New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-09
RECIPROCITY A GREAT ISSUE.

The President in his letter of acceptance mas
devoted as much attention to Reciprocity as to
Protection and has paid a high tribute to Mr..
Blaine for his eminent services III advocating
that great policy. The two questions are llnhed
together in the Republican National PLATFORM
as National issues of coordinate importance
This is logical, not merely because the Mckinney
act is the basis for Reciprocity, but also Dc
cause the two policies are inherently honio-
gcneous The American Protective system Is
based upon the levying OF duties upon Wha'
injuriously completes with the products OF our
farms, mines, quarries and factories IL re-
moves. on the other hand, so far as possible
all restrictions upon the importation OF wha'
Is not produced in this country. Republican
Reciprocity is wholly in line with these cardinal
principles. 1t is grounded, as the President
clearly demonstrates, upon the free importa-
ton of non competing products IN exchange lor
the free or favored introduction OF our exports
into foreign countries. 1t does not involve the
sacrifice of protected industries on either side
For mutual advantage duties which are sources
of revenue only are either repealed or relaxed
on either hand. Reciprocity in competing
nroducts is very different thing from Eng
lsh Free Trade. 1t embodies the fundamental
principles of Protective legislation.
The Presidents luminous exposition OF Reel
procity, after full discussion of the benefits
conferred upon the export trade and OF the
apprehension which has been excited abroad
by the Administrations diplomatic successes,
laws bare the destructive tendencies of Demo-
cratic poicy. "If no othor ISSUE" he says,
"were involved in the campaign, this alone
would give it momentOus Importance" Inc
yehemence with which the Democratic leaders
at Chicago and in Congress have denounced
Reciprocity as a sham, and have demanded the
repeal of the Mckinley act and the Aldrlch
clause. iustiGes the President in warning ex-
porters, and especially farmers that under
low-tariff Administration they will lose the new
markets opened for their surplus products. Mr..
Watterson has blured out the cold truth in
these sentences "Just as soon as the Demo
Gratis get the power they will wipe out the
atrocious Republican sugar bounty system and
restore the sugar duties. Instead OF paying
millions Of bounty out OF the Treasury to the
surar-planters. we will re-establsh revenue
tariff on sugar yielding annually about $780,
900 600 to the Treasury" The restoration of
the sugar duties involves necessarily the aban-
donment of the Reciprocity treaties. Nothing
would excite greater joy in England.
Mr.. Blaine in his vigorous letter on the chief
Republican issues reduces Reciprocity to its
simplest terms 1t is matter of international
barter. There are revenue duties which do not
protect home industries, but simply increase the
cost of n0n-competing products to American
consumers Before repeating these duties I'M
condtionally the Republican Administration has
been enabled to find out what could be had in
exchange for the free market. That is, in MIR.
Blaincs Judgment, the whole of the Reciprocity
scheme. at secures valuable trade in ex-
change for articles otherwise destined to be
put on the free list" Instead of giving away
the free market and getting nothing forsit the
Republican Administration has negotiated
series of Reciprocity conventions of the great
est benefit to American farmers and exporters.
This is not the Democratic policy. That is
purely English, and involves giving away mar
kets for competing products and, as Lord Sails
bury has confessed, getting nothing in return.