The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-01-02
PART ONE

Although the praculcdl dppiiCdIioi'
of reciprocity in our relations With
other countries is a matter of recent
date, the birth of the principle itself
was almost contemporaneous with the
organization of our national govern
ment. In 177S the continental con-
gress negotiated treaty with France
which is usually referred to as reci-
procity treaty. The colonies, then at
war with England. made trade conces-
sions to France in return for the nelp
of the French government in our war
of independence.
The broad principle of reciprocity,
which has come under discussion in
recent years, in which we make con-
cessions in tariff duties on goods i'm
ported from another country in re-
turn for like concessions on the part
of the other party to the treaty, was
first enunciated by Thomas Jefferson.
In 1871, while Mr.. Jefferson was
secretary of state i'm Washington S
cabinet, the congress, by resolution,
asked his advice as to means for pro-
noting the commerce of the United
States with other countries. In his
report Mr.. Jefferson said:
LAS to commerce, two methods
occur: First, by friendly arrange
ments with the several nations with
whom these restrictions exist: or, sec
ond, by the separate act of our own
legislative for counteryailing their
efforts. There can be no doubt but
that, of these two, friendly arrange
ment is the most eligible
"Some nations, not yetripe for free
commerce. in all it's extent, might
still be willing TO modify its restric-
tions and regulations for us i'm proper
tion TO the advantages which an in
course with us might offer. Particu-
larly, they may concur with us in
reciprocating the duties to be levied
on each side, or in compensating any
excess of duty by equivalent advant-
age of another nature"
Although so clearly outlined by Mr..
Jefferson, reciprocity did not receive
serious consideration on the part of
our government for more than half a
century. The international relations
of the leading nations Of the world
during nearly all this period were
such that the opportunity was not
ripe for fostering international trade
along the lines proposed. First came
the wars between England and France,
out of which grew our own troubles
with England, which caused Ill feel
ing towards the mother country.
Napoleon and the British government
during their wars each sought to pre-
vent the United States from trading
with the other, and our foreign COM
merce was conducted under such diff
ficulties that we finally adopted the
policy embodied in the embargo act Of
1908, and the non-intercourse laws
which followed it, The war of 1872
created feeling on the part of our
people towards England which for
generation after precluded any effort
towards excessive friendliness in CON-
mer:ial relations. France and other
natiL-s were under no necessity Of
seeking our trade.
In 1916 congress adopted revenue
tariff, and the policy of reciprocity
remained in the background for
time. In 1854, however, we took the
first practical steps to put this policy
in effect. A treaty was negotiated
with Canada, which provided for the
free admission into the United States
from Canada, and into Canada from
the United States, of bread stuff,
provisions, live animals, fruits, fish,
poultry, hides and skins, furs. stone,
ores and metals, timber and lumber,
manufactured cotton, flax and
hemp and manufactured tobacco
the list of articles being identical for
each country. This treaty wentinto
effect September IL, 1854, and con-
tinued to March IS, 1865. The trade
between the two countries under the
treaty showed a very great increase.
During our civil war, under the
double influence of anger over the
movements of rebel refugees in Canada
and of the competition of Canadian
products with those Of the border
states, that treaty was denounced by
the United States, and our markets
were in effect denied to Canada. 1t
should have been amended, not nulli-
fed. Canada has changed her policy
from free trade to protection, and
undertaken to make her own manu-
features instead of buying ours. In
addition to protective tariff for their
own products and manufactures which
has drawn our capital in large amounts
into Canada, they have recently
allowed TO the manufactures of the
mother country discriminating tariff
33 per cent lower than that which is
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