The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-10-01


those in the duties upon iron and steel.
This reduction was very general
throughout this class Of manufactures,
amounting to nine per cent OF the duty
upon sheet iron, twenty per cent on
common nails, from elk to thirty-three
Der cent on steel rails, and so on. This,
however, involves no abandonment oil
protective principles. For several years
our output OF iron and steel has fallen
little short OF the English product, and
finally America has taken the lead.
This gives one reason for believing that
our iron industries can stand consldera-
bic competition. A second consideration
ia tho coniessedly great resources OF
America in this line. Finally, these
goods are so heavy that transportation
charges form an important addition to
the cost OF foreign wares.
Why, then, you ask, IS any tariff
necessary? We reply that, great Gs are
our advantages in this field, there is yet
no reason to suppose them rs great,
relatively, us in agriculture. So that,
By the very convenient law Of com
mcrcc formulated by free traders, We
cannot regard the perpetuity OF our
iron industries as yet assured without
continued protection. In the second
place, even were it possible for this
business to flourish under free trade,
the Mckinley bill deserves credit for
not abolishing the tariff oil at once. Tho
most unconditional advocates OF free
trade admit that changes in commercial
regulations must be introduced slowly.
Trade is worry sensitive to disturbing
clements, and widespread ruin may fol-
low in the wake OF the most promising
reform, if urged on too fast.
Tho extension OF the FREQ list needs
little comment. Sugar raising IN the
Uritod States has been too little sue
cessful to justify taxing The whole
country longer to protect this interest.
Othernrticles OF small account severally,
but amounting to considerable colIec-
lively, were also added to the free list.
Among these arc found jute, s!sai grass,
tar, turpentinc, and 80 on.
The allowance oil drawbacks is an IN
teresting feature OF the bill. Free
traders arc wont to enlarge upon the
injury done to our manufacturing in
tercsLs by the duties on raw materials.
The manufacturers arc handicapped,
they say, in the contest for foreign
trade by these duties, This provision
seeks to remove this impeachment by re-
turning the duties paid on raw materials
which arc manufactured and reshipped
TO foreign parts. This ought to afford
relief to the free trade hosts, but does
not seem to do 50.
Tho bounties on sugar are Intended
to insure the southern planter against
loss from the sudden removal OF tariff.
1t is not to be eternal, however, but will
cease to be paid alter 1905. There is
some prospect that the bounty will also
give an impetus to the best sugar indus.
Try. The employment OF improper
methods of cultivation has been the
reason for past failure, SO 1t is said.
The University OF Nebraska has been
conducting extensive experiments to
determine the best conditions OF beet
raising in that state. The result shows
that larger yield OF beets to tho acre
can be secured in that state than in Ger
many, and the beets contain larger
per cent OF saccharine matter. The
United Suites may yet be able to supply
itself with homegrown bects sugar,
though it has failed with the cane.
RECIPROCITY.
The reciprocity section has been per
gisiently misunderstood. Democratic
organs for the diffusion OF information
(?) among the masses have found here
evidence that protectionists do really
recognize the beneicience OF free trade.
But, they urge, il little free trade is
n good thing, why not more OF it? The
fact is, there is not the remotest hint OF
mn extension OF the free list in the re-
ciprocity section OF the Mckinley bill.
There arc certain articles which the
United States does not aud cannot pro-
duce in quantities sufficient for home
consumption. Such articles, in accord
ance with the policy OF protection, are
now admitted free OF duty. But while
the interests of our own country are
best subserved in this way, no less
advantage accrues TO the countries pro-
ducing these articles. These countries
imposed high duties upon our goods
many OF them discriminating against
American wares ne compared with those
OF other foreign countries. Such stu
alton suggested that it would only
be an act OF becoming courtesy ii
these nations should reciprocate our
iayors by similar concessions. 1t was
evident, however, that nothing OF the
kind would result from the native emo
tions OF gratitude Of those benefited.
So tho reciprocity section was proposed
as mild way OF compelling what would
not be granted voluntarily AS finally
passed, it authorizes the president ito
suspend the provisions OF this act relat-
ing to the free introduction OF such SUI
gar, molasses, coffee, ten and hides" rs
may be shipped here from countries lees
liberal in their policy towards us than
ure VIC toward them. This section,
then, instead Of being a breach of the
high wall OF protection, is simply pro-
vision for throwing out few additional
buttrcsses in case the illiberality OF
other countries requires it. The oXten-
siun OF tho frec.list greatly relieves the
consumers-by reciprocity an attempt
10 made to benefit the producers at the
same time. To use n familiar phrase, 1t
ia only an attempt-ever dear to the
genuine Yankee-to skill twobirds with
one stone" He who frameth words to
tho purport that reciprocity is a step in
the direction OF free trade simply utter
eth speech out OF tho abundance OF his
ignorance or perversity.
do not affirm that condition OF
practical free trade between two coun-
tries might not be appropriately styled
reciprocity; merely insist that the
reciprocity Of tho Mckinley bill is not
OF this character.
But m honest objection may be