Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-11-19
MINING JOURNAL.
u. u. ODER. Editor.
FROsTBURG, MD. NOVEMBER 10, 1892
"Comfnrt We. MY People :"

AS was shown by the JOURNAL dur
ing the campaign the most immediate
and certain danger which beset coal
was that provided for in the reciprocity
provision of the Mckinley Act.
There was then no mistake about it,
and there is no mistake about it now.
Had Gen. Harrison and republican
Congress been elected two great meas
ures were booked for accomplishment
to get Hides off aud coal on the free
Hwt This on the best testimony in
New England
How is it now !
Coal has far more than living
chance. The country generally being
tired of New England greed and New
England domination. will give New
England wants the last and least at
tention.
But coal has far more than a living
chance under the new order because
there are too many and too great in
terests tied up in its land and mineral
values, and its industrial dependencies
extend too far and wide to be hurt
fully disturbed.
More than that, it is not open to the
criticism of business methods that
other great lines are, nor is 1t PRO
tected' in any SpeciaI sense.
As shown in these columns before,
II is oheady do,cn to the rere@"e basis, and
it can be shown beyond controversy
that every cent due to labor on ac
count of the incidental protection af-
forded by the tariff has been fairly, not
to say literally distributed. Indeed,
for wears after the 1o-cent tariff rate
was fixed the miners got ID rents per ton
more protection than the lar prorided!,
But coal has far more than Il living
chance because there are too many 0ther
interests IN tile same boat other interests
too, that have comparatively far more
at stake and far more to answer for
wheu the day Of judgment comes-lf
10 us Ill COlllcS ~ 'tii.
But let us suppose reimbursement en-
sues, and coal is placed on the free list,
won't we have the world for Il market I!
Won't we be able to send coal, on this
continent at least. wherever we send
anything else
But somebody says-"there is no
market for our coal outside this coun-
try9'
If that statement can be proven true,
the JOURNAL will stake its life on the
prediction that coal toW neser 60 on tie
free list ~hile Mat c0ndnion Msts'
But there are foreign markets open
to our coal, not now supplied, which
would erelong materially reimburse
us for the loss of selfish New England.
There would be open to us, for in
stance, 5000 miles of entry to the
British possessions, now closed to us
IN order that we may shut up 200 or
800 miles of New England seacoast.
In fact, in this as in other instances,
we would even carry coal to New
Castle
How would it haye been with free
coal under reciprocity!
That is the Que ton for the current
calamity howers to answer.
We will answer il for them.
1t must be understood that rect
procity with Canada meant to ex-
change something this region does not
agricultural products or ma
chinery, or manufactures generally,
for coal. Tie exchange would have
been loss of market to the miners
and IL gain of market to some other
interest or interests. The very manu-
features the Canadians would take in
exchange for coal would be the
identical goods made by their own
Canadian coal. The scheme might in
sure us the opening of Western Can
ada to our coal, bW II ro"M not 0pen 10
ma single other market IN tile ~hole ororif!
The miner would lose his home market
and gain no foreign market, as under
free trade, to reimburse his loss, for
reciprocity is specifically applicable
only to the articles mentioned and the
country with which we would treat
With Canadians, as said before, it
would mean Il purchase of their coal
not with our coal, for that would be
an absurdity-but with our reapers,
sewing machines, leather, boots and
shoes, etc.-all made with the coal
they had sold 20 us.
But the treaty with Canada would
not open the ports of South America,
nor OF any other country, to our coal,
as fee trade would in tariff system
not so prohibitory as that of the
Mckinley Act.
1t is with some surprise and no little
pity, therefore, that the JOURNAL sees
the worshippers of reciprocity walking
ruefully around and talking like the
country had condemned the coal bus
mess to death-doing these doleful
things when they ought to be thanking
with Overlooking hearts and eXuberant
voice the God of all mercies for the
wise and tender consideration winch