New-York tribune., 1905-07-22
REVISION RUINOUS.
Prosperity of This Country Due
Chiefly to Tariff.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Noting the items and extracts from many
sources in The Tribune regarding the coming reci-
procity convention. TO be held in Chicago next
month 1 should like to contribute something
this subject 10 the interesting and popular letter
columns OF The Tribune
If the general prosperity Of ths country is not
due TO the tariff laws more than to any other
cause. then to what is It due? From being de-
pendent upon foreign manufacturers have be-
come thoroughly independent and the largest
porters Of many classes of manufactured and
partly manufactured products In the world.
Through protection we have been enabled to i'm
prove the standard OF artisans IN every respect
and greatly Improve their proficiency.
The American people. ons and all. are the bene-
hciar!es Of our tariff laws. which have lifted labor
above the plane of slavery and imposed its wonder
ful benencence upon the willing and the unwilling
believer in their principles.
That the last general election carried by
satisfied and desirous for the continuance OF exist
ing conditions there can be reasonable doubt.
and not by revisionists. Reciprocity is faded
emblem Of past political prescience. which, like
many other themes. has had it's days. II was at
time considered a great political virtue but.
like all merely visionary ideas. when investigated.
To treat the theme fairly would be TO suppose
be SO Justly arranged that both parties to the deal
would be benefited. The very suggestion reduces
otherwise a fanciful figure Of speech The Vision
Of some statesmen. the reciprocity OF a Blaine or
clear headed competing powers for commercial
supremacy and business advantage. the condi-
t9ns leading to the deal may warrant or permit Of
The reciprocity advocated by Mr.. Blaine was in
accord with the protective principle in that it only
proposed to exchange our manufactures and prod
ucts for such goods as we require. but could
produce.
There Is nothing whatever to be gained for US
from reciprocal trade treaties with other manu-
featuring powers. and certainly not with those
countries having raw and food products only or
largely in surplus. Therefore. It leaves nothing
for US to gain from negotiations of this sort and
when entered into can result only in disappoinJ-
ment. Commercial trade and the demand for our
goods in the worlds markets are not secured In
this way. Quality. price and trade conditions with
direct solicitation the part OF manufacturers
and exporters, alone can hnd and hold these mar
kets.
Where foreign manufacturers excel ours IN quail
ity Of goods there will be a market here for some
or their goods. no matter how high tarin NAV
be Wherever our goods excel the foreign there
is no importation OF like goods kere. and the for
eien market Is eager for them
world markets cannot be got by treaty, but must
be had by industry and merit. The protective
tarin alone has been the nstrumentality that has
In so short a time aided industry and achieved A
high standard of merit in many lines OF manu-
facture and Improvement in culture and handling
of raw products. BY its continuance shall In
tme excel in the highest arts n W. F'COTE
New York, July 10. 1s0o-