Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-12-24

tAuAshH1s piidb lCsluGHb lldITlSOu has
actually decided to use the reciprocity
club the Fifty-ilrst Congress placed in
his hands, and that he has already pre-
pared proclamation reimposing the
duties on sugar, molasses, tea and coffee
imported from countries which have not
entered into reciprocal commercial rela-
tons with the United States--excep-
tons to be made with regard TO Chill
and Argentina in consideration of the
unsettled condition Of those countries.
For some reason the President, accord
ing to this report, has seen fit to omit
hides from hls proclamation; possibly
because we import so many of
lhem from the exempted republic of
Argentina. The Shoe and Leather Re-
poftcr, however, expresses apprehension
lest hides may yet be included. 1t is
easy to sec that if it were possible for
President Harrison to reimpose the
tax on hides, and keep it
there, such action would bring
about the ruination of the boot
and shoe trade of New England. Free
hides have been tremendous object
lesson in the use of free raw material
which the protectionists at large would
gladly get rid of, if they could do so with
out swapping their party. Since hides
were placed on the free list, on August
LIST, 1879, American manufacturers have
built up an export trade Of SIS 100000
per year; demonstrating conclusiyely
their ability to cut into the free trade
markets of the world as soon as they
We're given afair chance to do so. The pre-
sumption that they could do the same
thingiln other lines,of manufacture, ii
given the same boon of free raw ma
terials, has been thrust SO prominently
in the foreground by this $l5,000,000
export trade as to make it a stumbling
block which the tax-everything men
find it hard TO get over. With respect to
the imports embraced in the Presidents
forthcoming proclamation, the duties to
be thus reimposed.by the President, act
ing under the directions of section 3, Of
The Mckinley act, which specifically
provides that "he shall have the power
and il shall be his duty" to do this, are
On refined sugars, two cents a pound;
on molasses, four cents gallon; on
coffee, three cents pound; on tea, ten
cents pound. The Presidents power 10
thus rctax articles of commerce is Of
very doubtful constitutionality, but if
ne really has decided to exercise it, we
shall soon be favored with some new
and convincing illustrations Of how the
foreigner does not pay the duty. 1t will
take q great deal Of courage on the part
Of President Harrison--more than he
has been given credit for--to whack lis
party out Of sight with this reciprocity
club at 9 time when he IS himself ia Tie
Held for denomination; but he may have
made up his mind that the surest wayto
SCI there Il TO undermine tile PRESTIGE IF
blaine by making as odious as pos.
slhle thai particular provision Of the
Mckinley bill which the Secretary Of
State forced through the Reed Congress.
----------s------l--
The finding Of the Chilian court Of
inquiry into the attack upon the
American sailors from the war-ship
Baltimore, which we reprint from the
New York Herahi--a paper which We
again take occasion to say has led the
world in Gillian news from the yery
beginning Of the revolt against l,alma-
ceda-comes at an opportune time. This
investigation, which appears to have
been fairly conducted, goes far to ab.
solve the police Of Valparaiso from com.
plicity in the attack upon the American
sailors. It tends to show that the assail-
ants were made up Of just such dis
orderly rowdies as are to be found in ali
largo cities and who were unusually ram
pant IN Valparaiso at the time when, BY
reason Of the disturbed and necessarily
chaotic condition following civil war.
they were temporarily emancipated ID
some degree from tie surveillance and
restraint which should be maintained
under ordinary conditions. While too
much allowance Will not be urged for
this relaxation Of authority, yetit ii en-
titled e be regarded as palliating the
responsibility Of the CHILEAN authorities
n the premises. The court h4s ob-
tanned evidence warrantng it III holding
four q the rioters for trial, and they
viii doubtless be brought to justice,
and, il their gailt be proved, to exen-
plary punishment. This is an earnest
that Tie strained relations between both
nations will be satisfactorily adjusted
without . resort to hostiIities.
The death Of senator Plumb 81
Kansas, which occurred At Washington,