Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-21
WHEN RETALIATION rs Bs,pT.

In his message to the New York lcgis
lntue approving the retaliatory insur
ancc law, Governor Morton said that
while tetaliatory legislation is not usu-
ally to be commended, il should he
enacted for purposes of self-defense
and the protection Of our business in
| terests whenever IL appears that any
other state or country Is unwilling to
accord to our citizens reasonable re-
ciprocal privileges within its domin-
ions. Governor Morton in writing this
very likely had in mind other circum-
stances inviting and iustifying retalia-
tion besides that of the exclusion of
American insurance companies from
Prussia. He Is aware of the fact that
Germany and other countries of Eu-
rope have prohibited the importation
of American cattle aud that the policy
of discrimination against American
products by certain European countries
is a growing one. This spirit of com
mercial unfriendliness. which was in
large part abandoned through the eff
forts of the last republican administra
ton, has within the last two years
been more strongly and more widely
manifested than ever before and the
promise is that if nothing be done to
check its growth there will i'm few
years be established such general Sys-
TEN of discrimination in Europe against
the products of the United States rs
will have most damaging results to our
commerce.
Governor Morton Is right in the opin-
ion that retaliation is justifiable for
purposes of self-defense and the pro-
lection of our business interests, and
the question of resorting to 1t may COM
mand the serious consideration of con-
gress and the country at no very re-
mote time. Referring in his annual
ernmcnts in regard to our products. Mr..
Cleveland said: "If an examination of
the situation suggests such measures
on our part as would involve restric-
tions similar to those from which we
suffer, the way to such n course is easy.
1t should, however. by no means be
lightly entered upon. since the necessity
for the inauguratio of such policy
would be regretted by the best senti-
ment of our people and because it nat
urally and logically might lead to con
sequences of the graveSt character"
There should be an Investigation by
congress of the regulations by Euro
pean governments mfavorablc to Amer
lean products and If these are found
to be based upon alleged causes that
the right of our government to adopt
retaliatory policy. 1t is said that there
is imported into the United States an
nually from European countries very
large amount of merchandise which
could properly be excluded on the
ground of adulteration and impurity,
while great deal more could be shut
out, without disadvantage to the masses
Of our people, by prohibitive duties.
AS the president says. the way to a
course of retaliation is easy.
A commercial warfare is to be avoided
as long as there Is any hope of defend
ing and protecting our business inter
eSts without 1t, but we should not per-
petually submit to unjust discrimina-
ton until every means of remedying
1t have been exhausted. There is little
reason to doubt that in this matter an
aggressive course on the part of the
United States would have the desired
effect of inducing European govern
ments to abandon, or at any rate
greatly modify the policy which dis
eliminates against American products.