Huntsville gazette., 1891-08-15
DEMOCRATIC DUPLIclTY.

DEMOCRATIC DUPLlCITY
The Efforts of Free Traders to Hoodvini
the People.
The democratic and mugwump press
throughout the country are constantly
endeavoring to deceive and confuse the
voters Of the country by insisting upon
the absurd assertion that reciprocity
is essentially free trade under new
name.
1t cannot be claimed that these state
ments are born OF ignorance, and that
they are, therefore, made in a spirit OF
sincerity.
No one can know better than an ordi-
narily well informed democrat that rec
iprocity and free trade are diametrical-
ly opposed to each other in both prin-
ciple and manifestation.
So far from reciprocity having any
thing in common with free trade it is a
perfectly palpable fact that system,
of reciprocity could only have a prac-
teal operation upon the basis of pro-
lection.
Reciprocity is defined by the highest
accepted authorities as reciprocal adj
vantages, obligations or rights" and,
therefore, implies in matters of trade
such commercial exchanges as are
based upon clearly and carefully stipu-
lated conditions and mutually recog-
nized Obligations
That eminent statesman, Secretary
Blaine, who has been the chief expo
nent and promoter of the reciprocity
regime, has explicitly defined the
scheme as comprehending the develop
ment of the resources of the nation by
building up our home markets through
protection and by promoting interna-
tional trade through reciprocal rela-
tons, advantages and obligations.
Now, as opposed to this system, the
democrats advocate the theory of free
trade, which literally signifies ''trade
or commercial intercourse free from all
artificial interference or restriction"
While, therefore. reciprocity practi-
cally means treaty between two coun-
tries comforting equal and special priv
ileges as regards customs or charges
on imports and in other respects free
trade, ia striking contrast, consists in
1.-The enactment by state or nation of
a law through the operation of which
the state or nation enacting the same
agrees to receive the commodities of
other nations or countries without re-
strictions or the imposition of any i'm
port duty or charge, and also without
any agreement on the part of other
countries to receive in like manner the
commodities of the nation or country
adopting the policy of free trade"
This, we believe, is clear and cor
rect exposition of the essential nature
and significance of the two opposing
systems.
The democrats have given us sam
pie of their tariff legislation in the
Walker tariff of 1916 and the Cobb
tariff of 1857. Both of these measures
reduced the schedule of duties and
made the lowest tariff ever adopted by
congress since the establishment of the
government. They were directly an
tagonistic to the principle of protection
to American industries, and were
drafted to meet the demands and con-
ditions of the southern cotton and
sugar producing states, and to combat
the great manufacturing interests of
the northern states, and greatly to the
satisfaction and enrichment of British
manufacturers and importers.
A return to similar tariff at this pc
Rod of the great advancement of the
entire republic, with the marvels and
variety and abundance of the produc-
tions of California and the Pacific
states, with the enormous development
of the mineral wealth of the new
states, with the increasing Importance
of the iron manufacture in some of the
southern states, and in view of the
impetus to American shipbuilding and
commerce, which will restore and
maintain to the United States the fair
rivalry or supremacy of the ocean-a
return to a tariff system like that of
the Cobb tariff of 1857 would be ma
tional suicide.
Yet similar to that tariff was the
scheme set forth by Mills, of Texas,
and so vigorously recommended by
President Cleveland.
trade. The duties imposed were simply
for revenue, and the principal and pur-
pose of protection found no place in
the proposed tariff.
This is what we have to expect from
the democrats, in the event of their
ever coming into possession of the ma
tional government.
The euphemism of "a tariff for
revenue only" can deceive the people
no longer. When wrung out and hung
out in the party wash, no amount of
blueing and starching can give this
democratic tariff any other or better
appearance than essential free trade
N. Y. Mail and Express.