Grand Rapids herald., 1892-09-06
,mmsrcial crusade Of the Uni,ed

States"
Foreign Powers Recognize the Bonefs.
At meeting held Ia March last OF
the associated chambers OF commerce
OF Great Britain, the presidents report
ed that the exports from Great Britain
10 the Latin-Amerlcan countries during
tue last year had decreased s23, 100, 900
and that this Was not due 10 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 ap-
peared IN the battle Of the markets, and
has already secured important ad-
vantages. The most convincing eyi-
dence 4 the tremendous commercial
strength OF our position Is found IN the
fact that Great Britain and Spain have
found II necessary 10 make fecI-
piOcal trade agreements with us.
for their West India colonies and
that Germany and Austria have given
us important concessions IN exchange
for the continued free importation of
their beet sugar. A few details only rs
10 the increase of our trade can be gwen
here. Taxing all the countries with
which such arrangements have been
made, our trade 10 June 80. 1892, had
increased 1918 per cent. With Brazil
the increase was nearly IL per cent,
with Cuba during the first ten months,
our exports increased S5,702, 1913, or
54.S6 per cent; and with Porto Rico
$3.50, ,959. or 81 per cent. The LIBERAL
participation of our farmers IN the ben
etits of this policy s shown by the fol-
lowing report of July 26. last.
It's Eject on Export. and Imports.
"During the first half of the year OF
1891, Havana received l40.056 bags of
flour from Spain, and other ports of
the island about an equal amount, or
approximately 2S0,ll2 bags. During
the same period Havana received 49,
$40 bags of American flour and other
ports about an equal amount, making
about %, 600 bags; but for the first half
of this year Spain has sent less than l.
eco bags to the whole island. and the
United States has sent 10 Havana alone
l6s, ,4S7 bags, and about an equal
amount TO other ports of the island,
making approximately 337 600 for the
first half of 1892" Partly by reason of
the reciprocal trade agreement, but
more largely by reason of the removal
of the sanitary restrictions upon Amer
lcan pork, our exports of pork products
to Germany increased during the ten
months ending June so last, 81 OPS ,074,
or about 80 per cent.
The British Trade Journal of Lon
don, IN recent issue, speaking of the
increase of American corporations and
of the falling off of the English ex-
ports to Cuba, says: at IS another
case of American competition. The
United States now supplys Cuba with
about $50 900 tons OF coal annually and
there Is every prospect of this trade IN
creaslng as the forests of the island be-
come exhausted and the use of steam
machinery on the sugar estates is de-
veloped. Alabama coal especially is
securing a reputation IN the Spanish
West Indias; and the river and rail im-
provements OF the southern states will
undoubtedly create an important gulf
trade. By the new reciprocity policy,
the United States is enabled to import
Cubans sugar, and Will assist the Amer
lean coal exporter even more effectively
than the new lines of railways.
Reciprocity No sham.
"Tne democratic platform promises
a repeal of the tariff law conta! !nlng
that provision and especially de-
nounccs as sham reciprocity that
section of the law under which the
trade arrangements have been made.
If no other issue were involved IN the
campaign this alone would give il mo-
me ntOus importance. Are we to have
not hing in exchange for the free I'M
portation of sugar and coffee, and at
the same time to destroy the sugar
planters of the south and the beet
sugar ind ustry of the northwest and of
the Pacific coast? Or are we to have
the taxed sugar and coffee, which a
tariff for revenue only necessarily in
wolves, with the added loss OF the new
markets which have been opened? As
| have shown our commercial rivals IN
Europe do not regard this rec. .procity
policy as "sham," but as serious
threat to a trade supremacy they have
long enjoyed. They would rejoice, and
# prudence did not restrain, would
illuminate their depressed manufactur-
ing cities over the news that the
United States had abandoned this sys-
tenn of protection and reciprocity.
They see very clearly that n restriction
of American production and trade ana
a corresponding increase Of European
production and trade would follow.
And | will not belle that what Is so
plain to them can be hidden from our
own people.