The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-07

to be done here; that will enable the Amer
can manufacturer TO Day to his workmen
from 90 to 100 per cent. more in wages tnan
is paid in the foreign mill. and yet TO COM
pete In our market and In foreign markets
with the foreign producer; that will further
reduce the cost of articles of wear and food
produce them: that can be celebrated. after
it's effects have been realized as its expec-
tation has been, in European as well as In
American cities. the authors aud promoters
Of 1t will be entitled to the highest praise.
We have had in our history several exper-
fences of the contrasts and effects OF
revenue and of protective tariff; but this
generation has not felt them, and the eN-
perience of one generation IL not highly ln-
structive 10 the next. The friends OF the
protective system, with undiminished con-
fidence in the principles they have advo-
Gated. will await the results of the new ex-
pertinent
The strained and too often disturbed re-
lations existing between the employees and
tho employers in our great manufacturing
establishments have not been favornble 10
o calm consideration by the wage-earner OF
the effect upon wages of the protective sys-
tenn. The facts that his wages were the
highest paid in like caIlings in the world
and that maintenance of this rate of wages
i'm the absence of protective duties upon
the product of his labor was impossible,
were obscured by the passion evoked by
these contests. He may now be able TO re-
view. the question In the light of his per
sonal experience under the operation of
tariff for revenue only. IL that experience
shall deinonstrate that present rates OF
wages are thereby maintained or increased,
either absolutely or in their purchasing
power. and that the aggregate volume OF
work to be done in this coun-
try is increased, or even main-
tained: SO that there are more more
or better wages for the American work
men, as has been the case under the pro-
tective system, every one will rejoice. A
general process of wage reduction cannot
be contemplated by any patriotic citizen
without the grayest apprehension. 1t NAV
be, indeed believe 1t is, possible for the
American manufacturer to compete sue
cessfully with his foreign rival in many
branches of production without the de-
fenee of protective duties. if the pay-rolls
are equalized, but the conflict that stands
between the producer and that result. and
the distress of our orking people when it
Is attained, are not pleasant TO contem-
plate. The society of the unemployed.
now holding its frequent and threatening
parades in the streets of foreign cities
should not be allowed to acquire an Amer
lean dOmicile.
RECIPROCAL TRADE AGREEMENTS.
There have been negotiated and con-
cluded, under Section of the tariff law,
commercial agreements relating to recipro-
cal trade with the following countries:
Brazil, Dominican Republic. Spain for
Cuba and Puerto Rico. Guatemala. Saliva
dor. the German empire. Great Britain for
certain West Indian colonies and British
Guiana, Nicaragua, Honduras and Austria
Hungary. OF these those with Guatemala.
Salvador. the German empire. Great Brit
ain, Nicaragua Honduras nnd Austria
Hungary have been concluded since my
last annual message. Under these trade
30 <~oa 60 afnx,
has been secured in every case for an I'M
pOrtant list of American products. Especial
care has been taken to secure markets for
farm products in order to relieve that great
which the lack of an adequate foreign
market for our surplus often brings. An
opening has also been made for manu-
facturod products that wall un-
doubtediy. II this policy Is main
port trade. The full benefits of these ar
Tabgements cannot be realized instantly.
New lines OF trade are to be opened. The
commercial traveller must survey the fields.
The manufactures must adapt his goods to
the new markets, and facilities Tor ex-
change must be established. This work
has been we'll begun. Our merchants and
manufacturers have entered the new fields
with couraRe and enterprise. In the
cases of food products, and especially with
Cuba. the trade did not have TO wait. and the
immediate results have been most crafty
ing. If this policy and the trade arrange
ments can be continued In force, and are
aided by the establishments of American
steamship lines, do not doubt that we
shall, within u short period. secure fully
ono-third of the total trade of the CONN.,
tries of Central and South America. which
now amounts to about $500 001000 annually.
In 1865 We had only per cent of this trade.
The following statistics show the in
crease in our trade with the countries
with which we have reciprocal trade agree
ments, from the date when such agree
ments went into effect up to Sept. so. 1892,
the increase being In some almost wholly
and in others in en- important degree the
result of these agreements. The domestic
exports to Germany and Austria III un gary
have increased In value froI-i S47, ,673, 100 to
S57 s93 064, an increase of $40 800 30s. or ~ 0S
per cent. With American countries the
exports have increased from S44. 160, 2S5 to
S54, ,612 598. an increase OF SO. 4533l3 or 1851
per cent. The total increase in the value
of exports to all the countries with which
$50, 712, 6s1. This increase is chiefly in
wheat. flour. meat and diary products and
In manufactures of iron. and steel, and
lumber. There has been o large increase
in the value of imports from oil these coun-
tries since the commercial agreements went
into effect, amounting to S14 294. 525. but IL
has been entirely imports from the Ameri-
can countries. consisting mostly OF sugar
coffee. india rubber and crude drugs. The
alarmed attention of our European com.
petitors for the south American market
has been attracted to this new American
| policy and our acquisition and their loss oi
| South American trade.