The Forrest City times., 1892-03-04
DEMOCRATIC MATTERS.
TRUE RECIPROCITY.

v at Washington to make as much party capital as possible out of the question of reciprocity. The speech of Senator Hale on this subject had both politi- cal and personal bearing, and. consid- ering certain intimate relations that he sustains it may not be difficult to imagine who the person was whose cause he was endeavoring to promote. II, as he maintains so great a popu- larity attaches to reciprocity that it was the slight move in this direction | brought about by one clause in the | Mckinley law--which saved that act from general condemnation. then it | may be assumed that a wise. far reach | ing policy of reciprocal trade would command the enthusiastic support of the great mass of the American people. We do not believe that any consid- erable number of people have found fault with the reciprocity clause of the tariff act of 1890 through dislike of the reciprocal trade system. says the Bos- ton Herald. About all the criticism that we have heard made has been that it was praiseworthy as far as it went but was defective in going but | very short distance. It was mani festly aimed at bringing about a larger | degree of reciprocal trade between the l United States and those countries which produce sugar. molasses coffee, tea and hides. It is unfortunate that with few exceptions. these countries are better sellers than purchasers that Is. so far as their dealings with | Americans are concerned. Material obstacles, such as credits commodi- ties wanted. methods of trade and shipment and other matters stand in the way of easy exchange. and can only be in minor degree offset by recip- rocal trade treaties.
 | If we were to have a completely free exchange of products with Uru- quay, it is not at all likely the com- merce which grew out of this would be a cause of universal national congratulation. and the comment that can be made in the case of Uruguay applies with almost as much force to possible commercial relations with quite a number of other South and Central American states Probably | the entire trade of the South Ameri- can continent with this country Is less than that carried on between the cit ies of Providence and Boston, judged of either on the ground of merchan- disc exchanged or of it's value .
 We have been urged. largely. as it seems to us for political purposes to turn our eyes southward. and to grow unduly enthusiastic over the extension of our trade through Central and South American sections of country inhabited by people who are both small produ- cers and small consumers and whose | trade, if we possessed it in its en- tirety. would not add greatly to our manufacturing and commercial well fare But all this time we are losing sight of the opportunity of reciprocal trade relations which lies north of us. We have in Canada country and people so nearly akin to ourselves that our wants are largely their wants. Their trade. if it was to be developed | under the stimulus of free intercourse with the United States would be worth to us more than the trade of all the rest of the American continent com bined.
 We do not mean that this would be the instant result of complete reel proclty, but it would be the indirect consequence in no remote time of such a trade change That this fact is ap- preciated is shown in the general favor which free trade in Canada meets with | .l. sl t,. part of New England. We can get up temporary enthusiasm to meet the requirements of banquet given in honor of the delegates to Pan -Ameri- can congress-; but our opinions con- corning Spanish American trade are of a visionary character and have lit- tie if any practical application. But when the subject of reciprocity trade with Canada is referred to. there Is practically no one in this community who has given any attention to the matter who does not entertain pro- found and vivid belief in the enorm- ous benefit that would ensue if such a change could be brought about
 | We believe there is not a trade or Il ganization in this city that woule not vote unanimously In favor of recipro- cal trade with Canada The political parties in this city are united on that subject and yet in spite of this unan- unity of opinion. in spite of the fact
 as has recently been pointed out that the change would enormously aid Tn the material development of Boston.
 no substantial effort is made by the government at Washington to compass these ends In view of this fact-in view of the effort made to get what is of little service, and the absence of effort to accomplish great result-it is not strange that in the opinion oi many--and they are by no means all Democrats-the so-called reciprocity policy of the administration has in it great deal of humbug. being seem- ingly intended to serve as material for political orations rather than as the basis of broad and comprehensive national trade policy.
 If Secretary Blaine wishes to have | his reciprocity plans frankly and freely accepted as having all the mer its that he claims for them. let him announce that he is prepared to dc everything that he can to bring about an absolutely free interchange of the
 respective products of the United
 States and the Dominion of Canada If he were to associate himself with 6 | ,anvanant of this lxind he womb