CONQRESa (TiiE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.) 



207 



.international trade balance-, and 

 prosperity of our people. Already we 

 in to hear 1'runi abroad, innl from our 



the proliil.it"!-> etl'eet UjM.II i III|H .rtllt i"HS 



',"t ju-titied. The iin|M)rtM at 



rk tor the tirst three Weeks Of No- 

 were nearly s per edit, greater than for the 

 iixl in 1 s1 -'.', aii.l _".' per cent, greater than in 

 period ot' Is--; and so far from bcim; an net 

 I'orts. I eonti.letitly believe that miller it 

 un- a larger ami more pn.tital.le paitici- 

 '.iii in forciifii trade than wo have t-ver enjoyed, 

 that \\eslnill reeo\vr a pro|M>rtionate part iei pa- 

 in the oeeaii carrying trade of the world. 

 he criticisms of the hill that have conic to us 

 .111 foreiirn sources may well be rejected for rcpug- 

 \ If these critics 'really believe that tin- adp- 

 ti 'hy us of a tree trad.- policy, <>r of tariff rates 

 i-eiiee solely to revenue, would diminish 

 irtieipation of their own countries in the com- 

 of the world, their advocacy and ]>roniotion by 

 and other forins of organixed effort of this 

 iveiuent among our people is a rare exhibition of 

 eltishncss in trade. And, on the other hand, if 

 ey sincerely helieve that the adoption of a protect- 

 -tJiritl jM.liey l.y this country .inures to their profit 

 1 our hurt, it is noticeably strange that they should 

 ,d tin- outcry against the authors of a policy so 

 helpful to their countrymen, and crown with their 

 those who would snatch from them a substantial 

 of a trade with other lands already inadequate 



i their lice, cities. 



["lure is no disposition among any of our people to 

 otnote prohibitory or retaliatory legislation. Our 



adopted, not to the hurt of others, but to 

 ure for ourselves those advantages that fairly grow 

 of our favored position as a nation. Our form ot 

 i-cnimciit, with its incident of universal suffrage, 

 kes it imperative that we shall save our working 

 I'll- from the agitations and distresses which scant 

 and waires that have no margin for comfort 

 et Hut after all this is done it will be 

 in! that our markets are open to friendly commer- 

 exchanifcs of enormous value to the other great 



From the time of my induction into office the duty ot 

 ill:.' every power and intlueiicc iriveii by law to the 

 litive department for the development of larger 

 ets fop our products, especially our farm products, 

 been kept constantly in mind, and no effort has 

 m or will be spared to promote that end. We 

 under no disadvantage in any foreign market, ex- 

 |>t that we pay our workmen and workwomen better 

 .L'csthan are paid elsewhere better abstractly, bet- 

 relativelv. to the cost of the necessaries of life. I 

 not doom that a vcrv largely increased foreign 

 le is accessible to us without bartering for it either 

 home market for such products of the farm and 

 p as our own people can supply or the wa.ircs of 

 r working people. * 

 In munv ot the products of W<HK! and iron, and in 

 a anil hreadstutls. we have advantages that only 

 better facilities of intercourse and transportation 

 re for them lanre foreign markets. The reci- 

 iause of the taritt act wisely and effectively 

 .ens the way to secure a large reciprocal trade in 

 exchange for the free admission to our ports of certain 

 products. The riirht <>f independent nations to make 

 reciprocal trade concessions is well established, 

 and does not impair either the comity due to other 

 - or what is known as the u favored-nation 

 generally found in commercial treaties, 

 is ifiven t" one for an adequate agreed con-id - 

 can not be claimed by another freely. The 

 i the revenues was such that we could dispense 

 with any import duties upon cotl'ee, tea, hides, and 

 the lower grades of sii_Mr and molasses. That the 

 .'e advantage resulting to the countries producing 

 1 f\p>rtiiiL' these articles by placimr them on the 

 1 list entitled us to expect a fair return in the way 

 'customs concessions upon articles exported by us 



to them wn M> obvious tliut to have t'ratiiitotiMy aban- 

 doned this opportunity to enlarge our trude' would 

 have been an unpardonable error. 



