The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1894-09-12
MISCHIEF THEY HAVE DONE
Democrats Awakening to the
Value Of Reciprocity.
South American Countries Insulted
by the Administrations Treat
nent Of Their Concessions.

Washington Spccial.-A group Of
republican congressman whose attcn-
tiOn was called to an article in the
New York Times on the subject Of
reciprocity read it with i great deal
of satisfaction. and the comments, if
they could have been obtained YER
batim, would have made interesting
reading. The democratic tariff bill,
which became q law without the Sig
nature Of the president. distinctly
repcals the provisions OF the Mckin-
Icy act under which the reciprocity
agreements of treaties were negoti-
ated. In this way it takes away
from the president any power to i'm
pose reta]iatory duties, and Of course.
| by putting il duty on sugar destroys
the basis Of all the reciprocity treat
| les.
Secretary Gresham is already in
possession OF diplomatic intimations
from Germany, Spain, Guatemala and
| other countries, that duties which
were removed on American products
imported into these countries under
the reciprocity agreements will be
rcimposcd when the new tariff bill
becomes law.
The New York Times has been one
OF the democratic newspapers which
has bitterly opposed the reciprocity
agreements. Now, however, just as
| the new tariff bill becomes d law, the
| Times suddenly discovers that the
| repeal Of these treaties. or Of the law
under which they were framed. will
be Of great injury to the United
States. The article in the Times
which amused the republican con-
grcssmcn began in these words: "Un-
| der section 81 OF the new tariff bill
| the reciprocal trade arrangements
existing at present between the I'm
tied States and the Spanish Amcri-
can countries are destroyed, and bus
iness men Of this city have already
begun to show anxiety as to what will
supplant the present condition under
which American goods have 4 decided
advantage over those from other
tcountries."
AS one Of these congressman re-
marked. this democratic organ has
been pretty late in waking up to the
fact that the business men are anx-
ous as to What will be the result Of
the abrogation Of the reciprocity
treaties. This anxiety has been
manifest for 4 good time. Speaking
further on this subject the Times ar
ticlc says:
| 1T is safe to say that all the com
mercial arrangements will be de-
}nOunccd by the respective govern
ments concerned as soon as the new
tariff bill becomes 4 law. Existing
trade conditions with the countries
to the south Of us will be entirely
changed, and some new basis of op-
Grafton will have to be determined
upon.
DOUBT MAKES ALL ANXIOUS.
"What this is to be is the question
that interests almost every manu-
facturcr and producer in the country
The aggregate Of the export trade
! between the United States and the
Spanish American countries is not
enormous, but it 50 happens that it
| is distributed all over the country
and merchants and manufacturers
have learned to look upon it as field
that promises marvellous results in
the future. Under the commercial
arrangements Of the existing bill.
onc-sted though they were from the
practical business standpoint, the cx-
port trade from this country has
grown very considerably. and rcci-
prucity has become Il very fetching
cry. The man who is doing only
ST 900 worth Of business today feels
that with proper nursing and a con-
tinuance Of reciprocity his trade will
soon reach $50. 600 with the Spanish
Americans and the man who is send
ing $50. 900 worth Of goods to those
markets 1T present looks confidently
forward to the time when he will send
$500: 900 provided he can be assured
Il continuance OF the advantages
which enable him to land his pro-
ducts under the lower rates Of duty
or without any duty at all, where
his competitor in England or Ger
many or France must pay full import
tolls ::
REMEDY DIFFICULTY.
Those business men who are to
suffer from the repeal Of these treat
les. according to the Times. are look
ing for Secretary Gresham to ncgo-