The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-06
Do NOT TO rget the primaries.
RECIPROCITY.

It should be understood in the begin
ming that the natural products of ma
ton are the products Of the natives and
the national conditions as we'll as the
soil. When reciprocity in the full mean
ing Of the word is to be considered, all
of these features must be included.
There is no such thing as national recip-
rocity without the consideration OF all
things that make exchange. Secretary
Blaine's plan includes much more than
the mere results of cultivation OF the
soil. He proposes to exchange the re-
suits of American genius and labor for
products of other nations for the
purpose of enlarging the trade
of the United States. and in
this proposal he places himself in
advance of his party. His plan includes
many admirable features, which would
undoubtedly result in much benefit to
this country. 1t is broad craftsmanship
and is long step ahead of the narrow
high tariff ideas which the republican
party has depended upon Of late years
for political stock in trade. The Herald
last evening states several propositions
open to criticism. For instance, it is
stated that it is very we'll known that
American cottons are preferred in all
markets they enter. This can hardly be
true in view of the fact that the English
exports of cotton goods to South Amer
lean states last year amounted to s177,-
600 O)O, while those OF the United States
were valued at only s1O,C0o,000. Eng
long, as the Herald suggests, may COM
mand the avenues to foreign trade be-
cause of her subsidized lines OF steamers.
Suppose this be true. However the con-
ditions may have been reached, the fact
remains that England by the extent of
her foreign trade has become the great
est commercial country of the world.
This trade supremacy has brought the
power of Great Britain. Years before
the war the American flag was on all
seas and the United States had lines of
the finest clipper ships ever known. To-
day but one Inc of steamers between
this country and England carries
the American flag. OF course, there are
reasons for the decline of American
shipping. A disastrous civil war used
all resources the nation could command.
After the strife was ended a high tariff
was necessary to maintain national
credit. After the necessity for the ex-
treme limit OF the tariff had ceased, it
was maintained at high figure for
years in the interest of manufacturing
monopolists who to large extent con-
trolled national legislation. This was
continued during long years when Amer
lean shipping should have been revived,
Grover Cleveland struck body blow at
this injurious system, and Mr. Blaine,
by his favor of reciprocal relations, in
the same way seeks to extend American
commerce. Mr.. Blaine knows very we'll
that the trade Of Other nations never
can be secured while American indus
tries are surrounded by Chinese wall
tariff. Reciprocity means exchange of
and extension of CONNER
cial relations, and these can never be
reached without opening our doors to
the trade of other nations. The day of
infant industries has given way to the
era of trusts and combines from which
the people at large should be protected.
Mr.. Blaine's plan, if carried out, is but
the beginning of broader and more
universal extension of the system.
A word more. The Herald's talk of
the superiority of American skilled
labor is that of self satisfaction rather
than reason. There are no finer wooden
fabrics in the world than those of Scot
land; no finer steel wares than those of
Sheffield, while in the manufacture of
certain goods France and Germany
stand equal to the world. Skilled labor
is confined to no one of the more adj
vanced countries, and commerce may be
profitably carried on between all. If,
as the Herald prophesies, our fleets ever
again covar tho coac II will br ,,lo,, ~.