The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-13
SEATTLE, TUESDAY. MARCH ls.
The French Reciprocity Treaty.

The French Reciprocity Treaty.
since the Portland oregon,an has
finally ana absolutely committed itself
70 the advancement OF the Popuiistic
and Democratic programme by attack
Ing every act OF the Republican admin
istration and every party measure
brought forward by tho Republican ma
jority in congress. II has also adopted
the typioai Populate habit of reckless
Misrepresentation. and the manufacture
OF facts and figures upon which TO base
argument One OF the most glaring in
stances OF this occurs In tile issue
OF Saturday last, In an article
upon the prospect Of failure Of ratifi-
cation Of the French reciprocity treaty.
In this article the Oregonian says. in
ailusion to the amount OF French i'm
ports during the year 1897: THE Unit
ed States. overweighted with the maxi
mum tarin. was only able out Of
this vasr amount to introduce fand with
little profip less than 100000 worth"
Az a matter OF fact. according to the
Statistical Abstract published by the
treasury department. the exports 81 the
United states to France during tina year
1897 we're In value ss7.5ot.54l A little
matter Of SSs,ooo.o 900 counts for nothing
when a Popuiisiic argument Is being
made
An amusing feature OF the Oregonians
contradicts itself by speaking OF 81 ,oOo.-
900 worth Of copper and nickel. and
$4,000, 900 worth OF American machinery
which II already being exported TO
France. and which amounts might BE-
largely Increased under reciprocity. Con-
sistency. also. is OF small account with
ths orekonlan, II says that II the treaty
passes, "the tsooo producers Of mineral
OH In tho North viii be assured for Ave
years Of the minimum rates OF duty
In Ia discussion OF. and opposition to,
the Payne shipping subsidy bill. the Or
egonian has always laid great stress on
the fact that the standard ON Com
rany, through It's large ownership OF
tank steamers. would have been one Of
the principal bcnsaeiaries of the meas
ure, and has always alluded 10 that
great corporation as the one particular
exporter o. mineral or position. by
the way. which il substantially correct.
The real fact Of the case Is that the
oresonian's wall over the prospec; OF
failure Of thu French treaty il due 10
the fact that the opposition TO that
treaty r. largely Republican II is a.
meet Impossible 20 fnd any subject upon
which the oregonlan Is In exact har.
mony with the party 20 which Il pro-
fcssas ~ belong where Il seems To
agrec with the party, In principle. 4
heartily and earnestly opposes every Do
tan by Which that principle Is 20 b. car
sisa into legislative Street There arc
hundreds 81 thousands pf Democrats m
the unltsd States, inelualng very
large share OF the party on this Coast.
who are more nearly in harmony with
the Republicans. on the great lssaiea be.
fare the country. than Is the oregonian
As far as the French treaty Is con
eernaa. the Republican PARTY simply
recognises that when conditions change
legislation and treaties should. 70 possi
bile, BE- changed to meet them. when
reciprocity treaties were authorised hy
the pinxiey act, the manufacturing IN.
austrles Of the country were Frustrated
In the dust. as the result ~ Democratic
tariff tlnkering; the balance ~ trade
from the same cause. was enormously
against the country, ana labor was SUI.
yerlnr from absence 81 employment as z
had never suffered since the Republican
marty came into existence, Measure
70 enlarge the markets seemed impera
t,,ely necessary. n the manufactures
OF the country were ever 10 arise from
their prostitution. and reciprocity trea
ties seemed a means 10 that end.
In 1895, the last year when the Wilson
tariff law was In effect, our import
fiom France were see,2ss.ss7; while on
exports 10 that country. were si''0sV'esV