Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-09-08
Reciprocity Does Wonders.

Another related measure is the re-
ciprocity policy declared by an act Of
1890 and now in practical operation
with five nations.
The removal of the duty on sugar
and the continuance of coffee and tea
on the free list, while giving great re-
lief to our own people, is also Of enOr-
II Gus advantage to the countries eX-
porting these articles. Great credit
is due Mr.. Blaine for the vigor with
which lie presented this view. The
work Of creating new agencies and
adapting our goods to new markets
has necessarily taken time, but the re-
suits already attained are such, l am
sure, rs to establish in popular favor
the policy of reciprocal trade based up
on the free imports ton of such articles
as do not injurioUsly compete with our
products, in exchange for the free or
favored introduction of our products
into other countries.
The obvious efficacy Of this policy
at once attracted the alarmed attention
Of European journals and boards of
trade. The British board of trade pro-
posed that the government issue a
memorial asking for the appointment
of 4 commission to consider the best
means of counteracting the commercial
crusade of the United States.
At a meeting of the associated cham
bers of commerce of Great Britain. in
March, it was reported that the exports
from Great Britain to Latin-America
during the past year had decreased
$23,750,0OO, and this is due directly
to the reciprocity policy Of the United
States, Germany and France also
showed their startled appreciation
of the fact that a rev and vigorous
contestant had appeared in the battles
Of the markets. The most convincing
evidence of the tremendous CONNER
cial strength of our position is found in
the fact that Great Britain and Spain
found l. necessary to make reciprG}cc:n.ll
agreements with us fGH their West In
! dian colonies and Germany and Austria
! have given us important concessions
in exchange for the continued free inn
pOrtation of their beet sugar product.
| Taking all the cOuntTiesc with which
| arrangements have been made our
| trade to June 30, 1892, had increased
1913 per cent.
The liberal participation of our far
mers in the bebetits of this policy is
| shown by report from the consul
! general at Havana, July %, stating
! that during the first half year of 1891
! the Cuban ports received from SpaiI
approximately 100000 bags of flour
! During the same period about twenty
| eight thousand bags of American fiOm
| were received. But for the first half Of
this year. Spain sent less than on,
thousand bags to the whole island anC
the United States about 337. 900 bags.
Partly by reason of reciprocal trade ar
engagements. but largely by reason o
Il removal of sanitary restrictions on
export of pork products to German!
increased during the ten months endet
June 80 last, S2,025,O OLA or about thirty
two per cent.
The president also quotes from
British trade journal. of London, speak
ing of the increase of American and tn
| fal1nS OH OF English coal exports Z
Cuba
The democratic platform promises
repeal of the tariff law containing thi
: provision and especially denounces as
sham that section of the law unde
| which these arrangements have bee
, made Are farmers willing to surrer
{ der these new. large and increasin
: markets? Are we to have nothing i
5 exchange for the free importation Q
5 sugar and coffee and at the same tim
destroy the sugar planters of the sout
/ and the beet sugar industry of tn
I northwest and the Pacific coast? c
are we to have taxed sugar and coffee
: which tariff for revenue only nece
2 saIily involves, with the added loss {
u | now markets?