The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-15
BLAINE'S POLICY.
He Outlines u In u vigorous Letter On
Reciprocity.


Reciprocity.
wAsHINGToN.J July l4.-The house spent
to-day on District of Columbia matters
and nothing Of importance was accom-
plished.
Senator Frye to-day received letter
from Secretary Blaine in which the latter
calls attention To the proscriptivc duties
imposed by Spain upon American -four
entering Cuba. These make the cost in
the Cuban market at last Sl1.i6 per bar
rel, counting the shipping price i'm New
York mt $3.50 per barrel. Other articles
Of American growth are likewise taxed
by Spain. TO point Of prohibition. This
one-sided commerce, says Secretary
Blaine, will seriously injure the shipping
routes which are lstill in American
hands largely il not exclusively. ltwould
certainly he very extraordinary policy
ON the part OF our government just at this
time 10 open our market without charge
Of duty 90 the enormous crops Of sugar
raised in the two Spanish islands. Cuba
and Port Rica furnish the United States
with nearly or quite one-half the sugar we
consume. and we are far larger consum-
ers than any other nation in the world.
To give a free market to this immense
p. oduct of Spanish plantations at the mo-
ment Spain is excluding the products
Of American farms from her markets
4 III
would he unwise. Our trade with the
American republics rs well as with the
West India islands has been for many
years in most unsatisfactory condition.
| The aggregate balance of trade with the
Latin-Americau states is heavily against
MS. A single illustration will suffice.
Since we repealed the duty on coffee in
1872 we have imported the products of
| Brazil To the extent OF SSH $4,000,
and have sold to her only Sl56, ,l35,U0 of
our own products. The difference,
S6ii,67l 900, we have paid in gold or its
equivalent aud Brazil has expended this
vast sum ~ the markets of Europe. You
can readily see how different results
| would have been III, III return for tlIe free
admission Of Brazilian coffee in our mar
kets, we had exactcd free admission of
| certain products of the United States in
the Brazilian market. To repeat this error
with sugar 10 an amount three
| times as large as with coifcel will
| close all opportunity Ia establish a re-
ciprocity treaty with Latin America. The
| charge against the protective policy which
| has injured II most is that its benefits 90
wholly to the manufactures and the cap
| italists and not at all to the farmer. You
| and well know this is not true. but still
| il is "A most plausible and therefore
a most hurtful argument made by the
free traders. Here is AN oppor-
| tunity where the farmer can he
benefited, primarily, uudcninbly, richly
benefited. Here is an opportunity for the
| republican congress 10 open the markets
| of forty millions Of people To the products
! of the American farmers. Shall We seize
the opportunity or shall we throw u away ?
! do not doubt that in many respects the
tarilf bill pending in the senate is a Just
measure and that most of its provisions
| are in accordance with "A wise policy of
protection; but there is not section ar n
line in the entire bill that will open the