Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-07

TIE KYFEcrs OF THE MxIsLEY Law AND Pro-
rEcrIoS-BKSEFrrs OF RECIPROCAL TRADE
THE NATIONAL CURRENCY AND THAT OF STATE
BANKS.
The following letter from Mr.. James G.
Blaine to Chairman Manley Of the republican
state committee of Maine was made public last
night:
Not being able. for reasons which / have
explained to you. to deliver public speeches in
this present campaign, take the liberty of
submitting my views upon the issues which
regard - being the strongest for the republic
cans TO urge before the people. The issue of
the greatest consequence is the tariff on i'm
ports, and 1t viii continue 70 be such until
settlement is effected by q majority so large
that it will be tan:anount to general acquies-
cence. The republicans are aggressive on this
subject Two years ago they passed a general
enactment known as the Mckinley tariff. which
for time failed to meet with popular approval
and was regarded with a certain degree OF dis
trust by those who had always upheld the pro-
tectiye system. But q powerful reaction has
come in consequence Of the vindieation OF the
Mckinley tariff by experience Ii Is found to
have worked admirably. and within the last
wear il has produced a greater volume of busi-
than the United States ever transacted before.
notwithstanding the character and extent OF
the opposition to the Mckinley tariff. agricul-
~ tire is remunerative. manufactures are pros
porous and commerce is more fourishing than
at any previous time. thus indicating the Nc
Kinley tariff by an impressive and undeniable
series Of facts.
DEMOCRATS AND THE TARIFF.
Against this tariff the democratic party has
taken position almost without parallel in the
history of the country. They rejec; entirely
the doctrine Of protection, pronounce it
fraud and anathemssize Il geferaily. A .reso-
hutton TO This effect adopted BY the demo
cratic convention against the report of the COM
mittee resolutions BY n two-thirds vote, thus
manifesting the intelligent participation of
every man in the convention Sometimes "A
resolution NAV be adopted in haste or just
when the convention Is adjourning il may fail
to receive the attention OF the members, but
this resolution Vas debated pro aud. con and
adopted after a contest and was perfectly
derstood BY the members of the convention. 1t
is contained in these words: We denounce the
republican protection q fraud upon :he labor
of the great majority of the American people
for the benefit OF q rcT. We declare 1T a frnda-
mental principle of the democratic party that
the federal, government has constitutional
power TO impose and collect tariff duties except
for the purpose of revenue only We demand
that the collection Of such taxes be limited to
and economically administered
IF any one will take the trouble TO read the
resolution by which Mr.. Calhoun sought 20
defend his notification scheme in 1888 he will
ind The tariff platform of the democratic party
in general harmony herewith. and If he eN-
a-nines the subject further he Will discover nat
the duties in the compromise tariff which recon-
eiled Dir. Calhoun and appeased his angry fol-
lowers IN South Carolina we've of q more COM
prehensive character than those contemplated
sle,l ThaaG
ocrsts in the habit of naming Jefferson
the founder of their party. and yet on the sub
ject of tariff they are in radical opposition to
the PRINCIPLES laid down BY Jefferson. Toward
the close Of his administration the revenue from
the tariff on imports produced considerable
surplus. and the question what shouid be
dOne-should the tariff be reduced or should
this surplus be maintained? Jefferson pointedly
asked: Shall we suppress the iniposts and give
that advantage to foreign over domestic manu-
factu-ersy For himself he recommended that
tine imposts be maintained and that the surplus
created should be appropriated TO the improve
ment OF reads. canals, rivers and education II
the Constitution did not give sufficient power
to warrant these appropriations Jefferson went
far TO recommend tia- :: be amended
This presents the strongest condition of affairs
upon which a protective tariff can be justified.
and Jefferson did no. hesitate to recommend
il. The democrats of the present day. II IS
needless 20 say. are the direct opponents OF the
policy which Jefferson thus outlined and
adhered TO.
RECIPROCITY
.'when the principle o: reciprocal trade was
first proposed TO be introduced into the tariff 1
system the democrats showed a generous appre- |
citation OF the question and gave ii their sup /
port so long as republicans refused 20 accept IL.
but when the republicans came 10 approve il
the democratic support vanished, and instead /,
OF favoring fnd the democratic national
-
system In spite o. democratic opposition We I
have attained through reciprocity a new and !
valuable trade. and The system has Demon |
strated its many advantages. We were about I
To declare sugar, mO-a5Ses. coffee and hides free
% all duties il the Mckihlev bill. but instead 4
OF that we passed d law BY which We a-aed the I
several nations interested what they would give /
to have their articles made free We found !
this; the privileges which were about to give /
without cost and without charge would secure a
large trade il. Brazil IN Cuba and in Porto Rico !
in tho windWard and IeewaEd island. in Brit /
ish Guiana. Jamaica san Domingo and the live 4
Central American states AID 20 minor degree /
~ Australia. France and Germany. al in ex- 1
change for III. articles which we had intended I
To gTItJitcusiE admit. The free list of the Me- |
kIaIey tariff l. larger IN the number of articles 1
and in the aggregate amount of their import 1
y.!He than the dUtLb!e hist.
What womb have been the resul. n the !
Tinted States il every article before il was put 4
i'i1Piry to what corld get in exchange
for IL, We omitted TO DO > for MANY Years. !
AID hat neglect has cost the government adj I
vs1igges In tr.i.le which would have amounted /
To- tens oi millions OF dollars. This il the whole I
o. The reciprocity scheme. IL is verv plain and |
ve-y simple It secures a valuable trade in /
exchange for a-,!llss Otherwise destined TO be
rG- ON the fire.. lot. The democratie party 1
tii = they can disc-edit IL. and -hey make the |
sduri apparently fr- the unpatriotic reason !
that they did iiO, originate it.
THE CURRENCY.
with ali IL calaIni.ies the w.Ir b-olrht us
srea. Blessing national currency. There
MANY Who will "a. tina: il wOF h the
cost O, ih- sar To- brirg about aGsI icious L
rt-u'' - capita. cad labor. Prior to the war
" had he worst currency system OF any en-
lrht-ued cation IN tie world. The state banks, /
win some exceptions. were thoroughly ire
s-'.l-ibi.. They existed bv thousands through
o. the cE,.ed States. Whenever one OF them
inii., The r-sIl. large loss and great dis
: e. ari"ng The Ueople. No one wls response
bic tGr .h..r bills. AID fhev were generally
tuaad scattered IN he pockets ~ laborl:S men.
o. whom III. ,efe a total less. without any re-
demption whatever, III The S-Cte backs It was
often and tsui. s...d ;ha. their debts were tie
m...str % thei- profits. They have caused an
aggregate los % hundreds Of millions Of dol
lar among the poor
sine. the -luee OF me war all this l. differ