The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-18
Recinrocitr rnr Farmers.

nave heretofore called attention TO
the fact that Mr.. BLAINE's project of rec
iprocity with Spanish America was a
shrewd scheme to benefit American man.
ufacturers and leave the agricultural por-
ton of the country to bear the entire
burden of tariff taxation. The political
aim OF the scheme is to separate the tariff
reformers Of the manufacturing states from
those of the agricultural states, and so
break down the tariff reform movement.
Spanish America is chiefly agricultural,
and can never consume any large portion
OF our agricultural products. The people
OF tropical regions do not eat the same
sort of food as those of the temperate zone,
and they raise the greater part of what
they do eat. Nature has provided that
what is necessary to sustain life in any
climate can be produced in that eli
mate. An Esquimau could not live on
our agricultural products any more than
we could live on whale blubber. The in
terchange of goods between countries OF
different climates is necessarily chiefly
confined to luxuries, medicines, and the
like. Our chief customers for agricultural
products must be found in the temperate
zone-in the crowded nations OF Europe
As reciprocity with Brazil has been pro-
claimed and the republican press is filled
with praises of its probable benefits it
will be interesting to note IN what manner
il will affect agriculture and in what man
ner affect manufacture. The latest de-
tailed statement OF Brazilian trade is in
the annual report of our consul-general
at Rio Janerio for 1887. From his state
ment IL will be seen that only three OF the
important articles Of import can be c!assed
as agricultural imports, and rs 10 these
We make the following extracts:
Batte-WeiVht, 2,36l $50 pounds; of
fetal value, SjG3,641. The greater part
comes from France. OF the 52.64l cases
imported last year, 5000 came from that
country. The price OF the best French
butter varied from 52t 10 62f cents per
pound. The quantity Of American butter
consumed here ought 10 be larger than it
now Is.
Lord-Weight, >, llG, 26O pounds official
value, ~2g6.5ll. This article comes FROM
the United states. In some wears, how
ever, small quantities ara imported from
other countries. The principal competitor
OF the American lard is the Brazilian
article, which. since 1879, has caused
considerable decrease ia the importation
from the nited states. When American
lard is cheap II is preferred 10 the Brazil
ian article. and also substitutes 10 GER
tain extent tDucfihO, or salt pork, OF this
country, which is much used in seasoning
food. The recorded receipts OF Brazilian
la IN =
were 2,i21. 400 pounds. and those of
tOvcinho 7,46l .2o+ pounds.
F,our--425. 1913 barrels; official value,
- ,7O5, ISL. The greater part (3O7 $50 bar
Tolsl cores from tho United States As
the Brazihans consume comparatively lit
tie bread, the growth Of the flour trade
must necessarily bo slow. unless the price
can be- greatly reduced lthe average was
$40 10 SS.7 per barrel or unless con
sumption should be- stimulated by large
influx of bread-consuming immigrants.
Cut OF 90 per cent OF the total lmporta.
ton these three were the only agricultural
articles considered worth mentioning, and
80 far IA our export trade II concerned
butter and lard might loo more fairly
classed ~ manufactures N IL evident,
however, that our chances OF an increase
in trade are much better ON butter aud
lard than on -four, and how has MIR.
BLAINE arranged TO stimulate trade in
these articles Tho reciprocity treaty
provides that flour from the United States
shall go IN free. but lard and butter shall
have n reduction OF % per cent only.
There IL not the slightest probability that
our exports In these articles will be- i'm
crcused 90 per cent. On the other hand
We open our ports 10 Brazilian sugar and
tobacco, both OF which are exported la
large quantities. Tho beet-root sugar indus
try may therefore prepare TO retire 10 the
Oblivion which IL was fast reaching with
out any reciprocity, and the cane sugar
industry OF the South will do like
wise. The Louisiana planters will raise
corn and hogs instead OF buying them
from tho northern states, and the final
loss will fall on the great farming country
Of the northern Mississippi valley. Mean
while our exports OF manufactures 10 Bra
III will increase ten or fifteen millions,
and our imports Of raw material for man
uiacturcs will also grow rapidly. There
will probably be some farmers who will
cheer for reciprocity in 1892 AZ loudly as
they did for protection in lSsS-not 80
many, however.