The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-12-23
GRESHAM ADMITS IT
Germany Has a Good Cause, Though
Urged Underh ndedIy.

! Washington, Dec. 22.-There are in
d1cations, il may be said on high official
authority, that the European nations
are gradually coming together and TAX
ing steps to Shut out not only American
beef but American pork as Well The
loss or the entire foreign EXPORT trade
depends on securing the passage of a
amendatory legislation, and yet the
present condition of affairs in congress
Is such that that is going to be a hard
/ thing to secure until the interests at
stake have presented the matter to con-
( gress In the proper light. As the thing
! now stands Germany is fully justified
I IN retahatlng against not only the cat
/ tie trade but any other American pro-
! Duct and it may single out America
! by name on general principles. So far
the general policy has been to strike
at our cattle interest by pretense of
fear of contamination by a Texas fever
! and Sillier mythical diseases
| There is nothing to prevent Germany
| going further. and there are hints that
petroleum will be the nett article plac-
edunder the ban. To certain extent
/ tins might be a good thing Thus far
the efforts to secure the necessary legis-
lation in congress have been thwarted
by the firm position taken by certain
eastern representatives and senators.
III an eastern industry is threatened
they may have their eyes opened to the
TACT that, so long as Germany can as
sert that a solemn treaty obligation has
been broken and so long as the secre-
tary of state of this country admits
, the tact, the United States may, with
out just cause of complaint on our
part be absolutely barred out Of the
markets OF Germany and possibly of
other European nations.
Secretary Gresham is fully alive TO
the gravity of the situation. but he is
/ utterly powerless to do anything him
self. Nothing can be done TO annual an
act of congress by means of any new
treaty. and congress must itself sup
ply the remedy. The Republicans in
the senate have taken the stand that
no tariff legislation of any kind can be
permitted at the present session. Mr.
Vest and some of his associates have
threatened to bring up the finance COM
mittee sugar bill. which cuts off the pro-
lection of refined sugar. and as this
measure is on the calendar and has
been favorably reported by the commit
tee. 1t has up to the present time the
right of way.
The representatives of the cattle in
terests who have been here during the
week have become convinced that il
VIII be impossible to secure the legis-
latiOn they desire by means of the
measure now before the senate. They
viii probably, therefore, introduce in
Dotn the senate and house a simple lit
tie bill either repeating the discrimi-
mating duty Of lilo of a cent Ter pound
altogether, or else limiting il To refined
sugar. as was the case under the Nc
kinley bill. The German government
wants to have raw sugar free but that
is absolutely impossible 10 secure at
the present session. If the eyes Of the
members of the senate can be opened
and If some sort of a pledge can be ar
ranged that no further legislation Will
be attempted in this direction the cat
tlemen ought to be able to repeal this
discriminating duty. and this action
would at once set this country right
with Germany. for however much the.
Germans may object TO duty on raw
sugar they cannot assert that II is a
violation OF treaty obligations.