Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-08
COMMERCIAL RETALIATION.

Globe-Democrat Retaliation is not a de-
srable policy but sometimes it is necessary
in order to impress upon another nation the
fact that the United States must be fairly
and justly dealt with in matters of trade as
well OF politics.
Detroit Free Press The tone of the Ger
man press in their comments on the with
drawal of the exemption Of German vessels
from tonnage dues by this government shows
that they do net like to be done by as they
havo been doing" us.
Chicago Pest: The proclamation of the
president is just and inevitable. 1t may
lead to a compromise and readjustment Of
the trade relations between the two coun-
tries. The effort TO secure the repeal of the
discriminating duty on sugar will also doubt
less be renewed but nothing is to be eX-
pCcted from the next session of congress.
Philadelphia Record The outbreak of a
little tariff war with Germany is not likely
10 lead to anything more serious than COM
merclal Inconvenience As the cause of the
outbreak lies in failure on the part Of the
German government to observe treaty 3tipu-
atiOns with reference to the imposition OF
tonnage dues. so the cure lies in the will
ngness Of that government to make good
its default by keeping faith.
New York World: Whatever the imme-
date cause for the presidential proclamation
svsDending special exemptions from tonnage
duties granted German vessels in our ports,
the real reason for il is the long-continued
discrimination OF the German imperial gov
ernment AGAINST American Imports If
little retaliation will teach Germany to
initiate cur wise policies rather than our
bunders, it may be a very good thing after
all.
Philadelphia Ledger 1t would be better,
of course if a cordial understanding could
be reached between Germany and the United
States permitting greater freedom of COM
meTCe under reciprocal agreements such 80
that under which the collection Of tonnage
duties was suspended but we, in this ccun-
try, have nothing to reprOach ourselves with
in this matter, having suspended the collec-
tiCn of duties until the German states REIN
pose tax upon vessels sailing from American
ports
Baltimore Sum- The maritime states OF
Germany imoCse on American vessels GER
tain taxes, or charges, which we do not inn
pose on German vessels, and the president
rctaliates with a view of securing equality
OF treatment. hs the proclamation does not
take effect until JGnuary 2, 1897, no hard
ship is imposed on vessels now at sea 1t is
not impossible that the authorities at Ger
man ports may within the next week or two
see their way to the removal of the charges
President Cleveland objects TO, in which case,
by prompt apt!on, they mayAperhaDs retain
their present advantage.
Chicago Record: $hese retaliatons ana
counter-retallaticns are, of course, serious
injury to American trade. TIE president
must hHucTStllfu tRin lfCl, even WHO ne rec
ognizes the necessity of giving Germany as
harsh treatment as she has besn administer
ing TO us. THO whole trouble is the fruit of
the action Cf the Bifty-third congress, when
IL recklessiy abrOsated one Of tHe vital princi-
pals of the American tariff policy. The in
suit to Germany has brought ua into direct
conflict with ore, Of our best customers In
the European market. 1t should be one Of
the lrst duteSblldhe incoming adm!nsra-
tion tu restorgreciprocity with Germany and
mako a vigorous effort to put an end to this
costly retalatOTy warfare.
Chicago Chronicle: Possibly CONNER
cal war may lrCslHt II so it will be the
fault OF GermaBy or separate German
states. They thaEe no reason to complain
Of the proclamation. If they DO not like
1t they have Snlg to treat our vessels as
they agreed apd 80 wc have been treating
theirs for tho lsst nine years. But they
may make it 4 pretext for further acts OF
exclusion directed against American prod
ucts. They have found It somewhat df-
cult to reconcile their own consumers to
those acts, but now that they can point to
the preslderts proclamation as a hostile
demonstration they may be able to induce
their people to submit to still worse thingS
for the protection Of German landlords.