Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1911-08-01
DEMOCRATIC RECORD.

Ing ny reciprocity lIOM pilAC'QAS
must have short memories. The rec
ord proves quite the contrary. The
democratic party, as constituted in
congress, always plays politics. 1t
is for reciprocity when reciprocity
promises trouble to the republican
party and against reciprocity when
reciprocity promises prestige to the
republican party. In 1890 congress
enacted a law providing for rect.
procity treaties, and Brazil, Cuba,
Porto Rico, then under Spain, Sal
vador, British West India, Mic
aragua, Guatemala, Costa RIGA,
Honduras and other countries en-
tered into agreements with us. Un-
der this arrangement the trade be-
tween those countries and the Unit
ed States increased very satisfactor-
lily and experience was proving the
judgment of the republican party
in enacting the law and of the re-
publican administration in negoti-
ating the agreements. In speaking
of the advantages under the reci-
procal relations at that time, VIM.
Mckinley said in his letter of ac-
ceptance, bearing date of Angus.
q, 1896:
Another declaration of the re-
publican platform that has my most
cordial support is that which fav'
ors reciprocity. The splendid re-
suits Of the reciprocity arrang &C.
ments that were made under the
authority of the tariff law of 1890
are striking and suggestive. The
brief period they were in force-ir
most cases only three years-was
not long enough to test their great
value, but sufficient was shown by
the trial to conclusively demonstrate
the importance and the wisdom of
their adoption. In 1892 the export
trade of the United States attained
the highest point in our history.
The aggregate of our exports that
year reached the immense sum of
$1,030,27S,11S, a sum greater by
100000 than the exports Of
any previous year."
That was the judgment of VIM.
Mckinley in 1896 regarding the
actual working operations of reci-
procal agreements entered into by
the United States government with
number of foreign countries.
What did the democratic party, now
pretending to be in favor OF reci-
procity, do with the compacts they
found in operation when they took
the reigns of government in 1898?
They did just as would be expected
of a party that thinks only of party
expediency. They didn't give con-
tinental for the fact that the coun-
try was being benefited by reci-
procity. They saw only the other
fact that the republican party
would also be benefited. hence the
democratic congress repealed and
repudiated the reciprocity agree
ments just as soon as it could get
to them.
The democrats in congress now
profess to believe that reciprocity
with Canada, as exemplified by the
Taft-Knox agreement, will prove a
good thing for this country, but the
record Of the party upon this luesI
ton fully justifies the conclusion
that they are only playing politics.
The republican party has for
years advocated the principle OF
reciprocity, but no platform of the
party has ever contained certain
specific detailed information for the
guidance of congress and the pres
ident, hence republicans in congress
are at liberty, even when giving
due consideration to platform dec
larations, to use their judgment as
to the desirability Of certain agree
ments with certain countries. Hence