The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-09-16

u
ton OF such articles as do not iniuriously com
/ pete with the products Of our own farms, mines
| or factories in exchange for the free or favored
| introduction of our products into other coun-
| tries.
The obvious efficacy of this policy in increas-
| ing the foreign trade of the United States at
once attracted the alarmed attention OF Euro
pean trade journals and boards OF trade The
British board OF trade has presented to that
government q memorial asking for the ap'
pointment of a commission TO consider
| the best means Of counteracting what Is
called The commercial crusade of the
United States" At meeting held in
March last of the Associated Chambers OF
Commerce OF Great Britain, the president re-
ported that the exports from Great Britain to
the Latin American countries during the last
year had decreased S23 80, 900 and that this was
not 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 ana
vigorous contestant has appeared in the battle
Of the markets and has already secured i'm
portant advantages.
The most convincing evidence OF the ire
mendous commercial strength OF our position
is found in the fact that Great Britain and
Spain have found ii necessary to make recipro-
cal trade agreements with us for their West
India colonies, and that Germany and Austria
have given US important concessions in ex-
change for the continued free importation Of
their best sugar.
\ few details only as TO the increase Of our
trade can be given hero. Taking all the coun-
tries with " hich arrangements have been made
our trade to June so 1872, had increased % 7S
per cent; with Brazil the increase was nearly
IL per cent: with Cuba during the first ten
months our exports increased So 702 I23 or 54s s.,
and with Porto Rico $500 500, or 81 per cent.
The liberal participation of our farmers in the
benefits Of this policy is shown By the follow
ing report from our consul general at Havana
under date OF July 2j last:
During the first half year Of 1891, Havana
received 10000 bags OF -four from Spain, and
other ports Of the island about an equal amount
or approximately 2S0,ll2 bags During the
same period Havana received 1896 bags of
American -four and other ports approximately
an equal amount, making about 2s,OO0 bags.
Blu; fer the first half OF this year, Spain has
sent less than 1000 bags to the. whole island.
and the United States has sent to Havana
alone los. 4s7 bags and about an equal amount to
other ports OF the island making approximately
$50 900 for the first half of 1892"
Partly by reason of the reciprocal trade
agreement but more largely BIZ reas on Of the
sanitary restrictions upon American pork our
export of pork products 20 Germany increased
during the ten months ended June II, last, s.
or, GA, or about 81 per cent a British trade
journal OF London in recent issue, speaking Of
the increase of American coal exports and OF
the falling of OF the English coal exports 10
Cuba. says:
II; is another case OF American competition
The United States now supplies Cuba with
about 10000 tons of coal annually, and there is
every prospect of the trade increasing as the
forests OF the island become exhausted and the
use OF steam machinery on the sugar estates is
developed. Alabama coal especially is securing
a reputation in the Spanish West Indies and
the railroad improvements OF the southern
states will undoubtedly create an important
trade. The reciprocity policy by which the
United States Is enabled to import Cuban sugar
will of course assist the American coal ex-
portess even more effectively than the new lines
OF railway.
What Democrats Propose.
The democratic platform promises repeal OF
the tariff law containing this provision and
especially denounces as sham the reciprocity
section Of the Law under which these trade ar
engagements have been made. II no other issue
we're involved in the campaign this alone would
give It Importance Are the farmers Of the
great grain growing states willing 10 surrender
these new large and increasing markets for
their surplusf Are we to have nothing In ex-
change for the free importation Of sugar and
coffee and at the same time 10 destroy
the sugar planters of the south and
the beet sugar industry of the northwest and
L
sugar and coffee which tariff for revenue
only necessarily involves with the added loss
| of the new markets which have been made as
| have shownf Our commercial rivals in
| Europe do not regard this reciprocity policy as
| sham, but serious threat to trade SUI
| premacy they hnRr long enjoyed They would
| rejoice-and if prudence did not restrain would
illuminate their depressed manufacturing cities
over the news that the United States had
abandoned its system of protection and reel
/ procity.
| They see very clearly that restriction o!
| American proiu and trade and a correspond
! ing increase of the European production and
trade would follow and will not believe that
what is so plain 10 them can be withheld from
| our own people.
The declaration OF the platform in favor o.
! 1.-THE American doctrine of protection" meets
my most hearty approval The convention die
not adopt schedule but principle that IS tC
control all tariff schedules. There may be diff
ferences OF opinion among protectionists as Il
the rates upon particular articles necessary
TO effect an equalization between wages
abroad and at home. In some moi
remote national campaigns the Is
sue has been said, or moro correctly. has beef
made to appear, 70 be between high and low
protective tarifi-both parties expressing som'
solicitous regard for the wages Of our working
people and for the prosperity OF our domestic
ership the democratic party has now practiC
ally declared that If given power, il will enac
a tariff law without any regard to its effect VI
on wages or the capital invested in our grea
industries The majority report Of the commit
tee on platform to the democratic national cor
, vention at Chicago contained this clause:
THAT when custom house taxation is levie
Z upon articles OF am kind produced in thi
country. the difference between the cost G
labor here and abroad, when such difference e2
, lists. fully measures any possible benefits
, labor and the enormous additional imposition
Of the existing tariff fall with crushing fore
upon our farmers snd worklngmen."
, Here we have q distinct admission OF the r
: publican contention that American workme
3 are advantaged BY tariff rate equal to ii
/ difference between home and foreign wage
: and declaration only against the alleged az
Q ditional ''impositions" Of the existing tart
e law.
D Again, this majority report further declared
I "But in making reduction in taxes il is NJ
q proposed 10 iniure any domestic industries, bl
I rather TO promote their healthy growth
= Moreover many industries have come 10 rel
. upon legislation for successful continuance,
Y that any change Of law must at every step be r
+ gardful Of the labor and capital thus involved
Here We have an admission that many OF OF
industries depend upon protective duties "fC
n | their successful continuance, and declaratic
I that tariff changes should be regardful OF II
l. workmen in such industries and OF the investe
5 capital. The overwhelming rejection Of the:
V propositions, which hal before received II
e sanction OF democratic national convention
Y was not more Indicative OF the new and mol
/ courageous leadership to which the party b;
l. now committed itself than the substitute whiC
o was adopted This substitute declares that pr
S tective duties are unconstitutional-high pr
J. lection, low p-otection-an unconstitutional
l. democratic congress holding this view cann
" enact nor a democratic president approve, ar
; tariff schedule, the purpose or effect OF which
3 TO limit importations or TO give any sdyantal
Il 10 our American workman or producer.
" bounty might judge, be given 10 the importe
,,raar This ,-ianr of The cons ifnfinn order