Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-09-14
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER IA. 1892
Mr. Rlaine,s Reciprocity.

In commenting upon Mr.. HARRIsos's late
letter accepting the Republican nomins-
ton for President of the United States.
the DISPATCH said;
"Reciprocity receives much attention from
Mr. Harrison. lie really seems 10 be unable 70
perceive that reciprocity ia only modified form
OF the Democratic doctrine Of q tariff for reye-
nue."
The Spirit Of 0e Vdney. Republican
paper, takes us 10 task on this subject-as
follows,
show In the name Of common-sense reciproci-
ty can be % modified form OF the Democratic
doctrine Of q tariff for revenue passes the COM
prehension OF the ordinary man. That II might
be ited-and very much modbed-form
OF Democratic free trade might be argued with
some show Of pIausibilty. But how policy,
which places imported articles upon the free last
where no revenue can be derived from them),
for the free admission IN return OF articles ex-
ported from this country into the countries with
which we have these reciprocal agreements, can
be a tarifffor revenue Is not easily demonstrated.
And again, II reciprocity is good Democratic doc
irine, why did the Democrats In national con-
vention pass a resolution condemning III"
The Democrats in national convention
assembled denounced sham reciprocity.
Their language Is as follows:
Section L. Trade interchange on the basis OF
reciprocal advantages 20 the countries partici-
pating is a time-hOnored doctrine of the Demo
cratic fsith, but We denounce the sham reci-
procity whish !ugxiss with the peoples desire
for enlarged foreign markets and freer ex-
changes by pretending 70 establish closer trade
relations for n country whose articles OF export
are almost exclusively agricultural products
with other countries that are also agricultural.
while erecting custom-house barrier Of pro-
hbitive tariff taxes against the richest countries
q the world. that stand ready 70 take our entire
surplus Of products and to exchange therefor
commodities which are necessaries and comforts
Of lite among our own people"
Mr.. BLANE's reciprocity is pretty clearly
shown up in that paragraph. What Is
reciprocity? 1t is reciprocal trade be-
tween two or more countries which bene-
fits both countries or ell the parties to it.
Otherwise il would not be reciprocal trade.
The Democratic platform declares that
our country exports almost exclusively
agricultural products. and therefore ought
10 have reciprocal commerce rather with
non-agricultural than with agricultural
countries. Again: II reciprocal trade is
beneficial as between the United States
and Mexico. why would it not be much
better as between the United States and
Great Britain? A tariff for revenue levies
customs-duties in the interest of the peo-
pie, and thus provides for real reciprocity.
A tariff prohibiting the importation of
foreign articles Is queer sort of reciprocal
tariff.
The Spirit says In effect that Mr.. BLAINE
humbugged the countries with which he
established reciprocity. Don't think that
we misunderstood that paper. Here are
its own words:
aNr. Blaine shows that reciprocity
Is not intended TO interfere and did not interfere
with protection upon The articles upon which II
was our policy to place protective duties, but
that its sole aim was to require some substan-
tial returns for the free admission OF articles
which we we're going TO place upon the free list
anyhow"
Well, that Ia reciprocity with ven-
geance. Mr.. BLAINE agreed TO admit free
into this country a number of articles
rhieh he ,cas going 10 ptR upon the free list any
ho,u! "How in the name of common
sensen our Republican friends can call
MIR. BLA1sE's game of Heads / win. tails
YOU lose," game of reciprocity" we
cannot understand. When the Democrats
levy tariff for revenue. they levy tariff
for revenue with incidental protection.
Reciprocal trade is Democraticr reciprocity.
We quote the Spirit again;
"what would have been the result TO the
United states n every article put on the free list
had been made the subject OF inquiry to see
what we could get in exchange for 1T We omit
ted 10 do 20 for many years, and that neglect
has cost the government advantages In trade
which would have amounted to tens OF millions
of dollars"
In other words, IL the reciprocal tsriff
which the Democrats favor had been in
operation oil this time, reciprocal trade
would have brought to this country tens
Of millions of dollars.