Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-09-23
FRIDAY. ...-..sEpTEMBER %. 1892.
Rec,nrocitv Almost Democratic.


Mr.. BLAIsx's reciprocity scheme Is, as
we have so often said. a good Democratic
scheme as far as il Is good 90 all. His
~efrontery in placing IL before the country
as IL il were something new is characters
tic OF the distinguished Maino statesman.
Not even Roscoe CoNKLrSG could ever
come before Congress with a smile so
"childlike and bland as that with which
Mr.. BLAINE in his better and happier DAYS
always greeted his scausintances. We
say "acquaintances because friends and
opponents were alike the objects of his
social attentions.
But we set out to say another word on
the reciprocity scheme. Here IS MIR.
BLAISE's explanation showing why he pro-
posed and advocated reciprocity. He
says:
ave we're about 10 declare sugar, molesses,
coffee, and hides free OF all duties in the Mckin-
ley bill, but instead Of that we passed a law by
which We asked the several nations Interested
what they would give 10 havethose articles made
free. We found that the privileges which we
we're about 20 give without cost and without
charge would secure q large trade In Brazil, In
Cuba, and In Porto Rico. in the Windward and
Leeward islands, In British Guiana and Jamaica,
San Domingo and the five Central American
States. and TO q minor. degree In Austria,
France, and Germany-all In exchange for the
articles which We bad intended 70 gratuitously
admit. The free-list Of the Mckinley tariu Is
larger In fhenumber Of articles and in the az
gregate amount Of their import value than the
dutiable list"
And we don't suppose there ever was q
tariff in operation in this country which
did not have more articles upon its free
list thar upon its dutiable list. What OF
it? The government of Great Britain col
lects an immense revenue annually III the
shape of customs duties, and yet its free
list is ten times-we might say n hundred
times-as long as the dutiable list.
We wonder how the countries named by
Mr.. BLAINE like his method OF according
to them free trade" Mr. BLAINE was
about 10 enter into free-trade relations
with a number of countries, but declined
10 do so when he remembered-or was re-
minded-that treaties of q more profitable
kind would be secured for them.
All that we wish TO do is 10 prove by
Mr.. BLAINE as we think his words above
QuOttO w piofc, thnt ~ HNAuSNAeeo "SAS
many years ahead OF him IN proposing re-
ciprocal trade between the United States
and foreign countries. They did not ad-
yocate free trade in all articles any more
than MIR. BLArsE does. They advocated.
we repeat, reciprocal trade" or what
Mr.. BLAINE styles reciprocity" And the
people are asked to vote for the r~e-elec-
ton Of Mr.. HARRISON because he has tried
TO steal q little Democratic thunder. Can
not MIR. BLAINE induce England to give us
q taste Of reciprocity in its tariff on to-
bacco, which is so high that the tobacco IS
not worth as much before the duty is paid
az the duty itself amounts to. We like
reciprocity" with South American coun-
tries. and with all countries, but VIC
should particularly like for Mr.. BLAINE to
give us a little reciprocity so far. as to-
bacco is concerned.