The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-02-19
w. c. T. U. DEPARTMENT
For God and Home and Nntipe Land.
RECIPROCITY DEFINED

DEAR UNION S1GNAL:-At last we
women begin to understand what is
meant by "Reciprocity" as applied to
governments.
At the request of American MASTERS
and brewers a circular letter, dated
December Is, 1889, was sent out from
our department of State instrrcting
American Consuls to Central and South
America, Mexico and West Indies, to
obtain "as much information as posi-
BILE concerning every phase of the malt
and beer business"
These Consuls obey, and their re-
plies are given to the public. "The
Argentines are not primarily beer
drinkers, but the taste for it might be
encouraged"
In the Bahamas the Consul thinks,
"it will take time and patience to cul-
tivate among the people a taste for
American lager" But with brewers to
furnish incentive, with the Secretary
of State to outline and indorse, and
our Consuls to serve as agents, certain
" this branch of education need not
languish.
From the same source, presumably
land the Department of State makes
no deniaD, the Consuls to above named
countries in America, together with
those to Egypt, South Africa, China,
Japan, Australia and the South Sea
Islands, make extended reports con
the use of refrigerators, natural and
manufactured ice for the preservation
of foods and liquids"
This is reciprocity! This is our able
Secretary of State, who halls from
Maine, and ten years ago gave most
valuable testimony about the increase
of sobriety, industry, and wealth in his
state under the prohibition of beer and
other liquors! How does this effort
to extend the beer trade, and debauch
all nations that will "reciprocate," COM
pare with the testimony and indorse-
ment in Maine above cited?
This is American progress at the
close of the nineteenth century, when
throughout Christendom, statesmen,
scientists, philosophers, journalists, re-
formers, missionaries, prie is and pre-
lates are trying to find the lever by
which world of want, and woe, and
degradation may be lifted up-whon
Good men everywhere are seeking the
best way to apply the principles of
Christ's teachings to the physical con-
ditions of humanity, that it might be-
come possible to improve it's moral
conditions.
Oh, shame to our civilization! Shame
to our Christian government!
Is it not enough that we have brok-
en- faith with China. and failed to keep
treaty with our own Indians7
Is it not enough that by order of
government beer halls are established
in National Soldiers Homes, and can
teens at military posts?
Is it not enough that by order of
government beer halls are established
in National Soldiers Homes, and can
teens at military posts?
Is it not not enough that the United
States government stands to-day re-
sponsible that the great powers of the
earth did not enter into Joint agree
ment to abolish all traffic in liquor,
dynamite and firearms with Africa
and the Pacific Islands?
Will this government continue to
permit its machinery to be used for
purposes so base?
As under the last administration our
Secretary of State defeated the hui
name effort of strong nations to pro-
tect the weak and savage, shall this
administration permit it's Secretary of
State to direct the debauching of weak
er nations under the cover of "recip-
rocity?"
With iron pen the future will record
it's condemnation of this infamy.
CLARA G.. HOFFMAN.