The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-01-20
THE MEXICAN RECIPROCITY
TREATY

/ The MEXICAN REUlPIVUiI1
TREATY.
| The negotiations for a reciprocity
treaty with Mexico are attracting great
attention among the people OF both
countries aud particularly those of
Southern Louisiana. Our sugar planters
express establishment that tue friends Of
the treaty should advocate the FREQ adj
mission of Mexican sugar alone. Why,
they say, is our interest the only agricul-
tural interest attacked 2 The consump-
ton of sugar in the United States is
enormous, and hence its price must be
held to be reasonable, as otherwise the
amount consumed and the $47, 5000
over in custom duties would not be
paid.
The greatest complaint of the people
recently, they allege, has been the high
price Of provisions. Last year wheat,
-four, oats and pork were SO high as to
make the expenses of living greater than
they ought to be. Our laborers, receiv-
ing good wages aud their houses and
garden and farming lots free, so that
their economical position is as good, If
not better, than that of their Northern
and Western brethren, found their re-
sources severely taxed by the high
prices of food. If, then, the government
wishes to establish free trade with Mex
leo, why select sugar alone and exclude
wheat, barley, -four, oats and cattleY
These constitute food and should be
made as cheap as possible.
There arc over 100000 laborers i'll Lou
isiana interested i'll the production of
sugar, and why should the price of the
product of American labor be cheapcued
for the benefit of Mexico7
If it be alleged that political reasons,
looking to the future annexation of
Mexico, require an entering wedge like
the reciprocity treaty to be driven, even
at the expense of domestic interest, yet
this does not explain why tho food of
the people should rot be cheapened to
the toilers of the nation by admitting
cheaper wheat, -four and cattle from
Mexico. Why impose all the sacrifice of
our annexation policy upon the sugar
laborers and planters Of Louisiana
Whatever diplonatists may deny, the
belief is widespread that the policy and
men urging the ratification Of the recip-
rocity treaty, ars taking the first step
leading to the annexation Of the North
ern States OF Mexico to the United States
1t may be that President Arthur and
Secretary Freliugbuysen arc looking to
commercial and railroad interests and
development, but they have been reared
Oh tho Atlantic slope and do not fully
realize tho instincts, projndices and as
pirations Of that portion of the West and
South that, believing in the manifest
destiny of our Republic to absorb with
in its limits "tho Halle Of Montezulna,"
"Ao iIoiN III iStlou Jill NY JIG 10y al
and good faith of our Government, and
who would look upon free trade between
Mexico and the United States as an all
nexation pro taato, soou to embrace polit-
ical as we'll as commercial consolidation.
All of our people may not desire this
end, but tie class that sympathizes with
the idea of the extension of the Republic |
by the absorption Of another stretch of |
Mexican territory, is energetic, cnthn-
siastic and ready to put in practice their
peculiar faith if the treaty be ratified.
Our statesmen should consider we'll
The wide reaching effects of the adoption
Of the reciprocity policy rs pressed Oh tho
administration. 1t is true that the &C
luiescence of the Mexican Government
indicates that its present leaders arc
willing to be absorbed into the model
Republic, but the question is, are we
for itR