Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-09-25
RECIPROCITY THESAPEGUARD
Blaine Discusses the Tariff and
Reciprocity in a Letter to a
Boston Club
Democrats Desire Defeat for Re ci-
procity and Triumph for Free
Trade.

Boston, Sept 16.--1n response to
an invitation to an annual banquet OF
the Boot and Shoe club, Of Boston,
Col Clapp, editor of the Journal. has
received letter from Mr.. Blaine, in
which the secretary Of state, referring
to the portion OF the invitation saying
the members of the club are in hearty
sympathy with his views regarding
the best method OF extending Ameri-
can trade, regrets that engagements
will not permit him to address the
meeting. Members OF the club, he
says, can do great good by counteract-
ing certain phase of New England S
opinion which he regards as hurtful
to New England interests. New Eng
land is to receive in the new tariff the
amplest protection for every manufac-
turing industry within Der borders,
and it will be, in the Judgment OF the
secretary of state, both inexpedient
and injurious for her representatives
TO disregard the measure which
" ILL hOiVAE me w lEhN
ESTS.
Mr.. Blaine refers to the letter re-
Gently received from the sub-presi-
dent of the late convention Of millers
at Minneapolis, referring to the ex-
cessive duties on American -four in
Cuba, and stating that the Americans
would be unable 10 retain any part OF
the Cuban flour trade unless i'm
mediate relief is secured. Mr.. Blaine
continues:
In view Of these facts, is it possible
that a protectionlst congress can even
think of opening our markets to Cuba's
products free, while allowing a great
western industry to be absolutely ex-
cluded from her markets by a prohi-
bitary law?
THE WEST CAN SELL FLOUR.
With reciprocity the west can an
nually sell many hundred thousand
barrels OF -four in Cuba and Porto Rico.
together with u large mass OF other
agricultural products, but without re-
Ciprocity she will be driven more and
more from these markets. Giving the
fullest protection to all eastern inter-
ests, as the proposed tariff bill does,
surely no man of good judgment, GER
tainly no protectioniSt Of wise force lst,
wishes TO expose q western interest to
serious injury, especially when it is
manifeStly easy to protect and promote
dramatically easy because at this
very time boards OF trade, cham bers
OF commerce and public opinion in
Havana are demanding reciprocal
trade with a portion of the sugar pro-
duct OF Latin America at our doors
and We can greatly enlarge our ex-
changes there If congress will give us
an opportunity for recipro cal trade.
Another class observe they want time
to study the system, To this might
reply, the best method of studying the
system Is TO observe its practical
workings. While studying the an
stract aud refusing to take some object
lessons, those gentlemen propose to
open our market to Latin American
products without asking Latin Amer
lea to give us in turn some freedom in
their markets.
THE SUGAR QUESTION.
The object lesson Immediately be-
fore us is the Treatment OF the sugar
question. Shall we make Latin-Amer-
lea a gift of that trade? When we
have studied that lesson we shall be
prepared for the second. The worst
proposition of all is put forth by those
who say, "Let us put sugar on the
free list now and next year take up
the subject OF reciprocity" II |
understand their logic it Is to make
sugar free this year without condition
and next year to ask Spain If she will
not kindly consent to grant us recip-
oc | trade, Holding complete van
tag ground themselves. the proposed
p-ucy transfers the vantage ground to
Spain. Those who take tn ground
belong to that class of careful guard
ians of property who prepare a strong
lock for the stable after the horse is
gone.
BENEFICIAL TO FARM AND SHOP.
do not mean in anything | have
said to imply that reciprocity is only
western interest. 1t will prove ben
eicial aud profitable to the farm and
to the shop. Many forms in which
our business interests will be promot-
ed by reciprocity cannot be known
until the active commercial men OF
the United Sta es shall have devel-
oped those forms by investigation and
experience. We shall not realize the
full benefit Of the policy in day or
year, but shall we. therefore, throw
away countless millions Of trade in
addition to the S60,0O0,000 we have
already thrown away and thea igno-
rantly declare without trial, that 1.-The
system won't work." Finally there
is one fact that should have great
weight, especially with protectionists.
EVERY FREE-TRADER
in the senate voted against reciprocity.
Free trade papers throughout the
country are showing determined hos
tility to it. 1t is evident that the free
trade senators and free trade papers
have specific reason for their course.
They know and feel that with sys-
tenn OF reciprocity established and
growing their policy of free trade re-
ceives a most serious blow. Protec-
tionists who oppose reciprocity in the
form in which it is now presente
knock away one of the strongest sup
ports OF their system. The enactment
OF reciprocity 10 the safeguard OF
protection. The defeat OF reciprocity
is the opportunity of free trade.