Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-09-05


friends about the iniquity of the Republic
can party keeping up the war tariff. As
a matter of fact the war tariff has not
been kept up, but has been amended over
and over again until the revision of 1888
left scarcely trace of the actual tariff
that was in operation at the close of the
war and for few years afterwards.
During the war we were compelled to
tax almost everything in the air and the
water, on the ear tn and under the earth.
The necessities of the government were
so great that we could allow scarcely
anything to be imported without paying
tribute and | think no patriotic man can
deny that that was wise policy. We
were not then studying the philosophy
of trade relations, but how to save the
life of the nation. Money was a primal
necessity. and we seized it wherever we
could reach it lawfully.
But during the last Is years great
change has been made. SO entirely has
the war tariff been abolished that in the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1889, the arti-
Giles admitted free were considerably
more than one-third of all the imports.
To be exact, the imported articles that
paid duty exceeded S4SS, 100000 in value
and the imported articles that paid no
duty exceeded 1856, 600 in value. The
inevitable tendency is, think, toward
the increase of the free list. Our great
mistake was made when we began to re-
peal the war duties on so large an
amount of imports. Every duty repeal
ed was a favor and an advantage to the
exporting country, and we have asked
nothing in return.
Instead of the course, which | must
say was one of carelessness and waste
fulness, by both political parties, every
repeal of duty should have been preced-
ed by the most thorough investigation,
and whenever it was found practicable
to export anything from the United
States and thus establish a reciprocity of
trade, it should have been done. | do
not of course intend to declare or to i'm
ply that we could have secured the free
admission of S226 900 of American
products in the countries whose pro-
: ducts we purchase annually to that
amount. The richer country cannot ex-
pect to get complete reciprocity in
amount from countries less of wealth. But
whatever we should have received would
have been clear gain, and in all future
repeats Of duties whatever we may be
, able to get will be clear gain.
1t is not question of setting deliber-
ately to work 10 establish reciprocal eX-
changes, but with all the duties we have
thus far repealed it has been a question
of whether we should get something or
nothing. We have chosen with our eyes
closed 10 get nothing. hope now, with
:, our eyes open, that we shall in future
choose to get something.
We encounter an opposition TO this pol
icy from those who declare that if we en-
= ter into reciprocity of trade with one
:, country we must do so with all countries,
and thus indirectly bring about complete
:. free trade. do not see the logic of this
and | am sure the fact will not prove
what is predicted. We may enter into
reciprocity with one nation because we
find advantage in it; we may decline to
g enter into reciprocity with another ma
- ton because we see no advantage in it,
~ Reciprocity is simply the policy of cir
l. cumstance, to be determined favOrably
:. or adversely, according as its operations
may make or lose for us. To say that
because we enter into reciprocity rela
,f tions with one country on one thing We
n must enter into reciprocity relations
- with all other countries on all things, i;
- to my mind as absurd as to say that il
e have horse today must necessarily
buy drove of asses tomorrow. All OBJ
iections of that kind are, am sure. un
u founded, and will not stand the test o
" argument of practical trial.
y Our people do not realize the grea
u fact that if specie payment is endangered
= in this country it Is likely to be endan
. gered by our own present system o
. trade with the Latin American states
The few millions of gold that have 60
y out of the country within the las
three months have created uneasiness il
certain quarters as to our financia
:. position. 1t is very extraordinary tina
the loss of these millions from the bank
in Wall st. should be accounted so ser
ious an event when we have lost a muCl
-, larger amount during the same perio
M from the condition of our trade with tn
y countries south of us without exciting
:. the least observation. When our meI
90 chants and bankers come to Thorough
w. appreciation of this fact, we shall recely
90 aid and influence in reform of GU
80 trade from a quarter which thus far
:, has been impossible to enlist.
ur A JAPANESE VOLCANO.