The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-04-28
RECIPROCITY TO Go.

wisely entered upon by PRESIDENT
Harrison and Mr.. Blaine should re-
ceive the hearty support it ought, to
from the present government officials
the fruits therefrom would grow, and
the benefits become more and more
apparent. But the present admins
tration is not disposed to extend any
help in this direction, but rather to
impede progress if possible and bring
| the policy into disrepute. The policy
of Democracy toward reciprocity has
been one of opposition from the first.
and now they are in power, their rep
resentatives seem determined to over
throw it entirely if possible.
! It is claimed that an investigation
into the treaties now in force has been
going on since March 4th, and it has
been.found that thee United States is
receiving no advantage from,the trade
arrangements which has been entered
| into with several of the nations to the
south of us, and also with Spain as
| d. U =
these countries have received all the
| advantages which the United States
promised under the treaties but that
the said nations have in the majority
of Instances refused to make the con-
cessions which were promised in re-
turn. Now if this is true it would be
proper for our government to take
steps to secure an observance OF the
treaties if possible. But there are
reasons for believing that the state
ments made are somewhat miSlead-
ing. The fact is our exports with
these countries have grown very rap
idly since reciprocity treaties have
been negotiated with them. And this
| in the face of numerous disadvantages.
But Notwithstanding this, Brazil has
been notified by the state department
that the treaty with her will be abro-
gated in September. Spain will also
be- asked To withdraw the Cuban
agreement, and other countries will
soon receive like notices. The
| Chicago Inter Ocean Washington cor
respondent reviewing the matter
says:
| The treaties with Spain and Brazil
are the keystone of the whole reciprO-
city system, and if they are to fail to
the ground il will be impossible to
keep the other intact. La fact SO far
as the development of our commerce
with the South American countries is
concerned, it will make little differ
ence whether the minor treaties re-
main in force or not. The assertion
that reciprocity has been failure as
TO Brazil and the Spanish American
colonies is palpably misleading. On
the contrary, IL has been distln-
guished success, although the mer-
chants of the United States have not
vet had time to fully adapt them
selves to the new conditions and the
outlook for the future, if present con-
dtions were allowed to continue,
would be of the brightest hue. Those
who have given our commercial rela-
lions with these countries careful and
conscientious study are convinced
that with few more years OF unham-
| pered reciprocity, our trade with Bra
iii. Cuba and Puerto Rico would be
extended to marvellous extent. The
treaty with Spain had been in force
at the end of 6ebruary for only eight
cen months, and the latest returns
available are those for February.
During the eighteen months our
| trade with Cuba has increased to the
amount of SIS, 1852, 1923. The imports
had increased from $102,377 ,463 to
$lO6, 27O, 34S, and the exports had in
creased over 80 per cent. from S1S, 1885,
$50 to 1872, 706,097. This is wonder
full showing in itself. and is d COM
plete refutatiOn of the insinuatiOnS
which the State Department throws
out. With few years development
there would be even more eXtraOrdin-
airy exhibition. The treaty with Bra
zil has not had such brilliant record
for the reason that since the negOtia-
tion of the treaty the country has
been in a constant state of turmoil,
and because the American merchants
have had limited means of cOmmuni-
cation, the only steamship lines ply
ing between British and Brazilian
ports, and English trade had almost d
monopoly of the business with the
country. For many years British
| merchants nave UCcu WILLIE w give
unlimited credit to Brazil, as in all
other South American countries, let
ting their money run for one and two
years without interest. This Ameri-
can business men who can sell in their
home market on thirty to sixty days
credit do no feel ready to do.
The treaty with Brazil has been in
operation for twenty three months
ending Feb. %. In 1892 the imports
were S126, 740, S56; in 1893 S247 69S, 483.
The domestic exports in 1892 were
1913 COG, 2l3: in 1893 they were $25, 054,
9S2 an increase of ST, 1876
Instead of abrogating these treaties
the authorities at Washington should
give all the aid possible to the en-
couraging of our trade relations with
these nations and improve in every
way at their command our commune
cation with them, which will help to
increase our trade. 1t is not to be
supposed that our merchants and
manufacturers could overcome all OBJ
stacles and build large trade in a