traded that showed increased exports in 1893 were practically those with, which we had Reciprocity arrangements. The Reciprocity treaty between this country and Spain, touching the markets of Cuba and Puerto Rico, was announced September 1, 1891. The growth of our trade with: Cuba was phenomenal. In 1891 we sold that country but 114,441 barrels of flour; in 1892, 366,175; in 1893, 616,406, and in 1894, 662,248. Here was a growth of nearly five hundred per cent., while our exportations of flour to Cuba for the year ending June 30, 1895—the year following the repeal of the Reciprocity treaty—fell to 379,856 barrels., a. loss of nearly half our trade with .that country. The value of our total exports of merchandise from the United States to Cuba in 1891—the- year prior to the negotiation of the Reciprocity treaty—was $12,224,888; in 1892, $17,953,579; in 1893, $24,157,698; in 1894, $20,125,321; but im 1895, after the annulment of the Reciprocity agreement, it fell to only $12,887,661. Many similar examples might be given of our increased, trade under Reciprocity with other countries, but enough has been shown of the efficacy of the legislation of 1890 to justify the speedy restoration of its Reciprocity provisions. In my judgment, Congress;, should immediately restore the Reciprocity sections of the old law, with such amendments, if any, as time and experience sanction as wise and. proper. The underlying principle of this legislation must, however, be- strictly observed. It is to afford new markets for our surplus agricultural and manufactured products, without loss to the American laborer of a single day’s work that he might otherwise procure. FOREIGN IMMIGRATION. The declaration of the platform touching Foreign Immigration ist one of peculiar importance at this time, when our own laboring people are in such great distress. I am in hearty sympathy with the present, legislation restricting foreign immigration, and favor such extension of the laws as wTill secure the United States from invasion by the debased, and criminal classes of the Old World. While we adhere to the public policy under which our country has received great bodies of honest, industrious citizens, who have added to the wealth, progress, and power- of the country, and -while we welcome to our shores the well-disposed and industrious immigrant who contributes by his energy and intelligence to the cause of free government, we want no immigrants who do not seek our shores to become citizens. We should permit none to participate in the advantages of our civilization who do not sympathize with our aims and form of government. We should receive none who come to make -war upon our institutions and profit by public disquiet and turmoil. Against all such our gates must be tightly, closed. OUR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS. The soldiers and sailors of the Union should neither be neglected, nor forgotten. The Government which they served so well must not make their lives or condition harder by treating them as suppliants for relief in old age or distress, nor regard with disdain or contempt the earnest interest one comrade naturally manifests in the welfare of another. Doubtless there have been pension abuses and frauds in the numerous claims allowed by the Government, but the policy governing; the administration of the Pension Bureau must always be fair and liberal. No deserving applicant should ever suffer because of a wrong; 14
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