The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-06

many and Austria have given US i'm
portant CONCESSIONS in exchange for the
continued free importation OF their
beet sugar. A lew details only as to the
increase OF our trade can DO given here.
Taking all tho countries with which ar
rangements have been made. our trade
to June 80, 1892, had increased 23.7S pei
cent. With Brazil the increase was
nearly II per cent; with Cuba, during
the first ten months, our exports in
creased S5,702, 1893. or 54.S6 and with
Porto Rico $500, 59S, or 81 per cent.
HOW THE FARMERS HAVE FARED.
The liberal participation OF our farm
ers in the benefits of this policy is
shown by the following report from our
consul general at Havana, under date OF
July 26, last.
"During the first half year Of 81, Ha-
vana received l40,056 bags OF hour from
Spain, and other ports OF the island
about an equal amount of approximate.
" so, l18 bags. During the same period
Havana received 1876 bags OF Ameri-
can -four and other ports approximate.
ly an equal amount, making 2S,OOu
bags.
Spain has sent less than 1000 bags to
the whole island and the United States
has sent to Havana alone l6S,4S7 bags
and about an equal amount to other
ports Of the island, making approxim.
ately $685., 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 in
creased during the ten months ending
June 80, last, S2,025,074, or about 50 per
cent.
The British Trade journal, Of London,
in recent issue, speaking Of the in.
crease OF American coal exports and OF
the falling of OF the English coal ex-
ports to Cuba, says:
st is another case of American COM
petition. The United States pow sup
ply Cuba with about 10000 tons OF coal
annually, aud there is every prospect
OF this trade increasing rs the forests OF
the island become exhausted and the
use OF steam machinery on the sugar
estates is developed. Alabama coal
especially is securing reputation in
the Spanish West Indies, and the river
and rail improvement OF the southern
states will undoubtedly create an i'm
portant gulf trade. The new reciprocity
policy by which the United States are
enabled to import Cuban sugars will OF
course assist the American coal expor-
tiers even more effectively than the new
lines Of railway"
A MoMEETous ISSUE.
The Democratic platform promises a
repeal of the tariff law containing this
provision and especially denounces as a
sham reciprocity that section OF the
law under which these trade arrange
ments have been made. II no other
issue were involved in the campaign,
this alone would give it momentous
importance. Are the farmers OF the
great grain growing states willing to
surrender these new, large and increas-
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 destroy the sugar
planters OF the south, and the beet
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 mar
kets which have been opened?
As / have shown, the commercial cir
Giles in Europe do not regard the re-
ciprocity policy as a SHAM" but as a
serious threat to a trade supremacy
they have long enjoyed. They would
rejoice, and II prudence did not re.
strain, would illuminate their depress-
ed manufacturing cities over the news
that the United States had abandoned
its system OF protection and reciprocity.
They see very clearly that restriction
Of American products and trade and
corresponding increase of European
production and trade would follow, and
1 will not believe that what is so plain
to them can be hidden from our own
people.
PROTECTION A PRINCIPLE.
The declaration of the platform in
favor of "the American doctrine Of pro.
lection" meets my most hearty APPROX
al. The convention did not adopt a
schedule, but principle that is to con-
troll all tariff schedules. There may be
differences OF opinion among protec-
tionists as to the rate upon particular
articles necessary to effect an equaliza-
ton between wages abroad and at home.
In some not remote 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 solicltous re-
gard for the wages OF our working peo-
pie and for the prosperity OF onr domes-
tic industries. But under more cour-
ageous leadership, the Democratic party
has now practically declared that, if
given power, it will enact tariff law
wi bout any regard to its effect upon
wages, or upon capital invested in our
great industries.
THE CHICAGO PLANK.
The majority report OF the committee
on platform in the Democratic national
convention at Chicago contained this
clause:
"That when custom house taxation is
levied upon articles OF any kind pro-
duced in this country, the difference
between the cost OF labor here and
ok.oaJ r,hn,, uuch difIaranca nNiafa