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: I “We favor the policy of reciprocity, so directed ae to open our markets on favorable terms for what we do not ourselves produce in return for free foreign markets.” I That 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 more of them. The Republican party DOW 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 to reciprocity matters is now stated in unequivocal terms, and no American interest need fear while that party 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 iteen beuefitted 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 J. 899 for 31 cents per pound. In short, the wool producers almost doubled the price of their wool under a protective tariff. Posters “<>” and “H.” Two remarkably effective campaign posters tire ready for distribution by the American Protective Tariff league. They are entitled respectively “Poster G” and “Poster H.” “Poster G” embodies the splendid prosperity figures of “Uncle Sam’s balance sheet” revised and corrected so as to include tlih official statistics of the fiscal year ended June 30, 1900. “Poster II” is a pTctiiresque illustration of “That Terrible Eclipse” of 1893-6 and the restoration of the unobscured sunlight of prosperity, 1897-1900. Taken together, “Uncle Sana’s balance sheet” (“Poster G") and “That Terrible Eclipse (“Poster H”) present with extraordinary distinctness the contrast of conditions as they existed under Democratic free trade in 1896 and under Republican protection in 1900. These posters can be seen very generally in the headquarters of local Republican committees, or they will be mailed to any address for 8 cents. Address, Ameincan Protective Tariff league, 135 West Twenty-third street, New York. Under, the present administration the United States is sending coal to Newcastle,’ cottons to Manchester, iron to Russia and. machinery to all the world. The Democrats promise to stop this business when they get into poxver.