Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-10-01

could enter upon the same terms the
volume OF our exports to that country
would be nightly increased and there
by the work done In the republic
would be CORRESPONDENCE multiplied.
To obtain these terms, 1t will be nee
essary 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 IL
thereby this great dominion can be
opened up to the enterprise OF Amer
lean 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 q clearer
vision than his associates, and ere
long his plan will be the plan OF the
English administration. He knows
that II England were to impose duty
upon the agricultural imports from the
United States and permit those same
exports from Canada to enter free,
and thereby induce Canada to raise
still higher her barriers against the
United States in manufactured articles
and lower still more the barriers
against the imports from England
in manufactured articles, he would
at once deprive the United States
Of its best customer, promote
the business OF the English man.
ufacturer, and bind the colony
to the mother country with chains
Of enduring strength. We must
thwart the designs of Great Britain,
and reciprocity is our most effective
weapon. Confronted by such an emer-
gency, the democrats are helpless and
powerless, for when they have insti-
tuted their system of free trade, we
are at the mercy OF the intelligent
statesmen of Europe. .s.- ....
France may be instanced as another
nation with which diplomacy can work
wonders for American trade. Sub
stntially all our agricultural pro-
ducts, and many others, now en-
ter France under discriminate
ing duty against us Of % per
cent as compared with the IA
vored nations. A treaty, negotiated
upon our part by the most illustrious
son that Iowa has given to the field of
international politics, is now before
the senate. 1t gives us equality in
France, and what we surrender Is so
little that it would not create ripple
upon the industrial waters. 1t ought
to be ratified, and l doubt not will be
so soon as the republican voice is fair.
ly heard upon the subject. Should the
democrats prevail, however, 1t must
fall into oblivion, for when free trade
comes in We have nothing to give and
therefore can take nothing save that
which we conquer in hot commercial
warfare. II Is quite true that our ex-
port trade Is insignificant compared
with our home trade, and so il will al.
ways be-, but to keep It and increase
1t, Is absolutely essential to our con-
tinued prosperity. Least of all can we
afford to adopt policy that will per.
NIT the gradually developing re-
sources of other countries to drive our
agricultural products from foreign
markets or impose upon them dis
eliminating duty and the administra-
ton which, by the Introduction of free
trade or the neglect of opportunities
for reciprocal trades allows this con-
sequence to fall upon the farmers of
the United States, will go down into
history under the fierce condemnation
of all the people. have not hitherto
mentioned, nor can develop at any
length, the beneficial effects of reel.
procity with the South American coun-
tries. One has but to examine the In
creasing trade which followed the re-
ciprocal treaties which were so sense
lessly abrogated by the democrats in
1894 to know that there Is no field in
which our statesmen can employ their
abilities with greater rewards than In
the cultivation of closer commercial
relations with the South American
continent, With American lines of
steamships established between the
ports Of the United States and the
ports of South America, and with fair
trade arrangements. we can com1nefr-
cially dominate these undeveloped
lands for all time to come. Mark my
prediction, that In the ensuing quarter
of a century, trade arrangements, By
whatever name they may be called.
will be the most prominent and i'm
portant subjects of discussion and de-
cision. not only in our own countr.'
but in every country of the civilized
world. How indispensable and unpa-
triotic II would be to cast away In the
very beginning of this great struggle
the only weapon with which we can
fight our way TO victory. r. ..
Before close my consideration nf
the tariff and Of reciprocity, must e.
fer to some peculiar conceptions
which my friend Sullivan has of its op-
Grafton and effect. There was a diff
ference Of opinion in 1897 among re-
publicans, and still Is, respecting the
wisdom of putting the duty on lumber.
Il Is one of those differences which
viii always exist, and / am not coc-
tending against the modification of the
duty. desire, however, to point out
the exaggerations for which Mr.. Sui
livan seems to be responsible. TAX
ing the prices of lumber in 1897 as a
guide, the average duty put upon 1t
was less than per cent of its selling
price, and yet, In the fervor of his love
for free trade, Mr.. Sullivan says:
There Is not a man within the
Sound of my voice who does not know
1T to be fact that when the Dingley
"act passed, the price Of lumber In
every form was increased from 20 to