Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-09-09
FROsTBURG, MD. SEPTEMBER 9, 1898


JOURNALS definition of "reciprocity''
as "a short cut to free trade" and in
the language of the carnal heart
characterizes it as a estate falsehood."
The JOURNALS innate magnanimity
interdicts retort in kind, but no con-
stitutional virtue prevents it from in
dicating to the Echo that even "a more
tenderer word" would have been I'M
warranted by the provocation.
1t becomes our duty, therefore, to
show wherein the Echo has got the foot
which is editorial and the foot which is
unchristian.
First we must quote-in general:
Reciprocity, as set forth by Mr.. Blaine and
his fellow republicans, is the concentrated
extract of protectionism. Ordinary protec-
ton protects our home industries and indus
trial classes on the goods we can and do
manufacture at home. Reciprocity, as
preached and practised by the republicans,
protects us on those goods that we cannot
manufacture but must import
In particular:
Coal can be produced at home, and hence
it is not one of the products included in the
republican scheme of reciprocity. That as
everybody ought to know, includes only the
accessories mhich IRE cannot produce IN this
country. For instance Brazil produces
coffee and wants to sell it to u.s. We must
hare il, and cannot raise it in this country.
But Brazil discriminates against us in the
matter of several commodities which we pro-
duce and desire to sell to her people. Among
these, say, are agricultural implements. Her
import duty is practically prohibitive, or, at
any rate, greatly hampers our trade with her
citizens. We say to her, in carrying out our
doctrine of reciprocity-"Take off your inn
port duty on our agricultural implements or
we'll put an import duty on your coffee which
will practically shut you out of our markets,
and ~iU buy our coffee Of somebody who riN
reciprocate oar lberalHy in putting coffee on the
free list" No republican statesman, no re-
publican newspaper Outstanding, no intelligent
member of the republican party has ever
promulgated any other doctrine of reciprocity.
Why does the JOURNAL, which processes to be
both independent and fair, continue to mis-
represent the republican theory and practice
on this subject?
The reader will see now that the
kinds of protection have multiplied
from "high," incidentally and low"
to "ordinary" and "extraordinary."
the last being dashed" as cooks say,
with strong flavor of unmistakable
free trade. We are protected" by a
high tariff, but when some country
Brazil, for instance, retaliates, then
we protect ourselves by humoring that
country with free trade. Nothing else
can be made of the argument.
But what is more important, the
Echo distinctly says reciprocity affects
"only the necessaries we cannot pro-
duce in this country"
Referring to the Act, we find that
these articles number only five,
including tea, but it will be news to
many to learn that sugar, molasses and
hides not only are not, but "cannOt" be
produced sin this country :"
The Echo selected coffee, however,
for its illustration, probably because
l, 1--WE must have it," and
., If we can't get it from Brazil, we
will buy wherever we can make the
trade by quitting coffee On the free
list"
So, of course, with sugar, molasses
and hides.
In all christian candor, then, the
JOURNAL asks if that is reciprocity,
and reciprocity is 'the concentrated
extract of protectionism, tell US what
the same principle and practice would be
if applied to every article from acetic
acid to zinc? Is it not in the limited
sense what it would be in the general
--unadulterated free trade?
Suppose, however, Brazil will not
reciprocate, as is partly implied by the
high tax she levies on our goods, and
other coffee countries are Independent
enough to retallate in the same way,
what will we do about getting an
article 1--WE cannot produce" yet
''must have?" What will the Echo's
"doctrine' of reciprocity amount to
then? New England may impose the
force of high protection on incidentally
protected Georges Creek, but no part
nor all of the United States can thrash
Brazil out of making her own "agri-
cultural implements"
But there are three other consider
atoms in the. scheme of reciprocity,
which is not only ''doctrine" but a
New England trick
l, Coffee and tea are not produced
in New England nor in the country.
2, Sugar and molasses are produced
in the country, but not in New
England.
3, Hides only are produced in New
England. but merely to the extent
warranted by very short and poor
grass.
The offer to Brazil and sugar coun-
tries. therefore, is brazen discrim-
ination against the south and west an
offer which Designs
l, To subject the growers of sugar,
molasses and hides to free trade con-