The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-29

Among the many organizations that
have sprung up within the past few years
we have heard much of one known as the
"Knil hts of Reciprocity" 1t was claimed
by certain class of political parers that
this organization was sweeping the West,
where the farmers hailed with delight the
prospect held out to them by legislation
proposing reciprocity with other nations.
The key had been found to unlock vast
stores of wealth for the farmer, and at the
same time TO extend the business of the
manufacturer and the middleman Mort
cages would be paid off and prosperity
reign because magnetic political leaders
bad found time to speak that magic word
reciprocity. AS Joshua of old held up
his hands and his people won, so had
wise man spoken and the de-
preston in agriculture was at an end.
So said some politicians. Blind fol-
lowers, ignorant of the meaning of the
term, or deceived by the richness of the
sibilant sounds as they re-echoed the
word, made 30 much noise that not few
sensible farmers were led to believe that a
means had been devised for the relief of
the farmer.
What are the facts in the case? Nearly
one year ago there appeared in leading
review that has small circulation outside
OF cities an article by one of the chief adj
vocates of reciprocity. In this article
there appeared this emphatic statement:
IAN enlarged market for manufactures ia
he q Al.
OF reciprocity. IL manufactures are
omitted there is no ground to seek
an extension into new markets"
Herein is the handspring to this new
movement. Our manufacturing interests,
laying aside for the moment the ancient
cry that their existence was dependent
upon sufficiently high tariffs TO exclude
foreigners from our markets, desired to go
into foreign markets in competition with
others. III they could retain high protec-
ton for themselves at home, get raw ma
terial from South America and Canada
free, and enter those markets without pay
ing import duties, then would new Eldo-
RADIO be opened I'D TO them.
Like any shrewd party these interests
found 1t eXpedient when seeking new adj
vantages TO set other people to shouting
for them. The farmer was a tool often
He was told in diplomatic terms that he
could ship his produce to the wilds of
South America, he could carry loads of
coal To New Castle, if he would demand
that manufacturers have also the right to
import their wares into these agricultural
centers free of duty. As Erastus Wiman
said in his article for reciprocity, IAN en-
larged market for manufactures is the
essential basis for the new movement OF
reciprocity"
What is the result so far as the farmer
is concerned? Take Brazil, the first coun-
try with which we effected a reciprocity
agreement. In the first nine months I'M
der the reciprocating arrangement ending
Dec. 81, 1891, our agricultural exports to
that country were 10 per cent. less than
in the corresponding nine months OF
1890 The exact figures are as fol-
lows: Agricultural exports to Brazil for
nine months ending Dec 81, 1891 under
reciprocity. S4,6S2, 900. During the same
period our exports of other than agricul-
tural products increased 100000 and
we bought OF her S79,OO0,00O worth of
goods. AS usual tue farmer finds. when
too late. that he was duped. These figures
are authoritative and illustrative of the
working OF the reciprocity measures.
An enlarged market Tor manufactures Is
sought. Ii is desired To make convent tons
with countries that need manufactures
These are agricultural countries. AS
farmers we are not expecting much de-
mand for our products from agricultural
countries If we have done 30, our ex-
perienca with Brazil teaches us the foolish
ness of our expectations. If we could
have perfect reciprocity with manufac tur-
ing countries, then would the farmer win;
but the scheme was devised for the extern
sion of manufacturing, and the extension
must be in the future as in the past at the
expense of the farmer
THE SENTINL FARMER is not opposing
such extension. He is not opposing the
imposition of the cost of such extension