There were but two methods nf maintaining control 

 of this question OJH-M to ( 'ongres* : to place allot' them; 

 articles II|H.II the dutiable lint, subject to Mich treat \ 

 agreements a could be secured, or to place them all 

 ple-.-ntly ll|N.n the free list, but subject to the reim- 



positioii of specified duties it'the countries from which 

 we received them should refuse to give to un suitable 

 reciprocal Itcncfit*. This latter metlnMl. I think, |x- 

 CSfloa great advantages. It expresses in advance the 

 consent of COIILTCSS t.. reciprocity arrangement* affect- 

 inif these products, which must' otherwise have been 

 delayed and unascertained until each treaty was rati- 

 fied by the Senate and the necessary legislation en- 

 acted oy Congress. 



Experience has shown that some treaties looking 

 t" reciprocal trade have failed to secure a -wo-thirds 

 vote in the Senate for ratification, and others, having 

 passed that stairc, have for years awaited the concur- 

 rence of the House and Senate in such modifications 

 of our revenue laws as were necessary to (five etl'eet to 

 their provisions. We now have the concurrence of 

 both Houses in advance, in a distinct and definite 

 offer of free entry to our ports of specific articles. 

 The Executive is not required to deal in conjecture 

 as to what Congress will accept. Indeed, this reci- 

 procity provision is more than an otter. Our part of 

 the bargain is complete; delivery has been made; 

 and when the countries from which we receive sutfar. 

 coffee, tea, and hides have placed on their free lists 

 such of our products as shall be agreed upon, as an 

 equivalent for our concession, a proclamation of that 

 fact completes the transaction ; and, in the im an 

 time, our own people have free sugar, tea, coffee, and 

 hides. 



The indications thus far given are very hopeful of 

 early and favorable action by the countries from 

 which we receive our large imports of coffee and 

 sugar; and it is confidently believed that if steam 

 communication with these countries can be promptly 

 improved and enlarged, the next y ear will show a 

 most gratifying increase in pur e.\i>orts of breadstuff's 

 and provisions, as well as of some important lines of 

 manufactured goods. 



In addition to the important bills that became laws 

 before the adjournment of the la.-t si ssi..n. some other 

 bills of the Highest importance were well advanced 

 toward a final vote, and now stand upon the calendars 

 of the two Houses in favored iiositions. The present 

 session has a fixed limit, and if these measures are 

 not now brought to a final vote all the work that has 

 been done upon them by this Congress is lost. The 

 j.roper consideration of these, of an Apportionment 

 hill, and of the annual appropriation bills, will require 

 not only that no woiking day of the session shall l>e 

 lost, but that measures of minor and local interest 

 shall not be allowed to interrupt or retard the pro^r- 

 r. -- ..t' those that arc of universal interest. In view 

 ot' these conditions I retrain from liriniriiiif U-fore you 

 at this time some sutrifestioiis that would otherwise 

 be made, and most earnestly invoke your attention to 

 the dutv of perfecting the Important legislation now 

 well lutvanci-d. To some of these measures, which 

 seem to me most imjH)rtant, I now briefly call your 

 atten'ion. 



I desire to n peat, with added iir-reney, the recom- 

 mendations contained in my last annual message in 

 relation t<> the development of American steamship 

 line-. The reciprocity clause of the tarirt bill will lxs 

 largely limited, and its Ix-iictits retarded and dimin- 

 ished, it' provision is not contcm|>oraneously made to 

 encourage the establishment of first-class steam com- 

 munication between our ]*>rts and the jx.rts of such 

 nations as may meet our overtures for enlarged com- 

 mercial exchanges. The steamship, cam ing the 

 mails statedly and frequently, and offering ' 

 senders a comfortable, safe, and si>eedy transit, is the 

 first condition of foreign trade. It carries the order 

 of the buyer, but not all that is ordered or bought It 



