The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-15
A CHATTER IN RECIPROCITY.
j. G. Adams Pertine Answers n
Bryanite at His Meeting.

Bryanite at His Meeting.
There was a meeting of about $50 at the
corner of Blackford and New York streets
last night, where addresses were made by
Justus C. Adams and Charles A. Book
walter. During his talk Mr.. Adams was
Interrupted by a question put to him by
one of his auditors, a Bryanite. The ques-
ton was: Can you. explain TO what Gen.
eraI Harrison attributed the prosperity of
his administration? Whether it was to tar
iff and reciprocity or to the expansion Of
the currency by the increase of silver?"
THE prosperity prevailing answered
Mr.. Adams, ''in all parts of our country
was owing largely to the feeling of conf
dence among business men, activity Of in
dustrial pursuits and the universal activity
of all our commercial, industrial and brsi-
ness interests. brought about by the pass
age of the Mckinley tariff bill, which pro-
vided revenue sufficient to operate the gov
eminent, without resorting to an issue of
bonds to supply deficiency, and to the pro-
lection and Encouragement given to our
business and industrial pursuits under the
provisions of that tariff law primarily; and
to a belief that every dollar of our money,
paper, gold or silver, would be as good as
every other dollar, and their parity MAIN
tanned.
with the 1urtner statement tnat the
reciprocity treaties entered into by General
Harrison's administration had much to do
with the success of his administration, the
Importance of these treaties, in so far as
they affected the business interests of our
land, has been overlooked and not received
the attention which their Importance de-
serve. No Democrat of any prominence has
ever been able to give a reason why their
Congress wiped out these treaties-and Well
they may steer clear of this question, for it
is like the business end of a WaSp-loaded.
In their insane desire and partisan zeal to
undo the work of years and destroy the
great industries of this Nation, and radi-
cally change the fiscal policy established by
mark and killed the goose that laid the
golden egg, while the business men of this
country have been waiting for an explana-
ton of the reasons that impelled that
crazy-quilt aggregation, by courtesy called
a Congress, to abrogate and destroy these
great commercial agreements. Reciprocity
is termed mutual action, exchange and in
terchange. 1t is a plant of Republican
growth, and was f~ostered and nurtured by
that party which has ever been mindful of
the Industrial interests of our Nation. The
f1nding of new markets and the extension
of our was the elimination of
the life work of Americas greatest COM
moner, the premier of General Harrison's
administration James G.. Blaine. The work
of his life, his high order of craftsmanship
and transcendant ability, together with his
courage, dash and brilliancy, made him the
idol of his party and the first statesman OF
his generation. To his prophetic vision,
reciprocity was the open door through
which this country could find a market for
the surplus products of our farms and the
machinery and merchandise that was the
handiwork of our artisans and mechanics,
as well as the means of restoring the pres
tige of this country and maintaining her
commercial supremacy.
General Harrison's administration en-
tered into twenty-one of these treaties with
Prussia. Austria, Spain, Brazil. Cuba, some
of the South American states and the ISL
andS of the sea. These commercial treaties
were entered into on a basis of exchange
of our commodities, products and goods
with the other nations that We're parties to
bring to our ports free of duty such prod
ucts and goods, and such only, as this
country did not produce, manufacture or
grow. We found a market in Brazil for
$4,000. 900 of our machinery. articles and
cereals, while Germany was a buyer of
our hog products, corn and farm machinery
to the amount of $40, 900, 900 more. Cuba
bought $4,000, 900 worth of our flour and
cereals, while many of the flour mills of
Indianapolis were kept running night and
day to fill orders from the island of Cuba
yet since the repeal of these treaties they
have been running only on part time. In
other countries we found a market for our
products and goods to the extent of $40, 000.-
600 In addition to the amounts I nave al
ready mentioned, making $50, 600. 900 which
the farmers and manufacturers of America
received from these nations by virtue oil
these treaties during the first year of theit
operation. After their repeal we still con.
tinued to pay Brazil $40. 600. 600 for the cof-
fee we bought of her. which amount had to
be paid largely in money and exchange,
whereas during the operation of these trea-
ties we paid Brazil in goods and merchan-
disc. We have further been compelled. I'M
der the provisions of the Wilson tariff bill.
to pay $40. 900, 900 a year as a duty on the
sugar we imported as q tax on those who
use sugar in their coffee. The ad valorem
duty on sugar is 40 per cent; as we i'm
ported 500. 900 900 of sugar last year. We
were compelled to pay $40 900. 900 in addition
to the $50, 900. 900 we have lost by the repeal
of these treaties for the privilege of making
this country an experiment station for tar
iff Ormer