Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-08-16

The Mckinley Bill Cited.


Ribot, the French minister of foreign af-
fairs. and in letter to Secretary Blaine,
dated July IL, he says that during the in
terview NJ. Ribot continued, as he had
done on every similar occasion previously
TO state that the agitation over the McKin-
ley bill made any action on this point ex-
tremely difficult. Mr.. Reid protested that
France was the aggressor, and should
take the first step.
The French Have a Grievance.
A voluminous letter. dated July 3, was
sent to NJ. Ribot by Mr.. Reid The
American minister in this communication
endeavors to show NJ. Ribot the mistake
France is making in excluding American
pork, and quotes statistics to carry out
his argument. He hints at possible pro-
hibition of French wines by the United
States, owing to the growth of the wine
Industry in this country, and refers to the
effect such action would have on France.
On July IL, 1890, NJ. Ribot sent a note to
Mr.. Reid in which he said the difficulties
in the way of removing the prohibition
had been increased by measures which
were finally passed or voted on by the
house of representatives, and which do
not fail to raise just complaints on the
part of the French government" on.
Ribot referred to the tariff bill and the
customs administrative biIl)
A Horse of Another Color.
Mr.. Reid, in letter to NJ. Ribot, dated
July %, 1890, asks pardon for endeavoring
to show that this is a view of the situa-
ton which the facts do not warrant Be
sides, there would appear TO be no SINH
tarty or Just relation of any kind between
the two subjects which your excellency
cOupies--the French exclusion of Amer
lean pork and the two American bills cur
rently called the Mckinley bills; nor is
any reason apparent why continuance
Of the one should be justified by your ap-
preheDsiOns as to the others.
Tho Frenchman Discriminates.
"The American bills touch all countries
with absolute impartiality. The French
decree singles out the United States from
all other countries, and prohibits its pro.
ducts alone, while the similar products Of
the rest of the world are admitted. The
American bills make no charees against
the quality of the product whose importa-
ton they regulate or tax. The French
decree is based upon the ipdefepsible
charge that the American product exclud-
ed is unwholesome, though this charge
has been repudiated by the French Acad-
envy of Medicine itself, and though this
prohibited and unwholesome product has
recently been crowned by the highest
prize Of your own universal expo sition.
Johnny Crapaud the Aggressor.
"Under the circumstances, venture to
suggest that the French government is not
In good position to put forward in ex-
PLANTATION of it's own action anything
which the ITuitad Statea NAV now do in
the impartial development of its known
policy of protection. France is, and has
been for nine years past, persistent ag-
grsssor. 1t has absolutely prohibited the
importation of an American product on
ndefensible charges. 1t still maintains
This prohibition in spite of the demon
,trated facts that nothing is therebygained,
ithsr for it's own consumers or its own
producers, and that the only appreciable
Affect is to do an injustice to century-old
friend. by openly discriminating against
| that friend in favor of Germany, Italy,
and England"