The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1892-09-14

ing out of New York for any European
port. This contract will result in the co..
struction in American yards OF four new
passenger steamships OF lO,0OO tons eacll,
costing about 1900, 600, and will add to
our naval reserve six steam ships-the
fastest upon the sea.
A special interest hns been taken by me
In the establishment of lines from our
South Atlantic and gulf ports, and, though
my expectations have not yet been realized,
attention has been called To the advantages
possessed by these reports and, when Their
people are more fully alive to their inter
ests, do not doubt that they will be able
20 secure the capital needed to enable them
TO profit by their great natural advantages.
The Democratic party has found no place
in it's platform for any reference TO this
subject, and has shown its hostility TO
the general policy by refusing TO expend
an appropriation, made during the last all
ministration for ocean mail contracts with
American lines.
The patriotic people, the workmen in our
shops the capitalists seeking new enter
prises must decide whether the great
ships owned by Americans which have
sought American registry, shall again
humbly ask place in the English naval
reserve; the great ships now on the design
er's tables to go to foreign shipyards for
construction, and the United states lose
the now Frightening opportunity OF recov-
ering a place commensurate with It's
wealth. the skill Of its constructors and
the courage OF its sailors, in the carrying
trade of all the syas.
Another related measure, as furni shing
an increased ocean traffic for our ships,
and Of great and permanent benefit to the
farmers and manufacturers as well, Ia
The Reciprocity Policy
declared by Section of the tariff act Of
1890 and now in practical operation with
five of the nations of Central and South
America, San Domingo the Spanish and
British West India islands, and with Ger
many and Austria, under special trade ar
rangements with each.
The removal of the duty on sugar and
1.-The continuance of coffee and tea upon the
free list, while giving great relief to our
own people by cheapening articles used in
creasingly in every household, was also of
such enormous advantage to the countries
exporting these articles as to suggest that
In consideration thereof reciprocal factors
should be shown in their tariffs to articles
exported by us to their markets Great
credit il due to Mr. Blaine for the vigor
with which he pressed this view upon the
country.
We have only begun to realize the bene-
fit of these trade arrangements. The work
OF creating new agencies and of adapting
our goods to new markets has necessarily
taken time, but the results already at
tanned are such, i am sure as to establish
in popular favor the policy Of reciprocal
trade, based upon the free Importation Of
such articles as do not injuriously com
pete with the products of our own farms,
mines or factories, In exchange for the
free or favored introduction of our prod
ucts into other countries.
The obvious efficacy Of this policy In in
creasing the foreign trade of the United
States at once attracted the alarmed atten-
ton of European trade journals and boards
of trade The British board of trade has
presented to that government a memor-
ial asking for the appointment Of a com
mission to consider the best means of coun-
teracting what is called 1.-THE commercial
crusade of the United States"
At a meeting held in March last of the
associated chambers of commerce of Great
Britain the president reported that the eX-
ports from Great Britain TO the Latin
American countries during the last year
due to temporary causes, but directly to
the reciprocity policy of the United States
Germany and France have also shown
their startled appreciation OF the fact that
new and vigorous contestant has APP
peared in the battle of the markets, and
has already secured important advantages
The most convincing evidence Of the ire
mendous commercial strength of our posi-
ton is found in the fact that Great Britain
and Spain have found ii necessary TO make
reciprocal trade agreements with us for
their West lndin colonies and that Ger
many and Austria have given us import
ant concessions In exchange for the contin-
ued free importation of their beet sugar
A few details only as TO the increase Of
our trade can be given here. Taking all
the countrie" with which arrangements
have been male, our trade to June 80, 1892
had increased 23 ~ per cent.-with Brazil
the increase " nearly II per cent; with
Cuba, during he first ten months, our eX-
ports increa 81, 702, 1893 or 81 SO, and with
Porto Rico. $DO.509 or "a per cent. The
liberal partir patton of our farmers in the
benefits of this policy is shown by the fol-
lowing report from our consul general at
Havana, under date of July ~ last:
During the first half year Of 1891 Havana
received l40,N6 bags of -four from Spain,
and other ports Of the island about an
equal amount, or approximately $50, l12
higs. During the saiue period Havana re-
ceived 1890 bags of American flour, and
other ports approximately an equal
amount, making about $500 bags. But
for the first half of this year Spain has sent
less than 900 bags to the whole island,
and the United States has sent to Havana
alone l6S,4S7 bags, and about m equal
amount to other ports Of the island, max,
ing approximately 337 900 for the first half
Partly by 'ason of the reciprocal trade
agreement, ! = more largely by reason of
the removal of the sanitary restrictions
upon American pork, our export Of pork
products to Germany increased during the
ten months ending June 80 last, 81 OBS, 074,
or about 90 per cent
The BritiFN Trade journal of London, In
q recent issLG, speaking of the increase of
American coal exports and OF the falling
of Of the English coal exports of Cuba,
says.
I'uitn1 SfafaC ms I'm
with about 10000 tons of coal annually,
and there is every prospect of this trade in
creasing as the forests of the island become
exhausted 4 the use of steam machinery
on the sugar estates Is developed. Ala
| bama coal, especially, IL securing reputa-
river and rail Improvements OF the south
| ern states will undoubtedly create an i'm
portant gulf trade. The new reciprocity
| policy by which the United States are en-
abled TO import Cuban sugar will, OF
course, assist the American coal exporters
even more effectively than the new lines o.
railway"
The Democratic platform promises re
peal of
The Tariff Law
containing this provision, and especially
denounces as sham that section of the
law under which these trade arrangement!
| have been made IL no other issue wer,
involved in the campaign, this alon'
would give II Importance.
Are the farmers Of the great grain-grow
| ing states willing TO surrender these now
large and increasing markets for theil
surplusS IRE we tC have nothing in ex
change for the free importation of sugar
and coffee, ard at the same time to destroy
the sugar planters Of the south and the
beet sugar industry of the northwest and
of the Pacific coast, or are we to have the
taxed sugar and coffee, which tariff for
revenue only" necessarily involves, with
the added loss of the new markets which