Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1891-04-17
WHERE 1T PINCHES.

Pioneer Press: One needs to get
at the foreign point of view to appre-
ciate the convincing power of the pol
icy Of reciprocity Of which this coun-
try is now beginning to make trial
Politicians here like to pooh-pooh it,
as an instrument shorn of its eff
cheney. We have already taken off
the sugar duties, they say, and what
need any country that sends sugar
here care whether it gives US CORE
spending advantages or not? The
fact is that those countries look at the
matter very seriously. They know
that the power exists to re-impose
these duties where reciprocal conces-
sions are denied to US, and it is very
important possibility to them. Here
is the Daily Cleaner, for example,
published at Kingston, Jamaica,
which admits that the reciprocity
question is giving the people of the
West Indies some very uneasy mo-
ments. 1t notes the increase in pop
ulation in the United States at the
rate Of million year. Where, it
asks, could the people of Jamaica find
another such market if this we're to be
closed to them? They can sell tropi-
cal products only to the people of
northern climates. Should, then,
any circumstance occur to cause the
markets of the United States to be-
come practically closed TO us, we have
only the dominion of Canada to resort
to, and could n trade with our sister
colony compensate us for the loes
named?"
This is the problem on which all
the restrictionist countries are now
bordering. And it is exceedingly in
teresting to notice that their only
hope of salvation lies in the defeat of
the Republican party at the next
election, and the reversal of its policy
by Democratic success. Without this
the countries to the south Of US can
find no escape from trade concessions.
The Cleaner admits that if the United |
States were to put retaliatory duty
on fruits, sugar and coffee it would
mean absolute ruin to the trade of
the other American nations. They
would be compelled to purchase re-
mission by granting to us free admis-
sion to their markets. This is where
the policy Of reciprocity is something
more than mere passive opportuni-
ty. It becomes an active and COM
polling force. 1t is policy that
holds the key to the future. The
market afforded by the United States
is the most to be desired on earth.
This great nation, with its millions of
people, accustomed to high standard
Of comfort, and liberal purchasers
from abroad, is mighty industrial
fair TO which entrance may we'll be
purchased by fee. When its advan-
tages are offered in exchange for re-
,iprocal concessions, and when denisl
If them is threatened to illiberality,l
the nations that trade with us are
forced to choose. We have given
'omething for nothing long enough.
We have taken the surplus products Of
;heso peoples, for their croft, while
hey have gone elsewhere to buy, and
Kept our products by tariff practi-
,ally prohibitory. The offer OF reci-
:rocity is a fair one, and it is an ulti-
uatum. Whether as a means Of Sc.
curing fair play or as a method Of in
;reasing our. foreign trade, the recip-
ocity policy is au admirable one.
With it in the forefront, the hope Of
he peoples who would like to continue
o sell to us,while refusing Us entrance
0 their markets -the hope Of escape
y Democratic success and the estab- !,
Of absolute free trade is des-.
med to cruel appointment.