian
coffee in our markets, we had 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 establish
reciprocity trade with Latin-Amerlea.
The charge against the protective policy
which has injured 1t most Is that its benefits
go wholly to the manufacturer and the capi-
talist. and not at all to the farmer. I gu and
/ we'll know this Is not true still, 1t Is the
most plausible and therefore the most hurt
full argument made by free traders. Here Is
an opportunity where the farmer may be
benefted-primarily undeniably and richly
benefited. Here Is an opportunity for Re-
publican Congress to open the markets OF
forty millions Of people to the products OF
American farms. Shall we seize the Qppor-
tunity or shall we throw 1t away? i DO not
doubt that in many respects the tariff bill
pending in the Senate is a just measure; (;
that most Of its provisions are in accordance
with the wise policy Of protection. But
there is not section or line in the entire bill
that will open market for another bushel
of wheat or another barrel Of pork. III
sugar is now placed en- the free list without
exacting important trade concessions in re-
turn we shall close the door for profitable re-,
ciprocity against ourselves. think
you will find some valuable hints
on this subject in the Presidents
-bSief message Of July 10th with as much
practfcaf wisdom as was ever stated In so
short a space.-. Our foreign market for
breadstuffs grows narrower Great Britain
Is exerting every nerve t6 5ecnr9-her bread
supplies from India and the rapid expansion
Of the wheat area in Russialgives US pow
erful competitor in the markets Of Europe.
1t becomes us, therefore, to use every oppor-
tunity for the extension of our market on
both of the American continents. With
nearly one hundred million dollars worth OF
sugar seeking our market every year, we
shall prove ourselves most unskilled legisla-
tors if we do not secure a large field for sale
and consumption of our breadstuffs and pro-
visions. The late conference OF American
republics proved the existence Of common
desire for closer relations. Our Congress
should take up the work where the interna-
tional conference left it. Our field OF COM
mercial development and progress lies south
of us. Very sincerely yours,
JAMES G. BLAINE.