Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-12-04

wages than are paid elsewhere-better alb
stractly-better relatively to the cost of the
necessaries of life. / do not doubt that
very largely increased foreign trade is acces-
sible to us without bartering for 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 breadstuffs we have ad-
vantages that only need better facilities OF
Intercourse and transportation to secure for
them large foreign markets.
The reciprocity clause of the tariff act
wisely and effectively 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 nations
to make special reciprocal trade concessions
is well established, and does not impair
either the comfy due to other Powers or
what is known as the favored nation
clause" so generally found in commercial
treaties. What is given to one for an
adequate agreed consideration can not be
claimed by another freely. The state of the
revenue was such that we could dispense
any import duties upon coffee, tea, hides and
the lower grades of sugar and molasses, that
the large advantage resulting to the country
producing and exporting these articles by
placing them on the free list entitled us to
a fair return in the way of customs. Conces-
sions upon articles exported by us to them
was so obvious that to have gratuitously
abandoned the opportunity to enlarge our
trade would have been an objectionable er-
ror. There were but two methods of obtain
ing control of this question open to Congress
to place all of these articles upon the dutIa-
BILE list subject to such treaty agreements as
could be secured, or to place them all pres
emily upon the free list, subject to the
reimpositiOn of specified duties if
NI,o ,F-fn xrrli inh We
ceived them should refuse to give to
US suitable reciprocal benefits. This latter
method, l think, possesses great advantages.
1t expresses in advance the consent of Con-
gress to reciprocity arrangements affecting
these products which must otherwise nave
been delayed and unaScertained until each
treaty was ratified by the Senate and the
necessary legislation enacted by Congress.
Experience has shown that some treaties
looking to reciprocal trade have failed to Sc
secure q two thirds vote in the Senate for
ratification, and others having passed that
stage have for years awaited the concurrence
of the House and Senate in such modif1ca-
tions of our revenue laws as were necessary
to give effect to their provisions. We
houses in advance in a distinct and
definite offer of free entry to our ports of
specific articles. The Executive is not re-
quired to deal in conjecture as to what Con-
gress will accept. Indeed this reciprocity
provision is more than an offer. Our part Of
the bargain is complete, delivery has been
made, and when the countries from which
we receive sugar, coffee, tea and hides have
placed on their free lists such of our pro-
ducts as shall be agreed upon as an equiva-
lent for our concession, proclamation Of
that fact completes the transaction, and in
the meantime our people have free sugar,
tea, coffee and hides.
The indications thus far given are very
hopeful of early and favorable action by the
countries from which we receive our large
imports of coffee and sugar, and it is conf
IDENTIFY believed that If steam communication
with these countries can be promptly i'm
proved and enlarged the next year will show
a most gratifying increase in our exports Of
breadstuffs and provisions, as well as of
some important lines of manufactured
goods.