The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-25
urcarIyrHE SUGAR BARREL.


clearly revealed than when the free sugar
clause was inserted in the Mckinley farm
bill With long practice at deception. the
majority in Congress. when that measure
for the further oppression of the poor for the
benefit of the rich was being considered, made
a great flourish of trrnpets about sugar
being one of the necessaries of life, and
demanded for that reason that II
should be placed on the free list. Although
il was one of the only two things
the other being rice-which afforded the
slightest benefit 10 the Southern farmer from
protection, it was to be made free, while
meacre subsidy was 20 be given the sugar
planter ms q compensation for deprivlng him
of the benefit he might receive from not be-
ing forced in competition with other sugar
producing countries. Investigation into the
matter shows that this semblance of libe-
rality was only pretense. and that IN Its SUI
gar provisions. as in everything else, the
Mckinley tariff was invented for the sole pur-
pose Of advancing the interests Of the favored
few at the expense of the suffering many.
As noted in TIE TIMES of Sunday last, after
April LIST all sugar not above No. l6 Dutch
standard will be admitted free of duty; but all
above that standard must pay duty of one
half cent a pound. But No l6 Dutch stand
ard is itselfa common. medium yellow sugar OF
the cheapest character, while. Of course. all
grades below it approach moro and more
closely 10 moasses. This makes it necessary
for the consumer either 10 he satisfied with
the poorest quality Of sugar, or pay the re-
fners the half a cent pound extra, which
they are permitted by the Mckinley
law 10 impose upon the public Thus we see
that in spite Of all the himsy pretences OF SUI
gar being free because it is one of the necessa-
ries Of life, the great mass Of the American
people are not only turned over to the tender
mercies Of few privileged sugar rehners but.
worse than that. are subject to the whims
and can, les Of that gigantic combine-already
declared illegal by the New York courts-the
sugar trust.
II seems, however, that this is not the only
radical scheme which lies concealed in this
sugar tariff. Blaines reciprocity clause was
also inserted with an eye single TO something
else than the public welfare. He, with his
longheadcd foresight saw that Mckin-
leyism. pure and simple, was certain to
work ruination to Radcalism. and so he
urged the loop-hole Of reciprocity which IS
nothing more nor less than the recognition in
n limited degree Of the Democratic principle
Of tariff reform-as n means of escape from
annihilation. Thus he saw that. il his party
could be saved at all, it would be by that
means. and he would gain the reputation of
being its savior. But even this would not
reach the summit of his ambition. He knew
that the admission free of sugars of No. 16
Dutch standard would not be sufficient 10 sup
ply the wants Of the country with Cuban
sugars still on the dutiable lists as seems to be
the case, for it is stated that Cuban sugar
cannot enter the United States free Of duty
after January 2lst. 1892, unless there IS reel
procal treaty between this country and Spain.
and that without such treaty, it will be
driven entirely from the American market.
The difficulty which lies in the way of SPANS
entering into such a treaty. however, Is IN
the favored nation clause" which would
compel her TO grant similar privileges TO
various European countries. This would
enectually prevent the United States from be-
coming a market for Cuban sugars unless
through independence or annexation of the
island. This was, in all likelihood, the main
object TO which Blaine was looking forward,
and it undoubtedly would be an additional
plume in his hat. if. through his manipulation
Of the tariff problem. the Queen Of the
Antelles should eventually be forced TO drop
into the lap of the great North American Re
public.
Thusl it seems that there were schemes
within schemes, and all more or less sell
fish, connected with the Mckinley law,
and, in fact. it looks as if it were impossible
for the Republican party to enact any legisla-
ton not tainted with jobbery. The McKin-
ley bill was one big job all through first in
the interest of monopoly and second in for
warding Blaine's ambition, and such will
always be the case so long as Republicanism
bears sway in the country. Individual in
terests must first be subserved and the public
welfare be content with secondary considera-