The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-16

surate with its wealth, the skill of its con-
structors and the courage of its sailors in the
carrying trade of all the seas
THE POLICY OF RECIPROCITY.
Credit Given Blaine for His Services in
Tint Behalf
Another related measure, as furnishing an in
creased ocean traffic for our ships and of great
and permanent benefit to the farmers and man.
ufacturers well, is the reciprocity policy de-
clared by section three of the tariff act of $780,
and now in practical o. GRAFTON with five OF the
nations of Central and South America; San
Domingo, the Spanish and British West India
Islands and with Germany and Austria; under
special trade arrangements with each.
The removal of the duty on sugar and the
continuance of coffee and tea upon the free
list while giving great relief TO our own people
by cheapening articles used increasingly in
every household, was also of such enormous
advantage to the countries exporting these ar
ticles. to suggest that in consideration
thereof reciprocal favors should be shown in
their tariffs to articles exported by US to their
markets.
Credit for Blaine.
Great credit is due to Mr.. Blaine for the
vigor with which he pressed this view upon
the country We have only begun to realize
the benefit Of these trade arrangements. The
ing our goods to new markets has necessarily
taken time: but the results already attained
are such, l am sure, as to es ablish in popular
favor the policy of reciprocal trade, based
upon the free importation of such articles as
do not injuriolsly compete with the products
of our farms mines or factories, in exchange
for the free or favored introduction of our pro-
ducts into other countries. The obvious eff.
cacy OF this policy in increasing the foreign
trade of the United States at once attracted
and alarmed the attention of European trade
journals and boards of trade. The British
board of trade has presented to that govern
ment memorial asking for the appointment
OF commission to consider the best means Of
counteracting what is called 1.-THE commercial
crusade of the United States"
How They Look at It Abroad.
At q meeting held in March last Of the Asso-
ciated Chamber of Commerce of Great Brit
ain, the presidents reported that the exports
from Great Britain to the Latin American
countries during the last year had decreased
S23, 100000, and that this was not due to tenn
porary causes, but directly to the reciprocity
policy of the United States Germany and
France have also shown their startled appre-
citation Of the fact that new and vigorous
contestant has appeared in the battle of the
markets. and has already secured important
advantages. The most convincing evidence of
the tremendous commercial strength OF our
position is found in the fact that Great Brit
ain and Spain have found it necessary to make
reciprocal trade agreements with us for their
West India colonies. and that Germany and
Austria have given us important concessions
in exchange for the continued free importa-
ton of their beet sugar.
Our Increase of Trade.
A few details only as to the increase Of our
trade can be given here Taking all the coun-
tries with which such arrangements have been
made, our trade TO June 80, 1892, had increased
237S per cent; with Brazil the increase was
nearly ii per cent; with Cuba during the first
ten months, our exports increased S., 702, 1913, or
6S6 per cent; and with Porto Rico, $3.50, 1853, or
81 per cent. The liberal participation of our
farmers in the benefits of this policy is shown
by the following report from our consul-general
at Havana under date Of July 20 last.
During the first half year of 1891, Havana
received 40 05G bags of flour from Spain, and
other ports of the island about an equal
amount; or approximately, 2SO,1l2 bags. Dur
ing the same period Havana received 1895
bags Of American -four, and other ports APP
proximately an equal amount, making about
$4,000 bags. But for the fiji st half Of this year
Spain has sent less than 1000 bags to the whole
island and the United States has sent to
Havana alone 16S, 4S7 bags and about an equal
amount to other ports Of the island making
approximately $4,000 for the first half of 1892"
Partly by reason Of the reciprocal trade
agreement, but more largely by reason of the
removal of the sanitary restrictions upon
American pork, our export Of pork products to
Germany increased during the ten months
ending June 81, last, S2,02J,074, or about 81 per
cent.
American Coal Exports.
The British Trade Journal Of London, in
recent issue, speaking of the increase of Amer
lean coal exports to Cuba, says: at is another
case of American competition. The United
States now supply Cuba with about 10000 tons
of coal annually and there is every pros ect of
this trade increasing as the forests of the island
become exhausted and the use Of steam ma-
chinery on the sugar estates is developed.
Alabama coal especially is securing reputa-
ton in the Spanish West Indies; and the river
and rail improvements of the southern states
will undoubtedly create important gulf
trade. The new reciprocity policy, by which
the United States are nabled to import Cuban
sugar, will, of course, assist the American coal
exporter even more effectively than the new
lines of railway"
Democracy Proposes a Repeal.
The Democratic platform promises repeal
of the tariff law containing this provision, and
especially denounces as a sham reciprocity"
that section of the law under which these trade
arrangements nave been made. II no other is
sue were involved in the campaign this alone
would give IL momentous Importance. Are the
formers Of the great grain growing states will
ing markets for their surplus? Are we to have
nothing in exchange for the free importation
of sugar and coffee, and at the same time to de-
stroy the sugar planters of the south and the
best sugar industry of the northwest and Of
the Pacific coast; or are we to have the taxed
sugar and coffee, which tariff for revenue
only necessarily involves, with the added loss
Of the new markets which have been opened?
Serious Threat.
As l have shown, our commercial rivals in
Europe do not regard this reciprocity policy as
SHAM" but as n serious threat to a trade
supremacy they have long enjoyed. They
would rejoice, and II prudence did not restrain
would illuminate their depressed manufacture
ing cities over the news that the United States
had abandoned this system of protection and
reciprocity. They see very cleary that a re-
striction of American production and trade
and corresponding increase of European pro-
duction and trade would follow. And will
not believe that what is too plain to them can
be hidden from our own people