The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-06

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wealth, the skill Of its constructors and
the courage of its sailors, In carrying
trade Of all the seas.
THE RECIPROCITY POLICY.
Another related measure. as furnishing
an increased ocean traffic for our ships,
and of great and permanent benefit 10
the farmers and manufacturers as well,
is the reciprocity policy declared by sec
tiOu 3 of the tariff act OF 1890. and now
in practical operation with FIVE of the
nations of Central and South America,
San Domingo. the Spanish and British
West Indian Islands. and with Germany
and Austria. under special trade arrange
ments with each. Great credit is due TO
Mr. Blaine for the vigor with which he
pressed this upon the country. We have
only begun to realize the benefit of these
/ trade arrangements.
The work of creating new agencies and
of adapting our goods to new markets has
necessarily taken time but the results
already attained are such. l am sure. as
to establish in popular favor the policy
of reciprocal trade. based upon the free
importation OF such articles as do not IN
iuriously compete with the products of
our own farms mines or factories IN eX-
change for the free or favored introduce
ti0n of our products into other countries.
4 few details only as to the increase OF
our trade can be given here. Taking all
the countries with which such arrange
mems have been made our trade 20 June
so 1892 had increased 23.1S per cent;
with Brazil the increase was nearly IL
Der cent. with Cuba during the first ten
months our exports increased SJ,OOO l93,
or SO per cent, and with Porto Rlco
| $500. 800, or "a per cent. Partly by rea-
son of the reciprocal trade agreement but
I g1r-l nf a
the sanitary restrictions upon American
pork. our export of pork products to Ger
many increased during the ten months
ending June Both last S2,O20,014, or
about b per cent. The Democratic plat
form promises a repeal OF the tanit law
containing TINS provision, and especially
denounces as a "sham reciprocity that
section Of the law under which these trade
arrangements have been made. If no
other issue were involved in the cam
paign this alone would give it momen-
tOuS Importance.
Are the farmers of the great grain
growing States willing to surrender these
new, large and increasing markets for
thir surplus Are we TO have nothing
in exchange for the free importation of
sugar and COFFEE and at the same time 10
destroy the sugarplanters Of the South
and the beet sugar industry of the North
west snd Of the Pacific coast or are we
to have the taxed sugar and coffee
which q tariff for revenue only ncceS-
sarily involves. with the added loss of the
new markets which have been Openedf
Our commercial rivals in Europe do not
regard this reciprocity policy as a
sham hut as a serious threat To
trade supremacy they have long enjoyed.
They would Ieioicc-and if prudence did
no [ restrain would illuminate their de-
pressed manufacturing citieS-over the
news that the United States had aban-
doned its system of protection and re-
ciprccity They see very clearly that a
restriction of American production and
trade and a corresponding increase of
European production and trade would fol-
low. and | will not believe that what is
so plain 10 them can be hidden from our
own people.
HIGH AND LOW TARIFF.
The declaration of the platform in
favor of "the American doctrine of pro-
lection" meets my most hearty approval.
The convention did not adopt a schedule.
but principle that is to control all tariff
schedules There may be differences of
opinion among protectiOniStS as to the
rate upon particular articles necessary TO
effect an equalization between wages
abroad and at home. In some not re-
mote national campaigns the issue has
been. or more correctly, has been made
to appear to be- between high and low
protective tariff-bOth parties expressing
some solietOus regard for the wages of
our working people and for the prosperity
of our domestic industries. But under
more courageous leadership the Demo.
cratic party has now practically declared
that if given power il will enact tariff
law without any regard 10 its effect upon
wages or upon the capital invested III
our great industries.
The overwhelming rejection Of the
tariff propositions in the report of the ma
iofity of the committee on resolutions,
which had before received the sanction
of Democratic national conventions, was
not more indicative Of the new and more
courageous leadership to which the
party has now committed itself than the
substitute which was adopted. This sub
stltute declares that protective duties are
unconstitutional. A Democratic Con-
gress holding this view cannot enact, nor
a Democratic President approve any
tariff schedule, the purpose or effect of |
which is TO limit importations or to give
any advantage TO an American work |
man or other producer. A bounty might, / |
iudee. be given to the importer under
This view of the Constitution. in order 10 |
increase importatiOnS, and so the revenue, |
for revenue only" is the limitation. Re- |
ciprocity. of course, falls under this de- |
for its object and effect are |
not revenue but the promotion of com. |
mercial exchanges the profits of which |
20 wholly to our producers This de.
structive American doctrine was not held
or taught by the historic Democratic
statesmen whose fame as American pa
trio,s has not reached this generation
certainly rot by Jefferson or Jackson
This mad crusade against American
shons the bitter epithets applied TO Amei-
can manufacturers, the persistent disbe-
lief Of every report Of the opening Of a
tin-plate mill or Of an increase OF our for
eign trade by reciprocity, are as surpris-
inc AZ they are discreditable There is
not a thoughtful business man in the
country who does not know that the EN-
actment into law of the declaration Of
the Chicago Convention upon the sub
ieet of tariff would at once .plunge the
country into sabsolute convulsion such rs
4 has never seen: and there is not a