Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-07-25
BLAINE ON THE TARIFF BILL.

The following letter from Score
tary Blaine has been received by
Senator Frye:
BAR HARBOR, Me-, July II, 1890
Dear Mr.. Frye: l have just receiv
ed intelligence from the highest
commercial authority in Havana
that American -four, under the
new duties imposed by Spain, can
not reach the Cuban market under
a cost of $1l.46 per barrel, count
lug the shipping price in New York
at 81 so per barrel. Spain holds
the market tor herself, and IS able
to send European flour at a price
which totally excludes the Ameri
can -four from the market OF Cuba
and Porto Rico. Other articles Of
American growth are likewise tax
ed by Spain to the point of prohi
bitlon. This one sided commerce
will seriously lDjure the shipping
routes which are still in American
hands, largely If not excl uslYely.
1t would certainly be a very ex'
traOrdinary policy on the part Of
the government, just at this time,
to open our market without change
or duty to the enormous crops oil
sugar raised in the two Spanish
islands. Cuba and Porto Rico furn
ishes the United States with nearly
or qnite One-balf of the sugar We
consume, and we are far larger
consumers than any other nation in
the world. TO give a free MAJ keI
to this Immense product of the
Spanish plantations at the moment
Spain is excluding the products o
American farms from her market
would be policy rs unprecedent
ed az 1t would he unwise.
Oar tIade with the American re
publlcs, as we'll as with the Wesr
India Islands, has been for year,
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 Since we repealed The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 coffee, 10 1872, we have
imported the products of Brazil t
the extent of 1921, 100000, and have
sold to her only 5l56, 900 o
our own products. The difference
1904, 67l ,000-we have paid IN golC
or its equivalent, and Brazil ha'
expended the vast sum in markets
of Europe. You can readily SCI
how different the result woul {
have been if, in return for the fret
admission OF Brazilian coffee in oul
market, We had exacted the fret
admission OF certain products o
the United States 10 the Brazilian
market. To repeat this error, with
sugar TO an amount three times a.
large as with Coffee, will close al
opportunity toestablish recIproc
ity of trade with Latin America.
The charge against the protect.
i've policy which has injured it mos
is that its benefits go wholly to the
manufactures and the capitalist
and not at all to the farmer. YOr
and | we'll know that this is no
true, but still it is most hurtfu
argument made by the free trader
Here is an opportunity where the
farmer may be neutrality-suspicious.
lily, undenlaDly, richly benefited
Here is an opportunity for a Re
publican congress to open the mar
kets of forty millions of people tC
the products of American farms
Shall we size the opportunity, OF
shall We throw 1t away l do moi
doubt that in many respects the
tariff bill pending in the senate Is a
Just measure, and that most of its
provisions are IN accordance with
the wise policy of protection. But
there is not a section or a line in
the entire bill that will open mark
et for another bushel of wheat OF
another barrel OF pork. Sugar is
now placed on the tIee list without
exacting important trade cOnces-
sIOns in return (; we shall close the
door for profitable reciprocity
against ourselves. | think you Will
tind some valuable hints on this
subject in the presidents brief mes
sage of June 10Th, with as much
practical wisdom as ever stated in
so short space.
Our foreign market for bread
stufs grows FcOwer. Great
Britain is exerting every nerve to
secure her bread supplies from
India, and the rapid expansion of
the wheat area IN Russia gives Us
powerful competitor In the mark
cts of Europe. 1t becomes us,
therefore, to use every OppOrtun.
lty for the extension of our market
on both of American continents.
With nearly one hundred million
dollars worth of sugar seeking our
market every year, we shall prove
ourselves most unskilled legislators
If we do not secure a large field for
the sale and consumption of our
breadstuffs and provision. The
late conference of American re
publlcs proved the existence of a
common desire tor closer relations.
Our congress should take up the
work where the InterDatlona con.
ference left 1t. Our field of com
mercial development and progress
lies south Of US.
Very sincerely yours,
Signed JAMES G. BLAINE.
fractional FIuht,