Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-02-11

proper CONCESSIONS tnercIOF. AitnOuRD
the United States has q favored natiun
stipulation in many of its treaties With
other countries. it has never understood
that stipulation to secure to foreign
countries the privileges which it concedss
by virtue of q reciprocity treaty.
The Uniled States has a reciprocity
treaty with the Hawaiian Islands BY which
an Important list of products in that coun-
try is admitted free into the United States
in consideration of the free admission Of
long list Of American products and
American manufactures into the Hawaiian
kingdom. This Government has never
admitted the right of Germany to claim
the admission into the United States OF
similar German products free of duty,
because Of the reciprocity treaty with the
Hawaiian Islands; nor has the Hawaiian
Government admitted German or British
manufactures into that country free be-
cause by the treaty American goods were
admitted free into those islands. Germa-
ny, by the reciprocity treaty, recognized
the American construction Of the favored
nation clause in treaties.
One of the last reciprocity arrangements
concluded has been with the British Gov
ernment and embraces its sugar and cof-
Reproducing colonies of Jamaica. Barba-
does. the Windward Islands, the Leeward
Islands, Trinidad. and British Guiana.
With these We have at present consider
able trade in American products, and they
also produce large amount of sugar.
The history of these negotiations is in
teresting to any one who has the time TO
follow it in detail for, at first the British
Government showed no inclination what
ever to enter into any negotiations under
the reciprocity provisions Of the tariff act
touching their colonies. and this indiffer-
ence continued till after the Brazilian,
spanish, dominican, and German reci-
procity arrangements had shown that the
provision of Congress on the subject was
To be complete success.
When the sugar planters Of the
British colonial islands found that
their competing neighbors were getting
the benefit OF the reciprocity arrange
ment and thereby. In giving con-
cessinns 10 American trade, were to avoid
the danger of n reimposition Of the sugar
duty, they saw at once that unless like
arrangement was made for them their
market for their product was gone, and
they followed in the same line with the
planters of Cuba and compelled their re-
luctant home government to negotiate a
treaty. giving the United States the same
advantage of reduced duties that had been
conceded by the other countries
After the fashion OF British diplomacy
every point was taken and every argument
offered against negotiating this treaty; but
the demand OF the planters became so
strong. enforced by representatives which
they sent from the different islands to
Washington that the home Government
yielded, and In two treaties, one covering
Jamaica and the second the other colonies.
all the advantages which had been gained
with other countries were conceded by the
British Government in her colonies.
Under the tariffs which Great Britain
had arranged for her colonies. Jamaica for
instance, while the products OF the United
States imported into that island only
amounted to "a per cent Of the total i'm
ports OF the island, these products from
the United States yielded &C per cent. OF
the customs revenues of the colony; and
further, that the average rate of duty on
United States imports was 26 l-3 per cent.
while the average rate of duties on imports
from other countries was only l6 per cent.
Up to the passage of the reciprocity
feature OF the tariff Of 1890 Great Britain
had so manipulated the tariff Of Jamaica
that. while we were furnishing the smaller
larger share Of the revenue.
The trade and tariff with Trinidad dls-
close the same condition. Under the old
rates of duty, where the imports from the
United States amounted to only 26 l2 per
cent Of the entire importation, the duties
from those products amounted to 45 per
cent. OF the total customs revenues. fhe
average rate of duties imposed on our pro-
ducts was &c l2 per cent. while upon other
countries the corresponding rates were
only IL per cent.
These facts. brought out by investiga-
tion enabled our negotiators to convince
the British Government that the tariffs of
their West India colonies could not be
considered by the President as reasonable
aud equal" and that 1t would De necessary,
In order to secure for the products Of
those colonies exemption from the duties
Congress had conferred power to reim-
pose, for negotiations to be entered upon
for such readjustment of the tariff. Of
those colonies as would remove. in some
degree, the unfavorable discrimination
pointed out.
When this declaration was made by the
Secretary of State, 1t brought, verv
promptly, from the colonies TO Washing
ton, delegations of their most prominent
merce to assist the British Minister in the
negotiation of reciprocity arrangements,
and resulted in the treaty, which was
signed the latter part of December between
the British Minister and Secretary Blaine,
which has been published and the schedules
of which | here present Almost all the
determinations which these tables show
have heretofore existed against American
products will cease under the new arrange
ment.
Pending Treaties Endangered by Partisan
Hostility.
The good work, Mr.. President, is by no
means completed. Negotiations are pend
Ing with other Central and South American
republics, which can only be hindered
from producing the same aesults as in
other countries by the hostility Of the
opposition to the entire measure. This
hostility has already shown itself at the
other end Of the capitol, and, IL the policy
started there is followed here, we shall
soon listen to Senators upon the other side
of the chamber Illuminating against rec
iprocity, and threatening that, If any
added power is given to them, the repeal
OF the entire Mckinley bill, including the
reciprocity provision, will follow.
House to repeal the existing reciprocity
provision in the Mckinley act. and to
substitute for it the original amendment,
gives indication of laggard recognition of
the popularity and merit of reciprocity,
but it ignores the actual conditions which
cannot now be changed. The reciprocity
amendment. adopted by Republican Con-
gress and signed by a Republican President.
was based upon the determination Of the
Republican party to put upon the tables Of
the American people untaxed sugar and to
reduce the surplus revenues Of the country
to the extent of $50. 600, 900 per year.
Starting with that proposition, as have
said before, no other scheme than that Of
the Aldrich amendment could be devised
by which the countries producing the
articles named in the amendment could be
induced to give up portion of their reve-
nues and lower their duties upon our own
expectations to those countries. What l
have said, If 1t has shown anything, has
shown the great success which has thus
far attended the negotiation of treaties
under this amendment.
To attempt to revive the original amend
ment now Is worse than absurd, for it was
only Intended to apply and only could
apply before the duty upon sugar had been
repealed. 1t Is only the device of the
opposition, and an attempt to mislead the
American people. Whether these attacks
will so far influence the South American
people, who have not already negotiated
these treaties. as to hinder further agree
men.s no man can tell but the good results
that have thus far been attained are now
being appreciated and will, for long years,
be appreciated by the American people,