The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-22
TnriiIs nnd .Lrce Trnhc.

10 the Edllor or Inc io6t
Houston. Texas, April 10. The tariff
question hobs up seronely every once in a
while. The Dingley tarfi nor any other
viii down 1t, The advoeatcs of free raw
materials Won't let il rest, and all Of
those who see in The present tariff laws
their own particular industry a little less
favored or perhaps injured, are elamor-
ing for readmstment. This in the
United States! Now ono Of our recent
acquisitions puerto Ricol, which would
like to do business with the power which
dominates her and controls her destnios
in the pursuit OF happiness. sees in the
plain and simple proposition OF free trade
Il remedy for tho starving condition That
exists among her people, and. strange TO
relate, harder sull to believe some Uf the
most bralay men IN the republican party
tstalwart professionalism favor this plea
OF the Puerto Ricans for free trade. -
This is strange, because no essential
difference exists between the advantag
Of free trade to the people of the United
States with Puerto Ricn under our sover-
eighty or as an independent power. or
under any other foreign jurisdiction. Poo
pla trade--not governments People in
the United States Will seek the most
profitable markets to buy aud sell ia and
win ind them, IL laws are not passed in
restraint OF trdde--and the Puerto Ricaus
or any other people can sell their prod
ucts here and buy OF Us what they need
only AS the transaction Is profitable TO
boih parties. unhnderel by arbitrary
laws. And no country under the san hut
needs some OF our products. and from all
we would gladly buy Il the proper free-
dom were allowed us in the matter
81 80. snf a. Grad ~
but is the chief source Of the corrup,ionist
fund expended in perpetuating the evils
OF monopolies under which the people at
large are suffering Brae trade would
solve the problem OF market for our
surplus products would make the forma-
lion Of trusts that are hurttul 70 the
people almost Impossible, and would force
system OF taxation direct and eqmable
instead OF one indirect, mystihying. mis-
directed and unequal, The fact that a
free trade policy by The United states
woud result in the incidental prosperity
Of other people with whom We tradcd is
not 20 be deplored on the contrary, the
increased ability Of the paupers Of En-
rope and Aaia TO purchase Of NJ would
be matter OF congratulaton, and profit,
too No policy having for it's sim the
mpovershment OF other nations could re
suit ultimately 10 the benefit of the uniled
States Logically considered, policy
beneRting the United states at tho ex-
pense Of other nations. carried out con
slstently. would result 10 such impoverish
ment OF foreigners that the generous peo- !
plo Of the great Republic would donate
FUNDS 10 prevent their starvation. That
is what we are asked to do now on a
small scale. Puerto Ricans have been
plundered by the government In fayoy oil
certain industries or. rather, e1ploiia-
lions, and the people at large are asked to
support them in their distress There
same people, generally as consumers, have
been taxed already to bring about state
Of affairs they are now asked to alleviate.
Reciprocity has bean extQled. adYoaa1
illustrated. beatihed eyea, by such re-
markab6 men as James G. Blaine. Re
clprocity Is simply free trade IN broken
doses and perhaps Littleheld OF Maine
may 20 the late lamerted Blaine one bet