The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-25

taliation against government which merely
follows our example. In fact, Germany's action
is retaliation, and the cry of stop thief cannot
change the true condition OF things We have
more to learn. We are not so great and indie
pendent to enable us to defy the laws of politi-
cal economy and the amenities of international
trade with impunity. We have been told again
and again that our true policy was to shut up
our manufactures from the competition of the
world, and that all nations thus excluded would
be compelled nevertheless, to buy our bread
stuffs and provisions; that they could not do
without them. We are greatly surprised and
indignant when one important customer
says he can get along without
the use of our products and forbids
their coming in. We propose to retaliate. For
whatl For simply and frankly forbidding them
to be imported. Suppose instead of doing this,
Germany had imposed duty of 100 per cent.
on them, which would as effectually prohibit their
importation, what then! Where would be our
so-called retaliation! The undersigned can see
nc difference whatever in the two methods of
prohibition, so far as the results are concerned;
only that one is manly and direct, whilst the
other is indirect, and based on a false pretense.
Our great meat industry must indeed be cared
for. 1t, with kindred agricultural industries,
furnishes nearly all our foreign trade and they
deserve all that Congress can do for them. But
this bill does not propose the true way to do it.
This way is to remove as far as possible all the
restrictions upon trade and the enlargement of
the market for our farmers products all over
the world by liberal treaties and tariff laws.
1.-THE last section of the bill is especially OBJ
jectionable not only in the proposed retaliation,
but in relation to referring the whole matter
to the executive. We propose thereby to arm
the chief magistrate of constitutional repub
lie with the same arbitrary power over com
merce as that now exercised by the Prime Min
lister of feudal European despotism in order that,
on equal terms they may inflict mutual injuries
on their people. until one or the other gives in.
This, too, whilst Congress is in session, and the
representatives of the people are present, ready
to say if they wish to begin this and on
what articles of commerce they prefer the fight
to be made The section in effect is the abdca-
n-of the powers and duties of Congress and
the delegation thereof to the better judgment of
the President If such measures of so-called re-
taliaton toward Germany or any other
nation should be deemed necessary or advisa-
BILE, imprimis, let Congress say so, and likewise
prescribe all the details of such measures and
the articles on which the struggle is to be made.
1t is the Presidents business to execute the
laws, not make them, and it is certainly the
duty of Congress to make them, and not to shift
the task
''Those sections of the bill which will
provide for an inspection of meats designed for
expectation, and which forbid the importation of
adulterated and unwholesome articles of food or
drink constitute proper legislation, and whilst
not regarded as sufficiently thorough, are yet in
the right direction. When perfected by expert
ence and sincere desire to give the world
wholesome food, which it is not doubted all our
producers entertain, in the opinion of the under
signed all will have been accomplished that is
desired by the friends of the bill.