The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-15
Blaine Takes Exceptions to the
Senate Bill.
OUR MARKET LIES SOUTH.
We Open Our Seaports to Sugar and
Coffee, Without Any Return.
souih America shonId Admit United
states Products in Exchange-Cuba
for saie-san Salvador and Guate-
mala at war-McKinley.

WASHINGTON CITY, July Ex-senator
Frye today received letter from Blaine in
which the latter calls attention to the pros
pective duties imposed by Spain on all
American -four entering Cuba. These
make the cost IN Cuba at least si1.z6 per
barrel, counting the shipping price in New
York at 81 80 per barrel. Other articles OF
American growth are likewise taxed by
Spain to the point of prohibition. This
one-sided commerce, he says, will seriously
injure the shipping routes, which are in
American hands largely If not exclusively.
1t would be very extraordinary policy on
the part Of our government at this time to
open our market without change Of duty
to the enormous cargoes OF sugar raised in
the two Spanish islands
Cuba and Porto Rico furnish the United
States with nearly or quite one-half the
sugar we consume, and we are far larger
consumers than any other nation in the
world. To give a free market to this i'm
mense product of the Spanish plantations
at the moment Spain is excluding the pro-
ducts of American farmers from her mar
kets, would be policy as unprecedented as
it would be unwise. Our trade with the
American republics, as well as with the
most unsatisfactory condition. The aggre-
gate balance of trade with all Latin Am
ericais heavily against Us. A single illustra-
ton will suffice. Since we repealed the duty
on coffee in 1872 we have imported products
of Brazil to the extent of $S31 sos COO, and
have sold to her only 1885, lbs 600 of our
own products, difference of $644, ,67i 600,
which We have paid in gold or it's equiva-
M hoa nHnI a..
sum in the markets of Europe. You can
see how different the results would have
been if in return fer the free admission of
Brazilian coffee in our markets We had ex-
acted the admission Of certain products OF
the United States into the Brasil market
To repeat this error with sugar to an
amount three times as large as with coffee
will close all opportunity to establish reci-
procity of trade with Latin America.
The charge against the protective policy
which has injured us most is that its hem
efits go wholly to the manufacturers and
capitalists. and not to the farmers. You
and know this is not true, but still It's
the most plausible and therefore the most
hurtful argument made by the free trader.
Here is an opportunity where the farmer
can be benefited primarily, and unde-
niably richly benefited. Here is an oppor-
tunity for Republican congress to open
the markets of 100000 people to the
products of American farmers. Shall We
seize the opportunity or shall we throw it
away?
do not doubt that in many respects the
tariff bill pending in the Senate is a inst
measure and most of its provisions are in
accord with the policy of protection, but
there is not a section or line in the bill that
will open market for another bushel of
wheat or another barrel of pork. II sugar
is placed on the free list without exacting
important trade concessions, we should
close the doors for profitable reciprocity
against ourselves. / think you will find
valuable hints on this subject in the presi-
dents brief message of June 10, with as
much practical wisdom as was ever stated
in so short q space. Our foreign market
for breadstuffs grows narrower. 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 competition in the mar
kets of Europe. 1t becomes us. therefore,
TO use every opportunity for the extension
of our markets on both of the American
continents. With nearly $i00, ,O00, 900 worth
of sugar seeking our market every year We
should prove ourselves most unskiIled leg
islators If we do not secure large field for
the sale and consumption of breadstuffs
and provisions.
The late conference of American repub-
lies proved the existence of a common de-
sire for closer relations. Our congress
should take the matter up where the inter-
national conference left it. Our field OF
commercial development and progress lies