The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-05-11
The POLICY OF RETALIATION.

The POLICY OF RETALIATION.
The action of Germany in prohibiting the
importation into that country Of American
pork. has provoked..a great deal ofcriticis m.
Most circles of this country. all Of which
have been extremely unfayorable to and
uncomplimentary TO, the great German
chancellor through whose influence and in
strumentaliiy directly the prohibition was
secured. 1t was very foolish and absurd
not to say, entirely groundless piece OF
craftsmanship from our point Of view at
least, rather calculated 10 excite ridcule
than serious comment. 1t touched the
American pocket, however, and it is seldom
that ridicule alone is resorted to when any
otherwise foolish measure merely touches
the pocket mentioned. In some, in fact
in most quarters therefore, the action OF
BISMARCK and his parliament has been the
subject of bitter denunciation, and many
schemes have been suggested to bring the
teutons to terms. That which has been the
most generally suggested is the policy OF
retaliation proposing to exclude or place
under very high tariff many
articles of German manufacture
which now find their way
into this country with comparative ease
and in large quantities. The character
and Ingredients Of the remedy indicate
the physicians whose prescription it is. 1t
is another appearance on the scene Of in
tsrnational commerce Of the protectionists.
1t has long been favorite policy OF this
class OF our citizens to urge protection I'M
der the guise of retaliation, hoping thus
more readily to catch the ear of the public
and legislator by appealing to their .pas-
sions and prejudices. Such articles as we
get from Germany now at Gel tain prices
we are to buy under the relation policy
from A merican manufacturers NJ the in
eased rate necessary to keep the foreign
articles out. The same policy has been
urged in our commercial dealings with
England, France, Spain, and in fact
with every other country of note.
"A lew manufacturers III hihSiion Nouiu o'
greatly benefited thereby, while, as usual,
the masses, the purchasing public, would
b. compelled to suffer and throw away their
money by paying double prices in a fit oil
national spite. The scheme, like all Others
originating from the same source, is too
transparent, and it 10 not likely that the
government can be Induced to make, so TO
speak, fool of ITSELF by adopting it as a
policy. Aside from the partial effects
merely o such policy and the illy.con-
cesled selfshness in its suggestion, it is
from anything like rational or business
point of.view, utterly absurd. The old, ex-
pressive, but homely expression, "cutting
Off one s nose to spite the face" is directly
applicable to the case, The wisdom of the
course indicated by the expression has
never been very generally applauded, ana
IL would be strange If II should lose III
force when applied to the transactions
arising in the commercial history of ma
tons. Wisdom dictates that we should
continue to look to our own interests, what
ever other people may do, and five can
purchase German manufactures, of better
quality and for less money than we can buy
them at home, we should certainly, on
plain business principles, do 80, notwith-
standing Prince BIsMARcK's aversion to the
American hog five lose by the Germans
autagonism to our meats we should not
certainly want to increase our losses by on.
ablng few manufacturers in this country
in a moment Of national spite, to rob the
public further. II will do for the small boy
to learn, by gradual resort thereto, that
the policy of retaliation was always and IL
ever q poor one, but ullgrown men and
full-nedged nations should appreciate the
fact without argument or further export
ence than that furnished in the irrational
and hot.headed days of youth. Our Pro
tectionist brethren will have to suggest
some better remedy for bringing the Ger
man empire to Its senses about the i'm
pOrtation of American meats.