Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1890 — MR. BLAINE ON SUGAR. [ARTICLE]

MR. BLAINE ON SUGAR.

Hli Well-Known Views on Reciprocity Presented in Another Letter. Senator Frye Friday received the follow ing letter from Secretary Blaine: “Dear Mr. Frye—l have your reply U :my letter, and am glad that the essential jpart of it has been given to the press. You ;ask me what assurance I haveas to Spain’t willingness to enter in reciprocal arrange ments of trade with (he United States. Your question surprises me, for you can 'not have forgotten that only six years age jthe Prime Minister of Spain,in his anxiety 'to secure free admission >toour markets Tor the sugar of Cnba and Porto Rico, agreed to a very extensive treaty of rocity with Mr. John W. Foster, then our minister at Madrid. A year before—in 1833—a very admirable treaty of reciprocity was negotiated by General Grant and iMr. William H. Trescot, as United States commissioners, with the republic of Mexico—a treaty well considered in all its parts and all its details -whose results Would, I believe, have proved highly advantageous to both countries. In view of the pending discussion it is a somewhat singular circumstance that both these treaties of reciprocity failed to secure the approval of Congress, and failed for the express reason that both provided for the free admission of sugar. Congress would not then allow a single pound of sugar to come in free of duty under any circumstances whatever. And now the proposition is to open our ports free to everybody’s sugar, and to do it with such rapidity tnat we are not to have a. moment’s time to see if we cannot make a bettor trade—a trade by which we may pay for at least a part of the sugar in the pro*, ducts of American farms and shops. “Our change of opinion has certainly been remarkable in so brief a period - . In-, deed, the only danger of Our not securing advantageous treaties of reciprocity now is the possible belief on the part of those countries that we are so anxious for free sugar that, by patient waiting, they can secure all they desire without money and without price. Fearing that result, I sought an interview with the eight Republican members of the committee on ways and means more than five months ago—to be exact, on the 10th day of last February. I endeavored to convince them that it would be expedient andwisetoleaveto the President, as the treaty-making power, an opportunity to see what advantageous arrangements of reciprooal trade could be effected. I was unable to persuade the committee to take my view. I mention this circumstance now because it has been, charged in many quarters that the suggestion for reciprocity came too late. In fact, my effort was made before tbe tariff bill 1 was reported to the House or even framed in committee. “It is, I think, a very grave mistake to oppose this reciprocal proposition touching sugar from the fear that it may conflict, in some way, with the policy of protection. The danger is, I think, wholly in the opposite direction. Let us see what is proposed. Our government has heretofore collected a heavy duty from sugar, amounting one year, in the aggregate, to $58,000,000, and averaging fifty millions per annum for a considerable period. We wish now to cheapen sugar by removing the duty. The value of the sugar we annually consume is enormous. Shall we pay for it all in cash, or shall we seek a reciprocal arrangement by which a large part of it may be paid for iu pork, and beef, and flour: in lumber,and salt, and iron; in shoes, and calico, and furniture, and a thousand other things? In short, shall we pay for it all in cash, or try friendly barter in part? I think the latter mode the highest form of protection, and the best way to promote trade. “I address this note to you, as I did my first, because you have taken an active and most intelligent interest in the increase of our trade with South America. When shall we enlarge our commercial intercourse with that great continent if we do not now make a beginning? If we now give away the duty on sugar, as we have already given away the duties on coffee, and hides, and rubber, and get nothing in exchange which shall be profitable to the farm or factory in the United States, what shall be our justification for the policy? You have recently received congratula tions, in which I cordially join, on carry* ing the shipping bill through the Senate. Do you not think that a line of ships generously aided by the government will have a better prospect for profit and for permanence if we can give to them outward cargoes from tbe United States, and not confine them to inward cargoes from Latin America? lam sincerely yours,

JAMES G. BLAINE."

Postmaster General Wanamnker has had several conferences of late with President Harrison, at which the Louisiana Lottery has been the subject of conversation, and it is said that it has been about decided by the administration that something must be done to put an effectual stop to tbe operation of that corporation. The President and Postmaster General concede that the present statutes designed to reach the lottery schemes are totally inadequate, and it is largely due to the influence of the administration that tbe Senate Committee has started in to prepare a bill making the mail for lotteries of every kind unavailable. This would have the result of retlieving the Postmaster General of the necessity of exercising his discretion. It is also probable that the provisions of the law applicable to individuals conducting lotteries will be extended to their agents, and to all agencies acting for them, and by this plan the letter will be excluded from the right to receive registered letters mnd money order letters the same as their principals. The bill will be reported at once.

The two census supervisors for Colorado have so far completed their work as to be able to announce that the population of the State will be very close to 400,000. The three largest cities In the State, ontside of Denver, are as follows: Pneblo, 27,455; Leadville, 18,865; Colorado Springs, 11,200. Democrats at Kansu (Sty passed resolutions in opposition to the Federal election MIL ■ ■-