Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-02-02
FIGURES COMPARED.
THEY PROVE THAT RECIPROCITY
DlcKERING IS A FAILURE.

Last Years Statistics Reveal the Fact That
Europe's "Paupers'' Buy Twice as Much
from Us as We nuy of Tkem-n Let
Alone Commerce win Take Care of ITSELF
The report of the treasury bureau Of
statistics on tho foreign commerce of the
country for the last fiscal year has Just
been published. 1t is largely compila-
ton of facts which have already been
given to the public in the various
monthly reports, but it contains some
comparisons which are of interest as
bearing upon the commercial policy of
the United States. These are of special
importance at this time, when we are
about to adopt a policy very different
from that which has been pursued.
For instance, it appears not only that
the people of Europe are our best GUS
toners, but that they are relatively bet
ter customers than they were under the
Walker "free trade" tariff, for in 1892
they took $3.50 per cent. of our domestic
exports, whereas in 1860 they took only
1928 per cent. Five of those countries
Great Britain, Germany, France, Bel
gium and the Netherlands-took n. 40
per cent. of our exports last year, OF
more than three-fourths, while Great
Britain alone took 1852 per cent, OF
nearly one-half. The five countries
named took s787, 300, 900 in round fig.
ures out of total of $1,015, ,70O, 900 ex,
ported.
And yet the Republican tariff sched.
ules from beginning to end are con.
structed in a spirit of hostility to those
countries whose ''pauper laborers" buy
much the greater part of what we have
to sell. Last year we imported from
them goods to the value of less thar
1929, 900, 900, or nearly $65, 900, 600 less
than one-half the value of the com
modities they bought from us. Our ex
ports to them exceeded our imports from
them by $45S, 100000. We sold then
$3.50, 800, 900 worth more last year thar
we did the year before, but bought from
them $59, ,400, 900 less. The chief Of thu
bureau of statistics seems to delight il
this showing, because perhaps it is al
outcome of the Republican policy O.
reciprocity"
Speaking of reciprocity, Chief Brocl
devotes considerable space to the sub
| ject. He gives table to begin with
showing the changes in our trade will
the countries south of us in 1892 as com
pared with 1891 and 1890. This tabl,
shows an excess of imports from al
those countries over exports of $196,
100000 in 1892, $152, 900, 900 in 1891 anC
i $1O9, 900, 900 in 1890. This is a progressiv
increase in the "adverse balance" sine
the inception of the reciprocity dickers
There was an increase of less than SO,
100000 in our exports to those countrie
in 1892 over 1890 and an increase of 800
100000 in our imports from them.
| It is true that we have reciprocit
dickers with only part of them, bu
the case is found to be no better whe
we examine Mr.. Brooks tables relatin
to the dicker countries and covering tn
periods, ranging from four to eightee
months, during which the arrangement
have been in force, as compared wit
corresponding periods before. These ts
bles show that our exports to thos
countries increased from $91 800, 600 t
$112, 100000, OF about SEQ, $780, 900, Will
our imports from them increased fror
) $196, 100000 to $3.50, 900, or abou
$93, 200, ,OO0-that is, our trade with theI
has been $72, 400, 900 more adverse" tina
it was before. This is perhaps Suff
cient commentary upon Mr.. Brooks IT
mark in introducing another series {
: tables that they show 'the desirability {
cultivating such relations with them 9TH
Latin American countries) that our e.
ports to them will more nearly equal OF
imports from them-in other words, thu
, the exchange of commodities between I
; shall be more nearly equal" The rec
procity dickers were avowedly intende
to cultivate such relations, and M
Brock has given us the results.
The statistician seems to appreciate
some extent the force Of his tabular e.
! hibits, for he says: "When lines of shi
! ping are more fully inaugurated, cor
mercial relations more closely esta1
r lished, and the countries south of us b
come more familiar with our produc
and methods of business, and our man
!, facturers more carefully consult Il
: tastes and wishes of southern buyer
: our exports will undoubtedly largely
= crease. Thus the result of reciproci
/ will be enlarged markets for our agl
: cultural and manufacturing (sic) pro
ucts and increased employment for O.
J. ships"
O So, then, the excess of imports whi
has been growing greater very fast u
/ der reciprocity is to be reduced by su
sidizing ships to carry exports from t
United States to southern countrit
i But when Mr.. Brock comes to deal wi
e the subject of shipping he informs
II that 2s.42 per cent. of our imports frc
the southern countries and 1.46 r
= cent of our exports to them are CARR
q now in American vessels, while or
h 0.98 per cent. of our imports from a
1888 per cent. of our exports to Euro
= are carried in American vessels. P
: = this along with the fact that our ira
!, ! with Europe is $459, ,OOO, 900 in our fav'
u while our trade with the southern COT
e tries is $117, 1000, 900 against us, and
do not discover much ground for I
Ie opinion that the ownership of the shi
10 has much to do with the balance of trat
Taken altogether, Mr.. Brooks report
,r chiefly though unintentionally valua1
m as showing that Republican reciproc
has effected the very opposite of
= avowed purpose, and that it is the /
= publican tariff policy to maltrsat G
IS best customers. The lesson taught
| 4ln CO 4;r+;as, Ia 4hat ntta,,n1ata 70 cont,