The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-01
DIsriN6UIsHABLE by ITS SELFISH.
NESS

Y
7 it is regarded theoretically at least as one
. of the most dscreditable characteristics OF
I man. II has been reserved for those who
are enjoying the profits and privileges oil
) protection, however, in this country to ex-
/ hibit the choicest and most marked speci-
mems of the sentiment. They do not at
tempt to disguise their selhshness often,
but even when they do the COW
ering is so gauzy that the
motive is readily discerned. The
interests of the people, the glory Of the
couatry, the principles of justice ana right
are nothing when in conflict with the per-
sonal interests and the individual aggran-
disement of these men who are lattening
upon the bounty of successive tariff con-
crosses. In fact, the protective tariff inter
est can invariably be detected in any and
all of its movements by its supreme all
absorbing selfshness. While we are at
tempting TO open Mexico, through re-
cprocity treaty, to American trade, and
turn into the channels of exchange in this
country the commerce that isnow beingmo
nopolzed by England and other European
countries and that promises so much for
the future, we hear from certain limited
class of citizens great cry of remonstrance
| against the proposed treaty. The secret ofthe
opposition to the treaty is found in the fact
that among the articles OF Mexican manu-
facture and growth, to be admitted free of
duty, is sugar. The people of the whole
country are interested in having cn ap
sugar. A reduction by n free importation
of sugar, of two cents on the pound, would
save thousands upon thousands of dollars
to the consuming public of this country
annually. There can be no valid objection
urged against its importation in such way
further than that it will compel Louisiana
aud few Texas planters, perhaps, to sell
their own sugars to the people somewhat
cheaper, without seriously injuring them.
Such m objection is obviously worth moth
ing when weighed in the scale against tn e
interest of the population of the whole
country, but it is being made A recent
Washington dispatch says. "A memorial
demonstrating against the confirmation OF
the Mexican treaty has been presented TO
the senate. 1t 10 signed by well-known
eastern importers ana reliners OF sugar. The |
chief bjection to the ratification is expressed |
as follows; we are informed that the treaty |
admits certain grades of Mexican sugar
duty free. The consequences of which, while
a duty of over cents per pound is imposed
upon other imported sugar, would be to
give bounty of cents per pound, equal
to so per cent. on the cost TO the sugar
planters of Mexico, at the expense of the
public Of the United States.
This has been proved by experience, under
a similar treaty with the Hawaiian king.
dom, and we submit there can be no grosser
injustice than thus to practically impose q
heavy tax upon our citizens for the benefit
Of foreign sugar planters. These i'm
poriers and reliners in the east, who are
now getting rich of the duty Oh sugars, are
insisting that the citizens of this country
shall continue to pay them the ,
cents per pound imposed by the
tariff and the treaty with Mex
leo be defeated under the cheeky and false
that such a treaty would inn
pose "a heavy tax upon our citizens for the
benefit of foreign sugar planters" Any
sane man knows that il the Mexicans,
whose sugar is to be imported free, expect
to compete with our own planters and de-
rive the full benefits of the trade under the
treaty, they must undersell our own dealers
and not, as these retiners say they will do,
increase the price of their goods up to the
notch at which all other sugars are held.
That they will attempt to control the mar
ket by undertaking, and that they can I'M
dersell those who mustpay duty, is plain
business proposition. The fact is,
that these eastern gentlemen simply
and nationally fear having to come
down in their own prices by such
and little do they care about
the imposition OF heavy tax upon our
citizens for the benefit Of foreigners, The
is but another illustration of
the selilshness and spirit of robbery of the |
whole class Of protcctionists and the false
and absurd arguments by which they |
attempt to bolster up and continue sys-
TEN antagonistic to both right, reason,
Justice and common sense.