The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-29
M'KlNLEY BILL ANALYZED.
THE PRIZE ESSAY FROM THE COL
LEGES OF INDIANA.
Charles n. Leslie of Hanover the successfal
Contestant for Judge BaIdwins Liberal
PriEe-The Essay Powerful Dissertation
N Most Important subject.

Last February Judge D. p. Baldwin OF
Logansport offered prize OF 500 Tor the
best essay written by any student in
actual attendance, not less than two terms,
and member OF any Indiana college dur
ing the year 1891, upon the following sub
ject The Merits and Defects of the Nc
Kinley BILL"
Under the terms of the contest the
students of each college had their essays
passed upon by q committee of that college,
and from those submitted two were chosen
to be presented to the final judges, Who
were the professors OF political economy
at Harvard college. OF the judges of
award, Prof Taussig was chairman. This
committee of judges unanimously awarded
the prize to Charles NJ. Leslie of Hanover
college. None of the judges knew the
names or colleges of the contestants. Mr..
Leslie's essay was as follows:
The Mckinley tariff bill naturally d.
vides itself into three practically indie
pendent sections in order of Importance,
as folows-the protection clause, the
reciprocity clause and the bounty clause.
But before we examine the character
istic section of the bill we will discuss
briefly the reciprocity clause and the ar
ticle concerning the bounty on sugar.
We have one familiar and prominent
example in our past history We may do
well 10 notice in the hope that it may
throw some light on the operation and
effects of the present reciprocity treaties
In 1854 Lord Elgin negotiated treaty
with the United States securing free ex-
change between our country and Can
ada of the principal articles OF commerce
and a settlement OF the long disputed
fishery question. Now, what was the
effect of this Canadian reciprocity II
an increase in exchange, an increase in
the commerce between the two countries,
and a balance of trade in favor OF the
United States is advaD taReous, 1t was GER
tainly great stroke of policy for the in
terests of our country. From 1854 to 1866,
when the treaty was repealed, the value of
commerce increased from about 3 100000
to Sl39, 202,6l5, and throughout the entire
period the balance of trade was in favor
of the United States. The result of the
repeal is more than equally significant.
Instead of the balance being in favor of
the United States, there was so great
change that in 1873 there was balance
in favor OF Canada against the United
States OF Sd, S75.I00.
help but wonder why a measure securing
such advantages to our trade, widening
our commercial field, and quickening our
industries should be repealed in accord
ance to a special request of our govern
ment. But there is another side to the
question to be considered, another horn to
the diemma-the diplomatic controver-
sizes constantly involved in all reciprocity
treaties. During the twelve years of the
treaty, scarcely a twelvemonth was
free from some petty violation of its
provisions. Some local dispute almost
constantly claimed the attention of our
diplomats. Local collisions between the
fishermen. which, If not rising into impor-
lance, were often annoying and trouble
some. Tradesmen and fishermen are not
dipomatists, and as long as their disputes
and disagreements must be settled by our
foreign ministers, they are the cause of
constant chickering's and frictions between
| the representatives of the two nations.
1t was these troubles that proved fatal to
the Canadian treaty. and will lust as Ger
tainly defeat our present treaties.
The Reciprocity Treaties.
Under the provisions of the Mckinley
| bill treaties have been signed with several
of the southern powers OF the
western hemisphere to the et-
| feet in general that in return for the re-
moval of all duty on sugar. tea, coffee
molasses and hides our manufactured and
other articles will be admitted on like
| terms by those countries. The result of
/ these treaties is as might have been pre-
| dicted. Although il has been but little
more than half year since the treaty
was signed with Cuba, yet we are already
Involved in a diplomatic controversy.
| Why not abolish this constant cause of
| dispute and i'll feeling? Is it necessary
that we must pay such price for the free
| exchange of our respective wares? Re-
move the wall entirely, let nature take
I her course and we will have no more I'M
| friendly discussions and petty quarrels as
to the exact size and form of the breach
made by our reciprocity clauses.
But let us dismiss the diplomatic oh
! lection and consider reciprocity in its
actual workings. In what direction does
| it effect a change? What line of trade
| does il benefit? When we come to con-
slider the condition" closely we find that
we have advanced but little from the old
position. The advance is forward rather
| than in new direction. 1t is nothing
more or less than another protection for
the manufacturer. 1t is simply adding
protection TO protection. We now not
petitor, but by a special arrangement we
provide him with new market for his
wares in which he enjoys particular
privilege.
| 1t is not a market for our manufacturers
we stand in most need of. OF al our ex-
| ports more than 70 per cent. are agricult-
ural products. Our foreign trade must
! depend on the markets of those countries
that do not, and not on those that do,
produce these articles at home in sufficient
! quantities to supply their own wants. We
should enlarge all markets for all products
as far as practicable and not lock up our
agricultural products while opening wider
the channels for the export of manu-
features. The benefit to the farmer of
free trade with southern agricultural
countries is practically nothing II rec
| iprocity is beneficial with one country
and in some articles, there is no reason
why it should not be profitable in all ar
ticles ana with all countries, especially
with those that can and are anxious to
consume our surplus agricultural products.
The interest OF the manufacturer is be-
yond question southwark, while that of
the agriculturist points eastward to the
crowded populations of Europe.
| Under the provisions of the present