Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-10-27

/ good are 80 nesVy mat transportatioz
charges form an important addition to
the cost Of foreign wares.
Why, then, you ask, IS al4y sa1:f nee
essary: We reply that great as are our
advantages in this field there is yet no
reason to suppose them as great, rela-
lively, as in agriculture, so that by the
very convenient law Of commerce fOrmu-
lated by free traders we cannot regard
the perpetuity of our iron industries as
yet assured without continued protec-
ton. In the second place, even We're it
possible for this business to flourish IN
der free trade, the Mckinley law de-
serves credit for not abolishing the tariff
all at once. The most unconditional ad-
vOcates Of free trade admit that changes
in commercial regulations must be in
troduced slowly. Trade is very sensi-
tive to disturbing elements. and wide
spread ruin may follow in the wake Of
the most promising reform if urged on
too fast.
The reciprocity section has been per
sistently misunderstood. Democratic
organs for the diffusion Of information
% among the masses have found here
evidence that protectionists do really
recognize the benefcence of free trade.
But they urge. If little free trade is
good thing, why not more of III The
fact is there is not the remotest Lint Of
an extension of the free list in the reci-
procity section of the Mckinley law
There are certain articles which the
United States does not and cannot pro-
duce in quantities sufficient for home
consumption. Such articles, in accord
ance with the policy of protection, are
now admitted free Of duty. But while
the interests Of our own country are
best subserved in this way, no less ad-
vantage accrues to the countries pro-
ducing these articles.
These countries imposed high duties
upon our goods-many of them discrim-
mating against American wares as com
pared with those of other foreign coun-
tries. Such situation suggested that
it would only be an act of becoming
courtesy if these nations should recipro-
cate our favors by similar concessions.
II was evident. however, that nothing Of
the kind would result from the native
emotions of gratitude of those benefited.
So the reciprocity section was proposed
as a mild way of compelling what would
not be granted voluntarily. As finally
passed. it authorized the president ''to
suspend the provisions of this act relat-
ing to the free introduction of such
sugar, molasses, coffee, tea and hides
as may be shipped here from countries
less liberal in their policy toward us than
are we toward them.
This section, then, instead Of being a
breach in the high wall Of protection, is
simply provision for throwing out a
few additional buttresses in case the
illiberality of other countries requires
it. The extension of the free list
greatly relieves the consumers-by reel
procity an attempt is made to benefit
the producers at the same time. To use
familiar phrase, it is only an attempt
ever dear to the genuine Yankee-to
"kill two birds with one stone" He who
frameth words to the purport that reci-
procity is a step in the direction of free
trade simply uttereth speech out of the
abundance Of his ignorance or perversity.
1t is too soon to estimate accurately
the results of the Mckinley bill, yet
some things are already apparent In
the first place, that dangerous surplus is
wiped out, and government must exer-
else a wholesome economy in order to
meet its expenses.
A second fact is that our foreign com
merce in the year 1891 surpassed all pre-
vious bounds. Our imports We're s., 0O0,-
600 more than in 1890. We exported
$1l3, 600, 900 more than in 1890. How
much this result was due to reciprocity
it is not easy to determine and besides
the diversion of trade from accustomed
channels is likely to take place slowly.
But it is a significant fact that the last
months of the year seemed to show the
greatest increase. In October our ex-
ports were valued at $102, 677 ,243, in No
vember at $40, ,536, in December at
$119, 932, 532. Never before in our his
tory had our exports touched the $780,
600, 900 line for a single month.
The customs returns also show de-
crease in the importation of articles upon
which duties are imposed. This indi-
Gates that the bill accomplished its pur-
pose in encouraging home industries.