Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1900 — GENUINE RECIPROCITY [ARTICLE]

GENUINE RECIPROCITY

That Which Does Not Sacrifice the Principle of Protection. No plank in the Republican platform will more strongly commend itself to the voters than the reference to reciprocity, which is in the following language: "We favor the policy of reciprocity, so directed as to open our markets on favorable terms for what we do not ourselves produce in return for freo foreign markets.” Thqt doctrine will be indorsed by every protectionist. It is the interpretation of “reciprocity” which we long have sought and mourned because we found it not. It definitely excludes such travesties of reciprocity as the French, Argentine, Portuguese and other treaties in which some American interests have been compelled to suffer injury in order that others might profit. In the absence of an explicit definition of reciprocity in previous Republican platforms it has been possible under the guise of “reciprocity” to negotiate treaties of this kind which were ill-advised, unjust and destructive of the principle of protection. The Chronicle vigorously opposed all of them and regretted that some stalwart Republicans and protectionists were inveigled into giving them approval. There will be no mure of them. The Republican party now stands committed to sacrifice no American interest for the sake of promoting foreign trade. That will precisely suit the fruit growers and wool growers of California, who have usually been selected as victims when sacrifices were to be offered. But while local interests may to some extent have spurred The Chronicle to its efforts to defeat proposed treaties the main ground of its opposition has been that they violated the principle of protection, which is the chief bulwark of Republican doctrine and the safety of all of us. The Intent of the Republican party in regard io reciprocity matters is now stated in unequivocal terms, and no American interest need fear while that partj’ is in power. It is a happy ending to a controversy which has been annoying and will solidfy the party in this state and elsewhere.—San Francisco Chronicle. The wool growers and sheep raisers have been benefltted to an unparalleled degree by the return of a protective tariff. During a Democratic administration and the Wilson tariff medium wool sold for 18 cents per pound In 1896. During McKinley and a protective tariff medium wool sold in 1809 for 31 cents per pound. In short, the wool producers almost doubled the price of their wool under a protective tariff.