Evening journal., 1890-07-15
ONE IENT.
BLAINE AND FREE SUGAR
His Views on the Mckinley
Tariff Bill.
THETACK CONGRESS- sHOULDTAKH


Where the Pan-American Congress Len
oH-Tree Sugar would Be Great Blow
to His Reciprocity Plan.
NEW YoRK, July Is The Herald pub
fishes the following letter, which it states
has just been received from Secretary
Blaine by Mr.. Frye;.
BAR HARBoR Me-, July II, 1900.
DEAR MR. FRyE-I have just received
intelligence from the highest commercial
authority in Havana that American -four
under the new duties imposed by Spain
cannot reach the Cuban market under
cost Of sl1.46 per barrel, counting the
shipping price in New York at $3.50 pen
barrel. Spain holds the market for her
self, and is able to send European -four at
price which totally excludes the Ameri.
can -four from the markets Of Cuba and
Porto Rico. Other articles Of America
growth are likewise taxed by Spain to Il }
point Of prohibition. This one sided cor
merce viii seriously injure the shipping
| routes which are still in American hands
largely If not extensively
Very Extraordinary Policy.
1T would certainly be a very extraordb
nary policy on the part Of our governments
| just at this time to open our market with
| out charge or duty to the enormous crops
| of sugar raised in the two Spanish islands.
| Cuba and Porto Rico furnish the United
States with nearly or quite one-haif Of the
/ sugar which we consume and we are far
/ larger consumers than any other milton in
the world To give free market to this
| immense product of the Spanish planta~
tions at the moment Spain is excluding the
products of American farms from her mar.
ket would be policy as unprecedented as
1t would be unwise.
The balance OF Trade Against Us.
"Our trade with the American republics,
as well as with the West India islands, has
been for many years in a most unsatisfao-
tory condition. The aggregate balance Of
trade with all Latin-America Is heavily
against us. A single illustration Will
suffice
Since we repealed the duty on coffee iu
1872 we have imported the products Of Bra
iii to the extent Of Ss2l .s06 900, and have
sold to her only Sl56, 1861 900 Of our own
products. The difference-s664, GIL ,000--wa
have paid In gold or It's equivalent and
Brazil has expended the vast sum IN the
markets Of Europe You can readily see
how different the result would have been
II ia return for the free admission OF Bra
lillian coffee in our markets we had exaeted
the free admission of certain products Of
the United States in the Brazilian market
20 repeat this error with sugar TO an
amount three times as large as with c0ifeel
will close an opportunity to establish reci-
procity 81 trade with Latn-America.
one Arguments Of the Free Trader.
"The charge against the protective policy
. I which hua fnfr4aI IL f.,oat ia fIaf ITS inro.
E dts 80 wholly TO the manufactures and the
q capitalist and not at all 70 the farmer You
and ] well know that this is not true but
still it is the most plausible and therefore
the most hurtful argument made by the
free trader.
Here is an opportunity where the farmez
may be benehted-primarily, undeniaby,
richly benefited Here is an opportunity
3 for a Republican congress to open up the
markets Of 100000 of people to the pro-
, ducts of American farms. Shall we seize
the opportunity or shall we throw 10
awayg ESQ
Free Sugar Would XIII Reciprocity.
, II do not doubt that in many respects
the tariff bill pending in the senate is a
just measure and that most of its provi.
sions are in accordance with the wise
policy of protection. But there is not a
I ~
open a market for. another bushel OF wheat
or another barrel OF pork. II sugar is now
placed on the free list without exacting
! important trade concessions in return we
z shall close the door for a possible reci-
J procity against ourselves. think you will
find some valuable hints on this subject
in the presidents brief message Of June 10,
with as much practical wisdom as was eyeE.
, stated in so short a space.
What Congress should Do.
: -"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 a powerful
competitor Ia the markets Of Europe Il
. becomes us, therefore, TO use every oppor-
tunity for the extension Of our market on,
both Of the American continents. With
, nearly one hundred million dollars worth
I of sugar seeking our market every year,
we shall prove ourselves most unskilled
Legislators If we do not secure a large field
for the sale and consumption Of our bread
stuifs and provisions The late conference
Of the American republics proved the ex.
istence Of a common desire for closer rela-.
I tions. Our congress should take up the
work where the international conference.
left it, Our field Of commercial develop
! ment and progress lies south Of us
VERY sincerely yours,
JAMES G. BLAINE :"