The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-31
JEFFERSON on RECIPRoCITy

anu eIe|dIIoH' r. +. Lyons, Observer.
JEFFERSON on RECIPROCITY.
Washington news mentions ire slow
ness with which the negotiation Of
treaties of reciprocity under the provi-
sions of the Dingley act is moving. 1t
was not until Feb. ;, 1891, that Presf-
dent Harrison proclaimed the first
treaty, the one with Brazil, under the
reciprocity feature of the Mckinley
act; but such negotiations then were
added to the ordinary duties of the de-
partment of state and must have
moved mere Slowly than now, when we
have a special functionary whose sole
duty and labor, subject to the inter-
ference of that all-round diplomatic
expert, MI John W. Foster, is to put
the reciprocity machine in operation
as speedily as possible. If Plenipo Elk
traordinary Kasson and Supernumary
Foster have brought no negotiations
to head in five months, they have
not done as we'll as did Blaine who
hustled one through In four months.
But it is reassuring to be told that
these matters ARE progressing in
manner satisfactory to the officials"
although it is added that there is no
present prospect that treaties or agree
ments will be concluded in the near
future"
To the advocates of this sort of re-
ciprocaI trade it must be disheartening
to be told that the very countries with
which that sort of reciprocity is most
highly esteemed, those with which we
trade the least, are so dilatory in &C
cepting cur proffers of tariff ameliora-
ton. Brazil nor Argentine nor Chile
has shown any indication whatever
that it is solicitous to get the
Dingley reciprocity, and it was espe-
cially for them that this policy was
spawned. Having raised our rates on
the main exports of those countries
high enough to make trading stock of
them, it would be rather notifying if
those governments decline to aid in
their lowering and leave us in our own
pitfall. 1t is probable that they real
ize how much Of a sham it is it and do
not propose to put their governments
on the same low level. When one
would learn what the genuine article
is, what real reciprocity is, one must
go back to that fount Of all good gov
eminent, the writings of Jefferson 1t
matters little whether 1t is internal or
external government, commerce or
finance, he was and is the master mind.
Nor are his views to be measured by
present day standards. To sense his
saneness, his breadth of view, one has
to consider the state of government
abroad, the prevailing opinion of the
relations of nations, especially in mat
ters of trade. The condition was one
of constant belligerency The for
eigner was the enemy because he was
q foreigner. Commercial warfare rag
ed when military warfare was resting
This was the condition when con-
gress asked Jefferson, then Washing
tons secretary Of state, for his opinion
on the course to be taken relative to
the restrictions put upon our commerce
by other nations. There were two
methods of dealing with them, he said
in his report. First by friendly ar
rangements' with them for the re-
mOval of the restrictions, or, second,
by the separate action of our own leg
islature for counteracting their effects
There can be no doubt that, of these
two. friendly arrangement is the more
eligible" The friendly arrangements
were to be made with those nations
which could be induced to lessen or
remove their distractions to imports
of our products, but wherever any ma
ton opened her ports freely to our
exports we should meet them in the
same spirit, with the same policy We
should extend this commercial free
dom just as fast and as far as other
nations reciprocated. Universal free
dom of trade was the ultimate condi-
ton towards which he looked Instead
of embarrassing commerce under piles
of regulative duties and prohibitions"
he told congress, could it be relieved
of all its shackles in all parts of the
world, could every country be employ
ed in producing that which nature has
best fitted it to produce and each be
free to exchange with the others mu-