New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-28
PROGRESS or RECIPROCITT.

A dispatch from Madrid removes all remain
inc doubt respecting the success OF the negotia-
tions for a commercial treaty. The convention
has been signed, the text will be published theie
on August |, and it will go into operation on
Sepen,ber 1. As it is generally understood
that the treaty is similar in scope to the agree
men. with Brazil and falls naturally under the
operation of the Reciprocity amendment TO the
Mckinley Tariff Act, the President will prob
ably be able to issue a proclamation and an
nonnce its provisions early during the coming
month. 1t is to be hoped that there will be
no unnecessary delay in revealing the results
of the negotiations Large exporting interests
here will be affected by its provisions, and 1t Is
highly desirable that explicit information should
be furnished to merchants at the earliest day
possible.
II is also known that Reciprocity arrange
ment has been made with Santo Domingo, and
that its provisions will go into effect early in
the autumn. This will be the third convention
negotiated under the sanction OF the Aldflch
amendment, which is proving to be most Ell
fectivo lever for opening the Southern markets.
Unless all signs fail there will be similar con-
vention concluded with Venezuela, which next
TO Brazil is the largest coffee depot OF
the United States in the South. Mexican
treaty is also confidently to be expected Even
if no further progress be made, the results OF
the State Departments diplomatic work are
sufficiently large to justify the action Of Con-
gress in adopting the Aldrich amendment. The
Reciprocity policy has been crowned with sue
cess--a result upon which President Ha11son
and Secretary Blaine are to be alike congrat-
ulated by all patriotic Americans.
Inevitably there will be large development
of the export trade under favorable and equl-
table conditions of exchange For long period
Southern countries have been allowed to receive
as gratuities commercial privileges Of tremen-
dous magnitude. The margin between what the
United States has bought and what it has sold
in exchange was so broad that Reciprocity has
followed as soon as it was demanded with IN
flexible purpose and diplomatic tact. Exporters
and manufacturers will now have conspicuous |
opportunity for showing what they can do. The |
bulk of the manufactures required in Southern |
markets arc those which are most lightly pro-
tected in the United States, and for which free
raw materials are available. Cottons, boots and
shoes and manufactures of rubber, leather, hides |
paper, glass and wood are the chief staples of |
lnpUTldllOH Ill COuIItIH hCtc anu IhOoS N"AA |
be produced in the United States as cheapy as
in Europe. Even American iron and steel man
ufactureS without free raw material are already
diSplacing European importatiOns wherever in
and theoretically introduced in the
South. Other manufactures, like wOollens,
blankets, carpets, upholstered furniture, felts,
heavy cloth and linens, in which the United
States is less able at present to compete with
foreign goods, are not those which are imported
in large quantity in Spanish America.
When doctrinaire Free Traders assert that
free raw materials are necessary before the
United States can take advantage of Reciprocity
treaties to enlarge its export trade in the South
they virtually concede the practicability of OBJ
tanning at once a large share of this commerce.
At least 10 per cent of the imported manu-
features of that quarter of the world represents
which practically have free raw
materials already. The American Tariff is not
an obstacle to the development of the export
trade. 1t is ignorance of the requirements of
Southern markets and of the conditions of sue
cessful competition that is largely at fault. The
policy, by directing the attention
of merchants and exporters to markets now
gradually opening to them, will displace ig
norance with intelligence, listless inaction with
energy.