Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-09-06

will be able 70 secure the capital needed to
enable them 70 profit by their great
national advantages.
Tho Democratic party has found no
place in its platform for any reference 10
this subject and has shown its hostility to
the general policy by refusing to expeDd
an appropriation made during the last adj
minisuation for ocean mail contracts with
American lines. The patriotic people, the
workmen in our shops, the capitalists
seeking new enterprises, must decide
whether the great ships owned bv AmeTl-
cans which have sought American registry
shall again humbly ask place in the Eng
lish naval reserve; the great ships now on
the designers tables go TO foreign shops
for construction and the United States
lose the now frightening opportunity of
recovering II place commensurate with its
wealth, the skill of its constructors, and
the courage Of its sailors in the carrying
trade Of all the seas.
RECIPROCITY.
Another related measure, az furnishing
an increased ocean traffic for our ships,
and of great and permanent benefit 10 the
farmer and manutacturer as well, is the
reciprocity policy declared by section 8 of
the tariff act of 1890. and now in practical
operation with five Of the nations Of Cen
tral and South America. San Domingo, the
Spanish and British West India Islands,
and with Germany and Austria. under spe-
cIal trade arrangements with each. The
removal Of the duty upon sugar and the
continuance Of coffee and tea upon the
free list, while giving great relief 70 our
own people, by cheapening articles used
increasingly in every household, was also
OF such enormous advantage 10 the coun-
tries exporting these articles as 10 suggest
that IN consideration thereof reciprocal
favOrs should he shown IN the tariffs on
articles exported by US 20 their markets.
Great credit Is due 10 MIR. Blaine for the
viCOr with which he pressed tins view
upon the country. We have only begun
20 realize the benefit of this trade arrange
ment. The work of creating new agencies,
of adapting our goods 10 new markets. has
necessarily taken tune, but the results
already attained are such, am sure, as TO
establish in popular favor the policy of
reciprocal trade. based upon the free i'm
portation of such articles as do not inJu-
rlously compete with the products of
our own farms. mines. or factories IN eX-
change for the free or favored introduction
of our products into other countries.
The obvious efficacy Of TINS policy IN IN
cresslng the foreign trade OF the United
States at once attracted the alarmed at.
tention Of European trade journals and
boards of trade. The British Board of
Trade has presented 90 that government q
memorial asking for the appointment OF
commission to consider the best means OF
counteractlng what is called the COM
mercial crusade of he United States" At
meeting held in March last of the Asso-
clated Chambers of Commerce OF Great
Britain the president reported that the
exports from Great Britain to the Latin
American countries daring the last year
had decreased S33, $50 900, and that this was
not due to Temporary causes. but directly to
the reciprocity policy OF the United states,
GERMANY, and France have also shown
their startled appreciation OF the tact thAt
"A new and vigorous contestant mas APP
peared in the battle Tor markets ana mas
already secured important advantages.
The most convincing evidence OF the re-
mendous commercial strength Of our posi-
ton is found III the fact ihat Great Britain
and Spain have found 1t necessary 10 make
reciprocity agreements with Us for their
West Indian colonies and that Germany
and Austria have given us important con-
cesslons in exchange for the continued
free importation OF their beet sugar.
INCREASE OF TRADE.
A few details only as TO the increase OF
orr trade can be given here. Taking all the
countries with which such arrangement
have been made, our trade 10 June 3O
1899. had increased 23.7S per cent. WITH
BraZll the increase was nearly IL per cent.
with Cuba. during the first ten months
our exports increased 500, ,lJ3, or 54.ot
per cent, aud with Porto Rico, $3.50 ,595'
or "a per cent. The liberal participation
OF our farmers III the benefits OF tins
policy is shown by the following report
from our Consul-(Ieneral at Havana under
date OF July Goth last: 1900 -,
- to holf of 1901 ia
yana received 140.O56 bags of -four from
Spain. and other ports OF the island abou
an equal amount; approximately Z5O,lI-
" During the same period Havana re
ceivsd i9 q76 bags of American Hour, ant
other ports approximately an equa
amount, making about % 600 bags.
" But for the first half Of this year spar
has sent less than ]. 900 TO the whole island
and the United States has sent TO Havana
nlone l6S.4s7 bags and about an equa
amount 10 other ports Of the island, making
approxlmately 3j7 900 for the first half o
1902
Partly bv reason of the reciprocal-trade
ocreement but more largely by reason o
the removal OF the sanitary restriction
upon American pork, our export OF porl
products to Germany increased during IN
ten months ending June 30th last S2,Ozo,
O74. or about 81 per cent.
The British Trade Journal, of London, II
a reccnt issue. speaking of the increase o
American coal exports and OF the falling
of N the England exports 10 Cuba. says
1T is another case of American compe
tition. The United States now suppl
Cuba with about 10000 tons OF coal an
nuauy. aud there Is every prospect oi thI
trade increasing as the forests OF the islan
become exhausted and the uss OF steaI
machinery on the sugar estates Is deyel
oped Alabama coal especially ~ secuIlh
a reputation IN the Spanish west lndles
and the river and rail improvements @
the southern Statos Will unu0noteul
create an important Gulf trade. Inc neN
reciprocity policy, by whlch the onI.o, 'o.
States are enabled TO import CuDan sugar
w,l. OF course. assist the American Goa
exporter even more effectively than III
new lines Of railway"
The Democratic platform promises o re
peal of the tariff laws containing tni
uroyision and especially denounces as
''sharn reciurocity" that section OF TN
Law under which these trade arrangement
have been made. II no other issue Wer
involved in the campaign this alone Woul
give II mOmentOus importance: Ate u
farmers OF the great grain-growing otate
willing % surrender these new, iarse' "h
increasing markets for their surplus
Are we TO have nothing IN eAchsng
for the free importation OF -
gar and coffee. and at the same Tune 20 d'
stroy the sugar-planters OF the South an
/ the beet-sugar industry Of the Northwes
and of the Pacific Coast or, are we
have the taxed sugar and coffee wnlcn
tariff for revenue only necessarily ~ ~
wolves, with tho added loss OF the ne
markets which have been opened As
have shown, our commercial rivals III ~ ~
rope DO not regard this reciprocity poilc
as q "sham." but as a serious threat 70
trade supremacy they have long 6;
loved. They would reloice,snH
prudence did not restrain. would mum
nate their depressed manufacturing oi.it
over the news that the United states na m
abandoned :ts system Of protec,lon au
reciprocity. They see very clearly thn.
restrction OF American produetlon a., r.,
trade aud corresponding increase OF y,
ropean production and trade would tonoy
and Will not believe that what Is SO plsl sl
to them can be hidden fron our own pe'
pie.
PROTECTION.
The declaration of the platform N M iav'
Of The American doctrine OF proteclion
meets my most hearty approval; Lhp s CO.