Fergus County argus., 1890-12-11

fee the duty of using every power and in
| fiuence given by law to the executive de
partment for the development of larger
markets for our products. especially our
farm products, has been kept constantly liz
mind. and no effort has been, or will be
spared. to promote that end. We are un-
der no disadvantage On any for
| eign market except that we pay our work
ingmen and wOrkingwomen better wages
| than are paid elsewhere: better abstractly.
better relatively to the cost of the nee
| essaries of life. do not doubt that very
largely increased foreign trade is accessi-
BILE to Us without bartering either our home
market for such products of the farm and
| shop rs our own people can supply. or the
| wages of our working people. In many of
the products of wood and iron and in
meats and bread stuff We have advantages
that only need better facilities Of inter-
course and transportation to secure for
them large foreign markets.
The reciprocity clause Of the tariff act
wisely and in effect opens the way to se-
cure large reciprocal trade in exchange for
the free admission to our ports of certain
products. The right of independent ma
tions to make special reciprocal trade con-
cessions il well established and does not
impair either. The coul tesy due to other
powers, or what il known as the "favored
nation clause" il generally found in COM
mercial treaties. What is given to one for
an adequate agreed consideration cannot be
claimed by another freely. The state IF the
revenue was such that we could dispense
with any import duties upon co"ee. tea,
hides and the lower grades Of sugar and
molasses. That the large advantage re-
sulting to the countries producing and ex-
porting these articles by placing them ON
the free list entitled us to expect a fair re-
turn in any way of customs concessions
upon articles exported by US to them, was
80 obvious that to have gratuitously aban-
doned this opportunity to enlarge our trade
would have b.en an objectionable error.
There were but two methods of maintain
ing this question open to congress--to place
all of these articles upon the dutiable list
subject to such treaty agreements as could
be secured, or place them all presently up
upon the free list. but subject to the reim-
imposition Of specified duties il
the countries from which We receive
them should refuse to give us
suitable reciprocal benefits. This
latter method possesses great advantages. 1t
expresses in advance the consent of con-
gress to reciprocity arrangements affecting
these products. which otherwise must have
been delayed and uncertain until each
treaty was ratified by the senate and the
necessary legislation enacted by congress-.
Experience has shown that some treaties
looking to reciprocal trade have failed to
secure two-thirds vote in the senate for
ratification, and Others. having passed that
stage, have for years awaited the concur
renee OF tile HOUSE, uIlu stuHtt III SUCH uiOul-
fcations of our revenue laws as were neces
sary to give effect to their provisions. We
now have the concurrence of both houses in
advance in distinct and definite offer of
free entry to our ports of specific articles.
The executive is not required to deal in
conjecture as to what congress will accept.
Indeed. this reciprocity provision is more
than an offer. Our part OF the bargain is
complete. delivery has been made, and
when the countries from which we receive
sugar. coffee. tea and hides have placed ON
their free lsts such of our products as shall
be agreed upon as an equivalent for onr
concession, a proclamation of that fact
completes the transaction. and in the mean
time our people have free coffee, tea and
hides.
The indications thus far given are very
hopeful of early and favorable action by
the countries from which We receive our
large imports of coffee and sugar and it Is
confidently believed that il steam COM
munication with these countries can bc
promptly improved and enlarged. next year
will show most gratifying increase in our
exports of breadstuffs and provisions as
well as of some important lines OF manu-
factured goods.