The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-10
Tho Author Of Reciprocity.


Tho most Improbable Of discussions now
In progress is that which concerns MIR.
BLANE's part in reciprocity. So far as this
country has to do with reciprocity as q
practical measure Of legislation and o
present force working for the nations
prosperity. Mr.. BLA1NE's part in it is more
than part: it Is the whole business.
While tho MCKINLEY bill was pending In
juno, 1890, Mr.. BLAINE wrote his letter to
President HARRISON. dated June 4. and
communicated to Congress on June 10. on
the desirability OF reciprocal trade rela-
lions with the Latin American States. This
document will be found in full on page 6.257
Of volume 81 Of the Congressional Record.
The concluding and important paragraphs
OF Mr.. BLAINE's letter were these:
.Fiftecn OF the seventeen Republics with which We
have been In conference have indicated by tho votes
OF their representatives In the International American
Conference. and by other methods which It 10 not
necessary define. their desire toeuter upon rectp-
Yocal commercial relations with the United States
The remaining two indicate equal willingness. could
they assured that their advances would DO favoraby
considered.
To escape the delay and uncertainty OF treaties. II
has been suggested that and prompt mode
Of testing tho question was to submit an amendment
the pending tarin bill authorizing tho President 70
declare the port OF the United States FREQ to all the
products OF any nation Of the American hemisphere
upon which export duties imposed. whenever
and 30 long such nation shall admit Its ports free
of all national provincial tstatel municipal and other
taxes -four. meal and other breadsiuns, pre-
served meats nsh vegetables and fruits. cottonseed
oil rice and other provisons. including all articles OF
food lumber furniture and other articles OF wood
ricultural Implements and machinery mining and me-
chanical machinery structural steel and iron. steel
rails. locomotives. railway and supplies, street
cars and refined petroleum. I mention these par.
t,cular articles because they have been the most
frequently referred to those with which valua-
bic exchange could be readily effected Tho list could
no doubt be probably enlarged by careful nvestiga
ton tho needs and advantages OF both the homo and
foreign marketa
"rhs opinion was general among the foreign dele
gates that the legislation herein referred to would lead
tho opening OF and profitable markets for the
products Of which wo have 30 large surplus and thus
invigorate branch Of and
industry. OF course tho exchanges involved In these
propositions would be rendered impossible II Congress-
its wisdom should repeal tho duty sugar by direct
legislation instead OF allowing the object to Be At
tanned BY the reciprocal arrangement suggested"
In transmitting to Congress on June 10 Mr..
BLANE's letter OF June 4. Gen. HARRISON
sent along with it a brief message in favor
Of reciprocity In general with the other
Republics OF this hemisphere. but without
any direct reference to the specific plan
suggested in Mr.. BLAINE's letter. or any
express approval Of the idea OF amending
the MCKINLEY bill in order to bring about
the thing desired.
On that same day. June 10. the Secretary
Of State went before the Senate Committee
on Appropriations. which had just reported
the Tariff bill back to the Senate without
any reciprocity provision. and made his
famous speech attacking the proposed
measure. which. as he wrote nearly month
later to Senator FRYE. CONTAINED not q
section or q line that will open market for
another bushel Of wheat or another pound
Of pork"
During the twelve or fourteen weeks that
intervened between Mr.. BLArNE's clear
formulation OF the plan In his letter of
June 4. and the passage Of the Tariff bill by
the Senate with the reciprocity clause in
serted In it and perfecting 1t. there was no
difference Of opinion In the Republican
party or In the country as to the individual
to whom belonged the credit or the blame
for the new and radical proposition.
Credit was awarded to Mr.. BLAINE by
everybody who had faith In his foresight:
blame was literally bestowed upon him by
those who pretended to see in his policy
only an attempt to divert attention to him
self from other Republican leaders then
prominent In other enterprises Of party
leadership.
BLAINE was reciprocity then. and reci-
procity was BLAINE. Why should there be
any difference Of opinion now2