St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-09-06
RECIPROCITY.
A Labored Defense of the Sham
Article,


Another related measure, as furnishing an
increased ocean traffic for our ships, aud of
great and permanent benefit to the manu-
facturers as we'll, is the reciprocity declared
by section of the tariff of 1899 and now in
practical operation with five of the nations
of Central and South America, San Do
mingo, 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 peo-
pie by cheapenlng articles used increasingly
III every household, was also of such enor-
nous advantage TO the countries exporting
these articles as 10 suggest that in considera-
ton thereof, reel procal favors should be
shown i'll their tariffs to articles exported by
us TO their markets. Great credit is que 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 work of
creating new agencies and of adapting our
goods TO new markets has necessarily taken
time; but the results already attained are
such. am sure. as to establish in popular
favor the policy of reciprocal tlade based
upon the Tree importation OF such articles as
90 not lnJurlously compete with the products
OF our own farms or factories in exchange
for the free or favored Introduction of our
products into other countries
l he ohviolis efficacy OF this policy is that
States AT once attracted the alarmed atten-
ton of European trade Journals and boards
Of trade. The British board of trade has
presented to that government a memorial
asking 1or the appointment of a commission
TO consider the best means of counte racting
what is called 1.-The commercial crusade of
the United States"
AT a meeting held in March last of the as
sociated chambers of commerce of Great
Britain, the president held that exports from
Great Britain 10 the Lattn-American coun-
tries during the last year had decreased S23,-
75o,OOO, and that this was not due to tempo
rary causes, but directly to the reciprocity
policy of the United States Germany and
France have also shown their startled appre-
cation OF the fact that new and vigorous
contestant has appeared in the markets. aud
has already secured important advantages
The most convincing evidence of the tire
mendous commercial strength of our posi-
ton is found in the fact that Great Britain
and Spain have found it necessary to make
reciprocal trade agreements with us for their
West India colopies and that Germany and
Austria have gwen us important conce ssions
In exchange for the continued free i'm
portatlon of their beet sugar. A few
details only rs TO the increase of our trade
can be given here. Taking all the countries
with which arrangements have been made.
our trade to June 80. I92, has increased % rs
per cent. With Brazil the increase was
nearly ii per cent. With Cuba. during the
first ten months. our exports increased
5,7O2. l93 or 5i.S6 per cent, and with Porto
Rico 1850. or "a per cent. The liberal par
ticlpatlon 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 96 last:
During the last half year of 1891 Havana
received l4o,056 bags of flour from Spain. and
other ports of The island about an equal
amount, or approximately 1850, liz bags
During the same period Havana received
1876 bags of American flo and other ports
approximately all equal amount making
about 5000 bags But fer the first half Of
this year Spain has sent less than loo bags
TO the whole island, and the United States
has sent 10 Havana alone 16s. 4S7 bags and
about all equal amount TO the other ports Of
the Island, making approximately So, 900 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 30 last, $2,025,014 or about 81
per cent.
The British Trade Journal. of London, in a
recent issue. speaking of the increase of
American coal exports and of the falling off
OF the. English coal exports to CUBA, says:
1T is another case of American competi-
ton. The United States now supplies Cuba
with about $50, Coo tons of coal annually and
there is every prospect of this trade increas-
N'g as the forests of the island become eX-
Nusted and the use of steam machinery on
~ sugar estates is developed. Alabama
COAL especially, is securing a reputation in
the Spanish West Indies, and the river and
rail improvements of the Southern states
Will undoubtedly create an important gulf
trade. The new reciprocity policy by which
the United States is enabled to import Cuban
sugar will of course assist the American coal