The San Francisco call., 1896-03-24
ON BEHALF OF RECIPROCITY

The third section of the tariff act of 1890
the Mckinley bill-contained q provi-
sion to this effect, that with view to Sc
cure reciprocal trade with countries pro-
ducing five specified articles then on the
free list-namely, sugar, molasses, coffee,
tea and hides--if such countries should
impose any undue exactions upon Ameri-
can products the President should be
authorized to remove any or all of the five
articles named from our free list, and that
thereafter import duties should be imposed
according to schedule fixed in the Sec
ton referred to.
This piece of legislation was commended
in the highest terms by publicists in
nearly every country in Europe, though
the exporters IN such countries objected,
but solely on personal and selfish grounds
The dignity and standing of the United
States were preserved by the making of an
offer which might be accepted or rejected,
and the wisdom and shrewdness of the
plan were shown by almost immediate re-
suits. Our trade with the countries
south of Us grew at once at an unprece-
dented rate and market was found for
our home products beneficial alike to the
producer ana the consumer.
This plan was so successful as to excite
Democratic jealousy, and for no reason
possible to conceive except the desire of
the Democratic party to undo all that the
Republicans had accomplished for the
good of the country, this reciprocity
clause was repealed in 1894 by the free
traders, and the result was serious loss
to the producers of the United States,
especially the farmers.
Now comes a peti tion to the sub.com-
mittee of the House Committee on Ways
and Means, from the American National
Association of Farmers. signed by T. G.
Zarich, which makes interesting reading
for those who are interested in the pros
perity of this country. Mr.. Zarich poin Is
out that before the act of 1890 Spain, in
order to control the trade of her West
Indian colonies, imposed a duty of nearly
SIS so a barrel on American -four, or about
100 per cent, but under the convention
which resulted from section of the Nc
Kinlev bill, the duty was reduced to 81
per 220 pounds, large reductions were
made in the duties on other breadstuffs,
the duties on fifteen leading comm odities
were reduced one-half, and about forty
articles were added to the free list.
Thereupon our trade with Cuba ad-
vanced by leaps and bounds, SO that un-
der the three, years of the Mckinley bill
our export trade increased some So, 600 900,
and our import trade $14,000,0OO. The
moment the law of 1894 was passed abro-
eating this treaty or convention Spain ad-
vanced the duty on flour to 81 70 per 22O
pounds, which is almost a prohibitory
rate.
Nor does Mr.. Zarich confne himself to
the producers of farm products. He shows
that among those directly interested in
reciprocity are manufacturers of carpets,
drugs, streetcars, engines, iron steam gene
rators. iinseed oil, mattresses, silk, agri-
cultural machinery and tricycles, and this
we may be certain by no means exhausts
the list. The simple truth is that there
never was more monumental exhibition
of Democratic ignorance and stupidity
than the repeal of the so-called reciprocity
clauses of the Mckinley bill, and whatever
else the present Congress may do it should
restore those clauses or an equivalent to
the tariff law, and throw the responsible
ity of disappearing them. if he dare take it,
upon a Democratic President.