The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1891-08-21
.snAM" RECIPROCITY.


Although a republican, have been a
constant reader OF the DKMocRAr for
number of years, and, while have regard
ed Il as a pronounced partisan paper, /
have also regarded Il as q fair antagonist
In statements OF facts upon which to base
arguments. But on number OF occasions
have seen "reclprocity," as provided for
In the Mckinley bill, denounced In Its
columns as a "sham." On several occa-
sions Its editor has said, reciprocity Is all
right II we can get enough Of It." Now,
while / am a republican In degree, am
q student In much greater degree and
hence | would esteem Il favor II you
would set out at length the reasons why
you denounce reciprocity as "snam.
YouNo STUDENT.
1t Is pleasure, rather than a task, to
comply with The request of "Young Stu
dent" whom we know to be young man
of candor and integrity. One, who, like
the editor of the DKMocRAT, feels that II
Is far more important to interpclate correct
principles and policies into administration
than to secure success for any political
party, For this reason we shall speak OF
the question merely as citizen seeking
the highest good for the greatest number
of people of the country. We first call at.
tentlon to Section ) of the Mckinley act
which provides for reciprocity treaties. It
reads:
"That with a view to secure reciprocal
trade with countries producing the follow
ing articles, and for this purpose, on and
after the first daS Of January iSo,, when
ever, and so often as the president shall be
satisfied that the government Of any coun-
try producing and. exporting sugars, mo-
lasses, coffee, tea and hides, raw and un-
cured, or any of such articles, imposes
duties or other exactions upon the agricul
tural or other products OF the United
States, which In view of the free intro
duction of such sugar, molasses, coffee.
tea, aud hides Into the United States he
may deem to be reciprocally unequal and
unreasonable, he shall have the power,an
Il shall be his duty to suspend, by pro-
clamation to that effect, the provisions of
this act relating TO the free introduction
OF such sugar, molasses, coffee, tea, and
hides, the production of such country, for
such time as he shall deem just, and In
such case and during such suspension du-
ties shall be levied, collected, and paid up
on sugar, molasses, coffee, tea, and hides,
the product of or exported from such Ges-
ignated country as follows" Then follows
the rates of duty which the president shall
cause to be collected upon sugar, molasses,
coffee, tea, and hides as follows;
On sugars the rates of duty range from
seven tenths OF a cei,t to two cents pounds
molasses four cents per gallon, coffee three
cents per pound, tea ten cents per pound
and hides one and a half cents per pound"
What we want TO particularly impress
upon the mind of ~Young Student" Is the
fact that the pre- idenf, or III, secretary. rpAcn
pcgotiatiAg a reciprocal treaty HAder tie Ne
KiSiey act has no Authority 10 rem0Us or mod
~ fte dHfy on any arfieis that i, aOsp being,
or Aereaffer may Be, imported isio khls eoRH-
try, except that he may under the contin-
geneies named impose the above duties on
sugar, tee, coffee, molasses and hides. lie
can neither lower nor remove duties. lie
can only impose duties where none now ex.
lists. The great "sham" In this whole
seheme Of reciprocity is In the fact that | |,
is designed for the 5ene6t OF the few
while totally ignoring the great class OF
consumers OF our own country. Take the
treaty made with Spain as an example:
Many articles Of American manufacture
are admitted free of duty, or at less rates of
duty than formerly, into Cuba and Porto
Rico all Of which will be for the benefit of
the great mass Of the people Of these is
lands for the reason that these article will
be sold TO them cheaper than formerly,
but the American consumer will receive
no benefit from Il for every thing he has
to buy will ruic as high as though no
treaty had been made. Let US illustrate
Mr. Blaine says to the Brazillans, eve
want to take coal oil into your coun untry
free of duty because we are admitting your
coffee into our country tree" The con-
tract Is made. Who will be benef tied ?
The great mass of the people of Brazil be-
cause they will buy coal Gil cheaper and
the STANDARD Oil Company, the great mo-
Ropolistic Octopus of our land, viii be
benefited because its market will be en-
larged. But where Is the benefit for the
great masses of our county? There Is
none. Like the whole scheme of "pro-
tectionism" 1t is designed for the benefit of
the fe y at the expense of the many. The
DEMOCRAT has said before, and now re-
peats, that reciprocity Is GOOD II we can
get enough of It. Under the scheme
foreign nations are expected to reduce du-
ties and place on the free list many arii
cles which we export to those countries.
This viii largely beneGt the consumers of
these foreign countries, but our own con-
Sumers receive no benefit because there Is
nc corresponding reduction ami placing
on the free list articles imported from
those foreign countries into our own.
The practical workings OF this scheme is
to benefit the great mass Of consumers of
foreign countries and A few mAnufactur-
ers of our own. Foi this rea1on the
scheme is "sham -