Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-07-26
AS TO FREE SUGAR.
Secretary Blaine Writes Let
ter to Senator Frye.
AN ARGUMENT FOR RECIPROCITY.

Congress Criticised for Defeating the
Vigorous Plea for the Proposition That
Free Sugar Shall Be Made Profitable
The Senators Give the Tariff Bill Com
sideration-PIumb VIII Ask for In
come Tax.
WASHINGTON CITY, July Ex-senator
Frye yesterday received the following let
ter from Secretary Blaine, in reply to his
recent inquiries respecting the effect of
reciprocity on the sugar trade with Cuba
and Porto Rico: "You ask what assur-
ance l have as to SPANS willingness to
enter into reciprocal arrangements oftrade
with the United States Your question
surprises me, for you can not have forgot
ten that only six years ago the prime min
lister, of Spain in his anxiety to secure
free admission to our markets for the
sugar of Cuba and Porto Rico, agreed to a
very extensive treaty of reciprocity wi tn
Mr.. John W. Foster, then our minister at
Madrid
Thinks 1t Somewhat Singular.
year before-lSS3-a very admirable
treaty of reciprocity was negotiated by
General Grant and Mr.. William II. Tres
cot, as United States commissioners, with
| the republic of Mexico-a treaty well con-
sidered in all its parts and all details
whose results would. believe, have proved
highly advantageous to both countries.
In view of the pending discussion it is a
| somewhat singular circumstance that both
4 81,
secure 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
Remarkable Change of View.
And now the proposition is to open oul
| ports free to everybody's sugar and to dc
1t with such rapidity that We are not to
have moments time to see If we cannot
make a better trade by which we may pay
| for at least a part of the sugar in the
| products of American farms and shops
| Our change of opinion has certainly beer
remarkable in so brief period Indeed
the only danger of our not securing ad
| vantageous treaties of reciprocity now i.
the possible belief on the part of thoss
| countries that we are so anxious for free
sugar that by patient waiting they can Sc
cure all they desire without money anC
| without price"
He Didn't Speak Too Late.
| Mr.. Blaine goes on to say in reply tc
suggestions that his reciprocity proposals
came too late, that he talked with tn,
| ways and means committee Oct. 10 last
and tried to convince them that such
plan would be expedient but failed II,
controverts the proposition that the re-
ciprocity idea is opposed to protection and
says 1t is just the other way, because il
would supply a market for our products
and pay for our imported sugar by barter
which Il think is the highest form of pro
lection" The secretary closes as follows
You have recently received congratula
tions-in which l cordially join-on carry
ing the shipping bill through the senate
Do you not think that line of ships gen
erously aided by the government will hav
a better prospect of profit and for perman
ence If we can give to them outward car
goes from the United States and not con
fine them to inward cargoes from Latil
American"