The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-02

YHE DA1
upon trade and prices still largely stands
IN conjecture. 1t is curious to note that
Toe ADVANCE IN the prices of articles wholly
nnafected BY the tariff act, was by many
hastily ascribed to that act and notice wss
not taken of the fact shat the general ten
dency OF the markets was upward from in
fiuences wholly apart from the recent tariff
legislation.
Inc enlargement of our currency by the
silver bill gave an upward tendency to. and
nad marked effect on prices, but this nat
ural and desired effect Of silver legislation
was py many erroneously attributed to the
tarin act. There is neither wisdom nor
justice in the suggestion that the subject
of tariff shall be opened before this law has
had fair trial. It is quite as true that
every tariff schedule is subject to OBJ
jections. No bill was ever framed, sup
pose. that in all of its rates and classifica-
lions had the full approval of party
caucus. Such registrations always and
necessarily are the product of compromise.
AS to the details. the present law is no ex-
ceptlon-but in its general scope and effect
it Will justify the support of those who be-
lieve that American legislation should con-
wages Of American workmen. The mis-
information as to the terms of tho
act, which has been SO widely
disseminated ut home and abroad. will be
corrected by experience and the evil
auguries as to its results COMPOUNDED by the
market reports, the savings bank, interna-
tional trade balances, and the general pros
perity of our people. Already we begin to
hear from abroad and from our custom
houses that the prohibitory effect upon
importations imputed to the act is not
justified. The imports at the port of New
York for the first three weeks Of November
were nearly eight per cent. greater than for
the same period in 1889, and % per cent.
greater than for the same period of 1888,
and SO far from being al act to limit it we
shall secure larger and more profitable
participation in foreign trade than we have
ever enjoyed, and that we shall recover a
proportionate participation III the ocean
carrying trade of the world.
Criticisms of the bill which have come to
us from foreign sources may we'll be reject
ed for repuRnancy. If these critics really
believe that the adoption by Us of q free
trade policy or of tariff rates having refer
ence solely to revenue, would dimish the
commerce of the world. their advocacy and
the promotion by speech and other forms
of organized effort of this movement among
our own people is a rare exhibition of un-
selfishness in trade; and on the other hand,
if they sincerely believe that the adoption
of protective tariff policy by this country
will insure to their profit and our hurt, it
is noticeably strange that they should lead
the cutlery against the authors of policy
SO hopeful to their countrymen, and crown
with their favor those who would snatch
from them substantial share of the trade
with other lands, already inadequate to
their necessities. There is no disposition
among any OF our people to promote pro-
hlbltory or fetallatory legislation. Our pol
icies are adopted, not to the hurt of others,
but to secure for ourselves those advantages
that fairly grow out of our favored position
as a nation. Our form of government,
with its incident of universal suffrage,
makes it imperative that we shall save our
working people from the agitation and dis
tresses which scant work that has no mar
gin for comfort always begets But after all
this is done it will be found that our mar
kets are open to friendly commercial ex-
change of enormous value to other great
powers. f,,45+y |.s
From the time of my induction into of
flee the duty of using every power and in
fiuence given by law to the executive de-
partment for the development of larger
markets Tor our products, especially our
farm products, has been kept constantly in
mind. and no effort has been, or will be
spared, to promote that end. We are un-
der no disadvantage on any for
elgn market except that we pay our work
ingmen and workingwomen better wages
than are paid elsewhere; better abstractly,
better relatively to the cost of the nee
essaries of life. l do not doubt that very
largely increased foreign trade is accessi-
BILE to us without bartering either our home
market for such products of the farm and
shop as our own people can supply, or the
wages of our working people,. In many of
the products of wood and iron and in
meats and bread stuff We have advantages
that only need better facilities of inter-
C0nrSa and characterization tn for
them large foreign markets.
The reciprocity clause of the tariff act
wisely and in effect opens the way to Sc
cure large reciprocal trade in exchange for
the free admission to our ports of certain
products. The right of independent ma
cessions is we'll established and does not'I
impair either. The courtesy due to other
powers, or what is known as the Favored
nation clause is generally found in COM
mercial treaties. What is given to one for
an adequate agreed consideration cannot be
revenue ives such that we could dispense
with any import duties upon coffee, tea,
hides and the lower grades of sugar and
molasses. That the large advantage re-
sulting to the countries producing and ex-
porting these articles by placing them on
the free list entitled as to expect q fair ye-
turn in any way Of customs concessions
upon articles exported by us to. them, was
SO obvious that to have gratuitously abah- |
doned this opportunity to enlarge our trade |
would have been an objectionable error.
There were but two methods of maintain
ing this question open to congress--to place
all of these articles upon the dutiable list
subject to such treaty agreements as could |
be secured, or place them all presently up
upon the free list. but subject to the re-im-
imposition Of specified duties if
the countries from which we receive
them should refuse to give us
suitable reciprocal benefits. This |
latter method possesses great advantages. 1t
expresses in advance the consent Of con-
yress to reciprocity arrangements affecting
these products, which otherwise must have
been delayed and uncertain until each
treaty was ratified by the senate and the
legislation enacted by congress.
Experience has shown that some treaties
looking to reciprocal trade have failed to
secure two-thirds vote in the senate for
and others, having passed that |
stage, have for years awaited tho concur.
renee of the house and senate in such modi-
fications of our revenue laws as were neces-
sary to give effect to their provisions. We
now have the concurrence of both houses in
in distinct and definite offer of |
free entry to our ports of specific articles.
The executive is not required to deal in
conjecture as to what congress will accept.
indeed, this reciprocity provision is more
han an offer. Our part Of the bargain is
complete, delivery has been made, and
when the countries from which We receive |
'ugar, coffee, tea and hides have placed on
heir free lists such of our products as shall
% agreed upon as an equivalent for opr