The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-08

mllllOQt. 0lQeS anu cOucc are Cniei prOuuCbo
and principle articles OF export The offer OF
the United States for reciprocity was submitted
to the congress of Venezuela for its considera-
ton and was rejected. The reasons assigned
in the discussion upon the subject were that IL
was not of much benefit to their people to have
coffee and hides admitted into the United \
States free. Because, IL none we're admitted
there, they had other markets which would .
readily take all they could export of those ;
commodities. But, on the other hand, 70 ex-
empt from duty the things imported TO Vene- 4
zuela from the United States would de- 4
prive them of about one-fourth of their
revenue, which deficit must be made up by an |
increase of tariff upon other articles or in some |
other mode OF taxation. not 40 acceptable as the |
present to their people. These reasons are not /
new in the course OF reciprocity negotiation, |
only il is to be remarked that the Venezueleans |
assigned these reasons for not making the |
treaty, whereas other countries have assigned |
them for abrogsting the treaty after IL had !
been made. Colombia Is another country 10 |
the south of US which rejected this offer. 1t is
one of the oldest and best established of the
South American republics. 1t was practically
founded by Simon Bolivar, called the hberstor,
the Washington OF South America. 1t has
nine states. with population OF nearly four
millions. 1t has 5000 miles of sea coast, with
capacious ports and harbors, both upon
the Atlantic and Pacific side of the
continent 1t is a country very rieh
in mines and lands, with great facilities for
both farm and domestic commerce. Coffee and
hides are among the chief articles of export.
But they preferred to levy and collect tariff
duties In their own way. And II Is said that
Colombia added something more than silent
rejection; expressed somewhat of impotence
at the diplomatic banter of which she was to
be made the subject; said something about the
inconsequence the lack OF importance OF the
proposition; spoke an aside, loud enough to
the effect following: I'VE are well aware, Mr..
Secretary, that you are engaged in fitting up
the stage costume and scenery for exhibit
ton to the people of the United States for
series OF shifting tableaux upon international
tariffs, depicted in the brightest tints upon q
strong background of free trade. But excuse
us for declining to aid in the performance.
We do not wish to furnish either color, space
or room for thus exhibition. aud We expressly
decline the part of acting supernumerarios
or ushers 1T such an Indifferent entertainment"
The Prescribed States.
These three countries having thus rejected
the gospel of reciprocity, became under the
provisions Of the Mckinley bill, subject TO
proclamation by the president. A proclaimed
county or district in Ireland Is one laboring
under some serious penalty where arrests are
made summarily. where habess corpus is for
the time suspended and martial law in some
| sort prevails. But in the case OF these pro-
| claimed countries to the south of Us, al
though they are under some sort of condemna-
| ton and Judgment, the penalties are inflicted.
| or sought to be visited, not upon them but
upon our own people. By these procamations
| OF the 10th of March, 1892, dipped up out Of
the presidents inkstand, nevertheless claimed
| az q part of the law OF the land, tax Of 10
cents per pound is levied upon tea; 3 cents per
| pound upon coffee; from l to IL cents per
/ pound upon sugar imported from the countries
| proclaimed. None OF this imposition of taxes
| upon coffee, tea and sugar, so long upon our
| free list has in the slightest degree affected
| the prices of these articles If this had been
| the case the proclamation would never
| have been issued. These articles
| have been long enough upon the free list 10
| teach our people a lesson that the former tariff
duties upon them made them dearer; that
since their removal they have become cheaper;
| the people would not tolerate an administra-
ton, which, by taxing them. again would raise
prices. 1t was very well known to the presi-
| dent that these commodities, even from the
proclaimed countries, might, if wished. find q
| market here through the ports of countries OF
| proclaimed whether these had adopted recl-
| procity or not. Consequently no matter what
| taxes might be proclaimed none would ever be
| paid or collected; whether reciprocity were re-
jected or accepted there would be no differences
in prices in either case. There has been none.
| The authorities of the United States. the deal
| ers in international commerce. both know that
| these treaties have had and can have no sppre-
| ciable effect upon the worlds trathc. Hence,
| they receive very little commercial recognition
| or attenuoni none ~ al.
Commercial SpsAk-Easies.
There is q legal maxim, "de nainirnus non
c,trdt ler''-the law is not concerned about the
smallest things-which might be paraphrassd
| here: TRACE cares not for trifes. l well
enough cohesive how private citizen of the
United States, not particularly versed in
economics. having no very large scope OF OBJ
servation. may sincerely form and entertain
49, AZ Ike 90 II ca naFN
will, in some way, at some time, date not given,
result in the reduction OF the prices OF the
articles so taxed. But can not conceive OF any
sincerity in the person placed In high othclal
position who, using all his might, shuts to,
bars and closes with both hands the
great gates OF commerce at our
| seaports aud then makes believe
that they are not closed because by
| the slight movement Of his tongue be attempts
TO swing open the little wicket OF reciprocity.
the present force in the state department. who
can think for moment that the
course Of commerce and tratho Is to
be diverted. turned TO eur advantage
moi overheard by others, by the establishment
of a series of commercial speak-eEsies, q beaten
round of diminutive speak-easies, where only
| the whispered want and wishes of the favored
few are to be heard or regarded. Do you OBJ
ject, then, to the continuance of friendly re-
4
| change with our sister republics OF the south
| Not at ALL This is an object worthy OF the
highest praise. But We do protest against q
very doubtful method of efecting this. etps
cially WHEN that method ia used So a mask &c
| conceal the most odious features of monopoly
of that prohibitory system OF perfection, 6
thorough contempt of which is the beginning
| of wisdom.
After the upward revision OF the tariff in
1888 the transatlantic nations retaliated II
| various ways-in one mode by totally forbid
| ding the landing of American meats or mea
products. Recently these restrictions have
been removed In France Germany and Span
these American meats may now be landed
The prohibition to land them is removed, and
in Germany there has been very slight re
duotion of the tariff duties upon them. ln ths
| other countries none, and the duty IL almos
| prohbitory. This permit to land meats iron
the United States is sometimes represented a.
the results of reciprocity. But u is clear tina
the whole OF this movement, SO far as II fsvori
u.s. came from putting sugar that these coun
tries had TO sell upon our free list, thus enA
bling them and rendering them willing TO buy
somewhat larger quantity of our meats. Ano
ii this placing of one article OF necessary use
upon our free list has as 10 claimed, created ar
increased demand for our food products whA
| a very large increase would follow a free list
upon our part extending to other articles o.
trade and reduction by us OF duties nov
fixed at the prohibitory rate.
Tho DemocrRcy's Plan.
Contrast now this diplomacy of shreds and