The record-union., 1895-08-29
NOT A QUESTION OF RETALIATION.

The Chicago Tribune, under the edito-
rial title ''For California Only" refers to
the declaration made in many parts OF
this State in favor Of patronizing home
industries, with the criticism that the
policy may prove unwise. The Tribune
looks upon such declarations, the express
sions of the California press and the re-
marks of speakers at meetings held in
the interest of California promotive
schemes, as evidencing disposition to
boycott everything manufactured at the
East" and it adds:
The proceedings at this and other reported
meetings indicate that there is movement
on foot in California to prac tlcaIly boycott
everything manufactured in the East ana
that it is gaining ground. The extent to
which 1t is approved may be open 10 ques-
ton, but there can be no doubt as TO the
resent advocacy of this latest embodiment
of State rights, which has for its slogan
california for the Californians." or that It's
promoters, the manufacturers OF California,
propose to work" the people under cover OF
this narrow conception OF State loyalty.
They want TO sell AL they can TO the people
of other States, but wish the people OF their
own State TO buy nothing from the others III
return.
1t seems not to have occurred to those peo-
pie that il they succeed in putting an en-
largo on everything from the East they may,
unWittingly, oVerreach themselves by IncIud-
ing in the embargo Eastern capital and East
ern immigration, both OF which are much de-
sired by dWellerS on the taclnc slope. tNl-
IDENTIFY they have not stopped TO thlnk what
would be the consequence TO themselves OF a
retaliatory policy under which the people OF
all the other states should refuse to their
markets the fruits, wines and other products
of California. Yet this Is what they might
iegitimately expect If their State persisted in
its policy OF exclusion, ana IS Wnat tney
would deserve In the absence of informa-
ton to the contrary, it is fair TO presume
that they do not contemplate the passing OF
laws formally discriminating against tue
products of other States, as that would make
serious trouble for themselves with the Cen
eral Government. Hence no retalaiory laws
would be called for IN the different States
But the people of California may depend
upon it that if 1t be once known they are
practicing policy of exclusion as result Of
personal influence or otherwise they viii find
that more than two can play at the game"
and probably Will discover that they have
made huge mistake in trying to isolate
themselves In one direction but not in the
other. 1t would be a bad thing for the fruit
growers and wlne-makers OF California to dis
cover that they had cut off all but the Cali
fornia market for their products.
The Tribune ia needlessly alarmed and
wholly misconceives the spirit of our peo-
pie. There is involved in the declara-
lions referred to nothing of States rights
nor of a narrow and boycotting disposi-
ton. On the contrary, what the people
of this State are encouraging is that, all
other things being equal and the right of
the consumer to buy in the lowest and
best market being recognized, our home
manufacturers and products should be
conserved by the patronage of our own
people If not they will perish.
There is nothing in this of reproach nor
of narrowness. If we mistake not, a
laudad virtue of Chicago is the loyalty of
its people to local interests. 1t has been
we'll said that Chicago men are always
for Chicago and Chicago production first,
and IN this no other part of the common
country finds cause for complaint.
Californisns are fully aware of the
claims of reciprocity. but they would be
less than deserving citizens if they re-
fused to buy at home that which can as
well be had at home. The suggestion of
the Tribune that because we would buy
our potatoes of our farmers, our ma
ohinery of our mechanics, our woolens Of
our mills and our supplies of home pro-
ducers instead of ignoring them and i'm
porting everything We consume. there
fore the East might retaliate by boycott
ting the products we send out, is childish
and absurd. We are fully aware that
there Is no such thing as sentiment in
trade; that if we cannot compete honestly
and fairly aud on merit with Eastern pro-
ducers in their own market We cannot ex-
peot their patronage. The suggestion OF
retaliation is unbecoming in journal of
the character of the Tribune. We appre-
hend that it would be among the frs: to
complain if any one should urge upon
the people of Illinois to purchase Califor-
MIA supplies to the neglect of as good and
cheap goods produced in the Sucker State.
THE opinion is gaining ground at the
East that the Defender has no easy task
before her. The Valkyrie shows lines in
riu nf