Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-30

Harrison administration applied to
only a few South American countries
whose trade was insignificant. If we
are to have reciprocity. say these crit
les let us have it with such countries
as England. France. and Germany in
stead of with Central America, Brazil
and Cuba. But above all let us have 1t
with Canada. they say
II reciprocity means anything II
means mutual advantages. 1t does
not mean the destruction of the woolen
industry in this country because Eng
land might want to make our woOlens.
Accordingly it is apparent that it is a
difficult matter to adjust reciprocity
that will be reciprocal between Il coun-
try like the United States, capable of
producing everything that may he
produced within the limits of similar
climates and resources. We can pro-
duce that which England wants but
England can produce little that we
cannot equally well. barring the cost
OF labor. England must buy much of
what she consumes in the way Of
foodstuffs and raw material. She will
buy Of us as quickly as of any other
country provided we have what she
wants at prices as low as she would
have to pay, for her trade relations
with this country are not only close
but convenient and she is interested
financially in our enterprises. The
balance of trade with that country
vor if we would get back what we
pay to English investors in interest
on borrowed capital. Much the same
condition of affairs exists in relation to
France and Germany. AS for Canada
she has little that we need except lum-
Der and we would not be seriously
hampered by loss of that. for the
present at least.
The reciprocity treaty between the
United States and Canada was not a
success. for the reason that it gave to
her the lions share of the advan-
tnges. No similar treaty will again be
in all probability, certainly
not under Republican administra-
ton. pledged to the doctrine of pro-
lection to our own industries. If there
are ways in which truly reciprocal
trade can be established with that
country by all means let us have it,
but it will be a waste of expectancy TO
entertain much hope of such a treaty
being brought about. This ought to be
all the more apparent since the recent
tariff hearings before the Canadian
in which the whole clamor
has been for higher duties and greater
protection against the enterprise of
the captains of industry in the states.
True the liberal leaders are in favor
of freer trade relations but the pres
sure being brought to bear upon them
is such that it cannot well be ignored
even if. after all is heard, the liberals
may wish to do so.
Reciprocity with those countries.
which produce that which we cannot
in such quantities as We need, and
which buy such goods as we wish to
sell. presents a far different aspect
Mr.. Blaine's advocacy of reciprocity
and the influence he exerted to have
such a clause in the Mckinley bill
were highly creditable to his already
distinguished reputation. In section
three of the Mckinley act it was pro-
vided that the President might exer-
else discrimination in levying duties
upon imports of sugars. molasses, cof-
fee. tea and hides from countries that
placed impositions upon the agricul-
tural or other products of the United
States. In accordance with this
treaties were made with Brazil, Spain
and her colonies. Cuba and Puerto
Rico. with San Domingo, with the
German empire, with British West
India colonies. with France and with
several others of the South American
and Central American states. By ad-
hitting German sugar we obtained en-
try for our foodstuffs into that country
and the withdrawal of those condi-
tions under the Cleveland administra-
ton undoubtedly had much to do
with the determinations since made
in that country against our meats.
The treaties made with ten countries
| in the western hemisphere secured ia
vorable concessions on over 1000 differ
ent articles and nowise injured pro-
ducers in this country. but on the con-
| trary opened up a trade, that must in
the nature of things have increased
largely but for the intervention of the
free trade administration that came
into power in this country so soon
after. We had been buying these
South and Central American products
in cash and those who sold them to us
were spending this money in Europe
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