The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-08

tries, and while disagreeing with Mr..
Turpie, they nevertheless gave him their
respectful attention, as they always do
when he speaks. The democratic sena-
tors seated themselves around the Indi-
anian and gave him their undivided at
tention throughout the length of his re-
marks. For cogent reasoning and COM
pact strength Mr.. Turpie's speech today
has not been surpassed by him. He saio:
Not very long ago il seemed as If the chief
executive and the secretary Of state now in
offics were engaged in running a race for popu-
lar favor as to which OF the twain was entitled
TO the honor of having originally devised Q
scheme called reciprocity. Public interest
might have become very much excited con-
corning this contest; but upon a very casual
examination Of commercial history, il was
found that neither of these very prominent
statesmen could lay the slightest claim to the
invention or discovery OF that policy. Treaties
between different nations as to q mutual az
rangement OF tariff rates were made and carried
into effect long before the beginning OF the last
century. One of the best known of these
earlier reciprocity treaties was O Methuen
treaty, so-called from the name of the British
minister who negotiated it. concluded at Lis
bon between Great Britain aud Portugal in
1903. This agreement, like some OF
our recent conventions OF the same
KIND, related 10 very Few comm0Qltles, only
two, the wines of Portugal and the woOlens OF
England. AS TO these, the duties were greatly
reduced, restrictions much removed. and al
though the articles were only two, yet they
represented quite volume of business, and
the interest of trading constituenee so numer-
Gus that the treaty became famous both as to
its subject matter and the parties thereto.
Besides treaties of that age, and, indeed. of
this, relate usually to war, peace, boundaries,
navigation, extraditon-they do not commonly
deal with the rates of tariff taxation. OF the
Methuen treaty hardly trace now remains in
the policy or legislation OF either country. 1t
ceased long ago to be operative.
The zollverein international tariff
arrangement of like nature. This customs
union was formed in 1884 at frat between
eighteen different independent states of Ger
many, with Prussia at the head, and the Prus-
sian tariff as q basis. More of the German
states afterwArd joined it, By its terms i'm
ports and exports, as between the countries
composing the zollverein, were recprocslly
free. The tariff was collected at the exterior
geographical line of the contiguous nations
composing Ii upon imports from coun-
tries not members of II, and the sum
so collected was annually divided among
| the members of the zollverein IN pro-
portion TO the population of each. But the
zollverein was dissolved in 1866. Its existence
and terms have now only historical interest.
The BIost Important Reciprocity.
| By far the most important OF the reciprocity
| treaties in modern times was that made be-
| tween England and France in 1850: this was
between two OF the leading commercial nations
of the world, and it did not relate to one, two
or three articles such hides, sugar and coffee.
| but il comprised an agreement upon rates OF
] tariff as to all the commodities. wares and
4 products which entered into their ritual trade.
| This treaty, with It's lists, schedules and in
ventories, reminds one OF a modern tariff law
| of the United States. IL embraces every con.
| ceiyable article which may constitute the sub
ject of traffic. Mr.. Golden, then in the prime Of
| life one of ablest and most conspicuous of
| English statesmen, was the great friend and adj
voeate OF this international reciprocity and
conducted in person the negotiations on the
| part of ENGLAND. The emperor, Louis Ma
poleOn, was heartily in sympathy with the
| measure and gave it his earnes: support. Many
| of the details were said to have been discussed
and settled by personal interviews between
| Mr.. Golden and the emperor, then the all pow
| erful in France. The ratification of this treaty
was made with great eclat, and was the occa-
sion of much congrstulation and rejoicing
| upon both sides of the channel. The emperor
gave to Mr.. Golden a sobriquet, much cele-
brsted at the time. in saying that the famous
Engishman, by his zeal ardor and prolonged
labor bestowed upon the plan of promoting