National Republican., 1883-02-22
The Treaty with Mexico.

The New York Trib inc editorially expresses
the opinion that the reciprocity treaty with
Mexico should not be considered by the sem
ate until next December. 1t recites the ad-
vantages of the treaty, and is unable to find
anything in it Objectionable; but 1t would
postpone until December. 1t applauds the
senate for removing the injunction Of Sc
crecy, in order to give the public look at
it, and an opportunity for discussing 1t.
Its contents have been known for
a month, and finally its text
has been printed in all the papers.
Every newspaper which ever will express an
opinion on the subject has now done so, and
every senator knows exactly how he is ex-
pected by those newspapers to vote. But yet
the Tribune would postpone lest the public
discussion be not full and adequate" The
senators generally have given the subject of
the treaty much thought and most of them
have probably heard its features explained by
the commissioners who negotiated 1t. But the
Tribune wants "an exhaustive consideration Of
this neW q subject" and so 1t moves that
it go over until December. That able journal
has mastered the treaty at a single reading
and has evidently been less able than willing
to find anything Objectionable in it. Yet it is
awfully afeared that the great benefits we are
to derive from it may be prematurely con-
ferrcd and too hastily enjoyed. 1t tsuggests that
as we have but just abandoned the policy of
reciprocity on the northern frontier, we ought
not to resume it on the south without mature
reflection and deliberate action" The Tribune
then answers its own words and refutes its
own argument in the following handsome and
conclusive manner:
A comparison Of these schedules with the free
list Of the former reciprocity treaty with Canada
aud the maritime provinces reveals one important
distinction. While each il measure Of free trade,
one places The products and manufactures of two
countries in competition with one another while
the other does not. For example, in the treaty
with our northern neighbors, breadstu4s of all
kinds, coal, live stock, hides and timber were the
| prominent entries in the free list. In the pro.
! posed treaty with Mexico, with the exception OF
sugar and tobacco, there is no free trade in common
products, Timber appears in both the free lists
| but mark this distinction: the woods which grow
on each side Of the northern border are the same
whereas the importation of Mexican mahogany
and other tropical woods will not affect the value
Of native woods in the Uniled States.
Mexico is to admit from this country free
of duty what she does not herself produce
and the United States is to admit from Mexico
what is not produced in this country. The
exceptions are sugar and leaf tobacco, and
the latter is not of class that is grown in
this country. As to sugar, Mexico is mo-
likely to export any during the six years thC
treaty would run. There is really no col
lision of interests. The two countries merely
throw their markets open to each other
each for what only the other produces. TIL,
Tribune writer has demonstrated the wisdom
Of the treaty and exhausted the subject. But
having done so, he comes forward with his on,
objection, to wit-that its present ratification
would be too sudden. He wants il ratified
slowly. He says;
While therefore, this free trade treaty shoul,
| not be capriciously or ignorantly opposed b.
northern protGctionist and southern producers,
should be thoroughly discussed and deliberatel,
acted upon. For this reason, we are convince,
that the senate should lay 1t upon the table unit
| December.
The treaty is beneficial in every way
therefore do not let 1t go into effect. 4, Tn
senators must certainly all understand it a
woli as does the editor of the Tribune, but ye
II would be " a mistake" for them to vote upol
1t now, because they are too busy. The logi
of this is about as apparent as that of tn
drunken old topper who, having been aske
to explain the reason for his vohementl!
expressed admiration for the name of Hannah
replied: " Because my mothers name wa