The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-07-31
WASHINGTON NOTES.
BLAINE ON SUGAR

BLAINE On SUGAR
WASHINGTON, July Ex-senator Frye to-
day received the following letter from,Secre-
tary Blaine;
BAR HARBoR, Me-, July %
Dear Mr.. Frye have your reply to my
letter and am glad that the essential part
of it has been given to the press. You ask
me what assurance l have as 10 Spains
Willingness to enter into reciprocal arrange
ments of trade with the United States. Your
question surprises me, for you can not have
forgotten that only six years ago the prime
minister of Spain, in his anxiety to secure
full admission to our markets for the sugar
of Cuba and Porto Rico, agreed to very
extensive treaty of reciprocity
with Mr.. Jno. w. Foster, our
minister at Madrid A year before
in 1888 very admirable treaty of recipro-
city was arranged by Gen. Grant and Mr..
VIM. A. Prescott as United States commis-
| sioners, with the Republic of Mexico-a
| treaty well considered in all its parts and
all its details-whose results would, / be-
lieve have proved highly advantageous to
both countries.
In view of the pending discussion it is
somewhat singular circumsi ance that both
these treaties of reciprocity failed to Sc
cure the approval of congress and failed
| for the express reason that both provided
for the free admission of sugar. Congress
would not then allow single pound of
sugar TO come in free of duty
under any circumstances whatever, and
now the proposition is to open our ports
| free to everybody's sugar and to do it with
| sucE rapidity that we are not to have mo-
mt 10 Irln IN fNua In.A
trade, trade by which we may pay for at
least part of the sugar III the products of
| American farms and shops. Our change
of opinion has certainly been remarkable in
SO brief space.
The only danger of our not securing ad-
vantageous treaties of reciprocity now is the
possible belief on the part of those coun-
tries that we are so anxious for free sugar
that by patient waiting they can secure all
they desire withouC money and without
price.
Fearing that result / sought an inter
view with the eight Republican members
of the committee on ways and means more
than five months ago-to be explicit, the
10th day of February. 1 endeavored to
convince them that it would be expe-
dent and wise to give the president rs the
treaty making power an opportunity to see
what advantageous arrangements of a re-
ciprocity treaty could be effected | was
unable to persuade the committee to take
my view. 1t is, think very grave mis-
take to oppose this reciprocity proposition
touching sugar from the fear that il may
conflict in some way with the policy of
protection. The danger is, think, wholly
in the opposite direction.
Let us see what is proposed. Our gov
eminent has heretofore collected O heavy
duty from sugar, amounting in one year in
the aggregate $58,000,000, and averaging
$50,0O0,000 per annum for considerable
period. We wish now to cheaper sugar by
removing the duty. The value of sugar we
annually consume is enormous. Shall we
pay tor it all in cash or shall we seek re-
ciprocal arrangement by which a large part
of it may be paid for in pork and beef and
flour, in lumber and salt and iron, shoes
and furniture, and thousand other things
In short, shall we pay for it all in cash or
try friendly barter in part? / think the
latter mode is the highest form of protec ..
ton and the best way to promote trade.
You nave recently received congratula-
tions in which cordially join in carrying
the shipping bill through the senate. Do
you not think that line of ships gener-
o1sly aided by the government will have a
better prospect for profit, and for perma-
nence if we can give to them outward car
goes from the United States, and not con-
fine them to inward cargoes from Latin
America. am sincerely yours,
JAS. G. BLAINE