Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-29

which they are sold? / have little
patience with theltheorist who cannot
look deeply enough into the philoso-
ply OF human activity to see that the
farmer, more than any other man, is
the beneficiary the development and
general growth Of his country. His
land is worth nothing. his products are
worth nothing, unless the stream of
busy life flows all about his cherish
ed acres. The human mind is mys-
FERROUS thing. and /. is difficult to pre-
dict it's vagaries, but it may be foretold
with absolute confidence that what
ever delusions the democrats may be
able to fasten i'll the hearts of the
people, it will not succeed in its effort
to convince the farmer that protection
robs him of his just dues.
Reciprocity.
Upon the subject of reciprocity the
democratic platform is silent, and ne
cessarily SO. There is no place in the
political economy of the democratic
party for reciprocity. Insisting as it
does, upon free trade, the basis for
reciprocal trade arrangements is at
once destroyed, for there can be no
such thing unless we have tariff du-
ties which we can yield in trade. The
republican platform upon this point
declares:
I'VE indorse the policy of reciproci-
ty as the natural complement of pro-
lection. Reciprocity between nations
is trade for mutual advantage, and
both sides should give and take. Pro-
fnntinr ht1i1l, nv, inJ p1ctr
and trade and secures our own market
for ourselves, reciprocity builds up for
eign trade and finds an outlet for our
surplus"
1t is not a new doctrine in American
politics, but it was theory only until
Blaine made it living part Of our eco
nomic policy. 1t was in full force and
accomplishing great things for the bus
mess of the country when it was
stricken down by the democrats when
they come into power in 1894. Its re-
vival was provided for in the Dingley
law of 1897, and the last and most elo-
quent speech of McKinley's career was
devoted to it's explanation and defense.
In recent years 1t has not received the
loyalty it deserves Many people have
it's scope and have oppos-
ed every trade treaty which gave some
thing for the benefits received. Our
platform of this year pledges the party
to reciprocity in its true sense; that is,
the reciprocity which gives as well as
takes. We will no longer dream Of
condemning a reciprocal treaty simply
because it admits foreign commodi
ties to our shores upon terms more fav-
orable than heretofore existing, but
will examine also the volume of our
commodities which under its operation
can be sold in the foreign markets op.
ened or widened by it's provisions.
Reciprocity is called the complement
of protection, and so it is. Looking at
all other nations as hostile COMPETE
tors, protection is the banner of war,
and it bars them OUT. If, however, any
one of them approaches under flag
of truce, and is willing to make terms
for getting in, if the terms be favor
do business with this nation according
to the terms Of the treaty of peace.
Protection relates to imports-reci-
procity to exports. Protection is the
best adjustment that we can make
within ourselves to enlarge the produc-
ton of the country. Reciprocity is the
best adjustment we can make with an
other nation to enlarge the production
of our own country. The object of the
two policies is identical-to develop to
the utmost our own resources and Gre
ate opportunity for the greatest posi-
BILE amount of work by the American
worker.
Laws of Trade.
firmly believe that in the next dec
ade the test of a successful administra-
ton will be found in the laws and
treaties relating to an Interchange of
trade. / cannot dwell at this time, as
/ intend to later in the campaign. upon
the details of trade treaties, and shall
content myself with the most general
reference to the possibilities of the fu-
ture. We ought speedily to establish
a reciprocity with Canada, a country
just fairly started in it's development,
and whose markets in all manufac-
tured articles we ought to supply by
reason of the ease of our access to
them The United States is already
the largest importer of commodities
into Canada, and that notwithstanding
the fact that her preferential duties
admit England. our sharpest competi-
tor, upon terms 1914 per cent better
than they admit the United States.
We ought to obtain better terms there
than England, but il we could enter
upon the same terms the volume of
our exports to that country would be
nightly increased and thereby the
work done in the republic would be
CORRESPONDENCE multiplied. To OBJ
tain these terms, it will be necessary
that certain of the products of Canada
shall be allowed to come into the
United States under lower duties than
now prevail. Her coal, her iron ore,
and pig iron should come in free as
raw material, and the natural pro-
ducts Of her soil can be well admitted
upon the best terms we can secure if
thereby this great dominion can be
opened up to the enterprise of Ameri-
can manufacturers. We have no need
to fear the competition of Canada in
our own markets in those products
which constitute our chief exports nor
is there any time to lose in pressing
forward the negotiations for these
freer relations with Canada. Joseph
Chamberlain, England's great states
man, sees the future with clearer
fhan bic or1 1,o