Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-04-20
Reciprocity Defined.

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At last we women begin to under
stand what is meant by "Reciproci
ty'' as applied to governments.
AT the request of the American
N altsters and brewers a circular let.
ter, dated December 10. 1899, was
sent out from our department of state
instructing American consuls to Cen
trail and South America, Mexico and
West Indies. to obtain ''as much in
formation as possible concerning ev-
cry phase of the malt and beer bust
ness
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"
''MeXicans will quickly acquire the
habit says our Mexican consul
Surely with such a teacher as the
great American government!
In the Bahamas the Consul thinks,
sit will take time and patience to
cultivate among the people taste
for American lager" But with brew
ers to furnish incentive, with the sec
rotary of state to outline and indorse,
and our Consuls to serve as agents,
certainly this branch of education
need not languish.
From the same source, presumably
(and the department of state makes
no deniaD the Consuls to above NAM
ed countries in America, together
with those to Egypt, South Africa,
China, Japan, Australia and the
South Sea Islands, make extended
reports E'on 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 prohibit
ton of beer and other liquors! How
does this effort to extend the beer
trade, and debauch all nations that
will ''reciprocate, compare with the
testimony and Endorsement in Maine
above cited?
This is American progress at the
close of the nineteenth century, when
throughout Christendom, statesmen,
scientists, philosophers, journalists,
reformers, missionaries, priests and
prelates are trying to find the lever
by which world of want, and woe
and degradation may be lifted up
when good men everywhere are seek
ing the best way to apply principles
of Christ's teachings to the physical
conditions of humanity, that it might
become 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 Indians?
Is it not enough that by order of
government beer halls are established
in National Soldiers Homes, and
canteens at military posts?
Is it not enough that the United
States government stands to-day re-
sponsible that the great powers of
the earth did not enter into joint
agreement 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
humane effort of strong nations to
protect the weak and savage, shall
this administration permit its secre-
tary of state to direct the debauching
of weaker nations under the cover of
"reciprocity?"
With iron pen the future will re-
cord its condemnation of this infamy
CLARA C.. HOFFMAN.