The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-01-17

i. The resolution Of Mr.. Anthony offered
\ In the Senate, and the bill Of Mr.. Town.
( shed in he House, look u the same general
end, measures Of retaliation against those
governments which exclude American
food products. Obviously the intention Is
i to load the diplomatic gun with something
that will hurt when 1t hits, and aim It well
at France and Germany, which have put
the American hog under the ban. Every.
body knows why our swine flesh Ia ex.
cluded from the ports Of those countries.
Trichirp is tho pretex'; but protection to
(, the home swine industry Is tho reason.
German workingmen have petitioned
the government not to deprive them OF this
cheap md Wholesome article OF food.
! German experts have declared that 1t is
not prcjudjcial TO health. Investigation
! has shown that our hogs are not
diseased. But the prohibition remains.
We have no right to object to any measure
Of protection with which any country may
choose 10 protect its interests, but we have
a right 10 retaliate. Our hog is prohibited
under circumstances peculiarly aggraye.
ting, ior the prohibition is based upon a
Islander.
In his last annual message the President
suggested that the Executive be given dis.
cretionary authority to suspend importa.
tons as it might be thought we'll TO sus-
pend at any time. Mr.. Townshend's bill
authorizing the President during recess
OF Congress to prohibit any importations
prejudicial to the public wealth. from
countries which, on the same ground, pro-
hibit the importation OF American PRO.
ducts, would be step in the right
direction. But It does not 10
far enough. There is no reason
why we need dodge behind
prete1t, which might force us to follow the
exchange Of France and Germany and
Bolemnly. declare what we know to be false.
We can afford to predicate any necessary
action on the mere bnsis Of retaliation. II
a foreign government will give it's people
dear food We can add to the popular dis.
content by restricting their employment,
and reducing the earnings Of capital and
, labor. The common people would under
stand that argument; We should have them
to act with ut; and there is not govern
in Europs that could withstand the pres.
sure.
Mr.. Townshend's bill should be- amend
ed in another feature, 80 that the President
might act at any time, during the session
as well as the recess OF Congress, subjec.
always to the paramount authority OF Goa.
gress. Bills are no! put through Congress
in an hour, and it might happen tha.
prompt action would produce the best re-
suits.
Assuming that We shall need pretexts it
has been suggested that we could prohibit
German hosiery on the ground that it is
colored with poisonous dye SUITS preju.
diclal to health; and tue wines OF France,
particularly those manufactured at Dor.
deaus, from the cheap and nasty wines Of
Italy and Spain. Either OF these pretex,s
would be good, for they rest on truth. We
might also pay some attention 10 the silk
dress goods Of France, particularly black
silk broad goods, on the ground OF fraud
which the consumer can detect only in the
wem; for these silks some loaded with dye
stuff some times to eighty per cent OF their
weight, dye stuff being much cheaper than
silk.
Ample authority and little ingenuity,
which would be no severe tax ON the Yam
kse mind, would put us in position to make
Germany and France very sick OF their job.