The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-02-12
Pointed COMMENTS
On the Reciprocity Clause II
the Mckinley Bill.
RECIPROCITY VS.. FREE TRADE
Democratic Claims Proven False
The Policy One of Protection for
America...GIory of Republl-
can Administration.
sp.eiaI ptnnleh q thl Intelta.nc.r.

WASHINGTON, D. O., Feb. 1l.--one o
the wisest, as he is one Of the most con
servative, public men now in the city,
talking with your correspondent upon
the reciprocity clause Of the Mckinley
bill and its admittedly great advantages
to the country, delivered himself of the
following pointed observations concern.
ing the claim Bet up by the Democracy
to all Its rights, titles and privileges:
"If, as the Democracy is 60 eager to
make people believe, reciprocity Is one
OF the fundamental principles OF the
Democratic tariff doctrine, and II that
doctrine is, as the leaders OF Democratic
thought declare, simply tariff for rev.
enue only: il duties must be so placed
as to afford the expenses absolutely
necessary for the conduct OF the govern.
ment and for no other purpose what.
ever, whether protection to home in.
dustries result or not, how, then, do
they hsrmonize this doctrine with the
fact that in enforcing reciprocity, not
only is there an utter disregard OF a
tariff for revenue only, but duties are
arbitrarily removed or put on by the
mere decree OF the executive with the
sole object In view Of protection to home
industriesf
at must be apparent to even the
Democratic mind that II a,particular
country or set Of countries, so situated
that they cannot compete with us as to
certain commodities, are induced to
favor US in the importation Of those
commodities, to the exclusion Of our
rivals, the result is purely and simply
the encouragement OF home industries.
In inducing this favor, duties are made
against one nation, while
against another they are entirely re.
moved, withoutany reference TO revenue
Is this consistent democracy But
another wing OF the Democratic party
shouts that reciprocity is only another
name for Tree trade, that free trade is
only another name for Democracy, and,
therefore, thatreciproCity is Democracy.
ibid 1t ever occur to these euthusi.
lsts that the tariff OF the United States
Is lower by great deal thar that OF any
country on this hemisphere, and that II |
We so extend "the Chinese waln OF our
.aritf as to take in with US one or all OF
.hese countries We cannot possibly be
loing anything else than lending height
and scope to that wall at the expense OF
rec trade people on the outsider Why
8 1t, otherwise, that the apostle OF
English free trade, Sir John Mcdonald,
Premier OF Canada, tells his people that
reciprocity means sannexation2 Why ia
I, II reciprocity means free trads, that
,he English Government, radically free
,rade and desirous OF it throughout the
world, calls upon its representative to
oppose reciprocity at every cost2 Why |
8 it, II reciprocity means free ira de,
hat the foremost free trade country IN |
,he world must be excluded from it's
II, as the free trade section OF
.he Democratic party declares, free trade |
IS absolute aud unrestricted intercourse
among all the nations Of the earth, how
1oes 1t tend to support the theory that
is free trade, that in order to
obtain the former it Is necessary, funda.
TO deny absolute and unre-
stricted intercouree2
"In view OF these obvious inconaiaten.
cies don't wonder that 1t strikes think
ing people as laughable that our friends,
The enemy, should lay claim to propri.
etary interest in reciprocity. You never
see these inconsistencies mentioned in |
Democratic sheets. In fact you never
see any discussion Of the principles OF
reciprocity. All you hear is blatant |
claim TO Its origin and development.
The why's and wheretores are never Civ.
en-. But II has been just so with all
questions pertaining 10 the tariff. Who
ever heard OF valid argument in favor
Of free trade in this conntry2 Who ever
saw the facts or figures to base that ar.
gument upon? What protection orator
or writer was ever met with q more sub.
stantial objection than that free trade
was good thing and should obtain at
all eventsP Therefore I am not sur
prised OF this Democratic claim as to re-
ciprocity. 1t is directly in line with all
OF the previous performances OF the par
ty. Oh yes, we steal their thunder, in
deed, but who produces the lightning
that causes the thunder"
There has probably never been q
more general or more widespread inter-
est manifested in any civil proceeding
OF the Government than in the conclu-
sion OF the reciprocity treaty with
Brazil. Not only are inquiries pouring
in by the thousand, but delegations OF
business men and. manufacturers are
arriving, all eager to take advantage OF
this new trade opening. Public COM
ment has but one tendency, the glorih.
cation OF Republican management,
which will be intensified when, as is
fully expected, the President will short.
ly be ableto announce the conclusion Of
similar agreements with Cuba and Ven.
ezuela, to be followed in due time by re-
Ciprocity treaties with all the South and
Central American States.
The ship subsidy bill will now almost
certainly pass Everyone recognizes the
fact that additional facilities must be
provided, and that quickly, for this In.
creased trade; and that the practical
way to cconplish this is by doing as all
other great maritime countries have
done, grant adequate subsidies. AS soon.
as the appropriation bills will permit
the Frye Shipping bill will doubtless be-
come law.