The weekly Thibodaux sentinel. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 1898-1905, 1900-10-13
MOTIFS AND COMMENTS


On the Republican Congressional
Platform, Adopted ct New Iberia.
In my last paper, the space at my
did not permit me 70 con
clude the brief historical review Of
the past treatment of sugar by the
Republican party, in which the Re-.
publican platform - makers Of this
congressional district profess to find
guarantee for the continued protec
ton that party will afford
I therein showed how President
Grant, aided by . large Republican
following in congress, had triel to
force the annexation of San DOmln
go which would have given US free
sugar. l further showed how he had
given US free sugar from Hawaii, and
how Mr.. Mckinley had saddled free
trade with that country forever By
annexing it.
further showed how the Demo.
Gratis in congress had fought these
projects of annexation and free
sugar, and how President Cleveland
had stood out firmly against the
Hawaiian scheme.
I shall now proceed with the his
Corical sketch.
In later years, when it became
again necessary to reduce the reve
nues of the government, and to seek
new markets for the manufactured
products of the NORTH and East, the
famous reciprocity doctrine was
evolved by the Republican party and
put in operation by it 70 the detri
meuN - se..s~sy eA~-sia- moat 1iustancee
| the duty on sugar was reduced under
the reciprocity treaties. The doctrine
of reciprocity is still adhered to by
the Republican party. which in itt
platform of 1896 declared "prOtec
ton and reciprocity are twin meas
ures of the Republican policy, ant
90 hand in hand" Reciprocity un
der the Mckinley tariff OF 1890 wa'
practise1 with sugar producing coun
tries, and their sugars we're admitted
free.
| In still later years, when it agair
became necessary to reduce the re
venues, TO stop the accumulation o
q vast surplus in the United State
treasury, ths Republican party II
the passage of the famous McKinle.
bill Of 1890, entitled IAN act TO re
duce the revenue and equaIize dutie
lon imports, etc." placed sugar o.
the free list, against the protest Q
the sugar planters Of Louisiana.
Thus was sugar put on the IRE
| list for the first time in the history q
the country; and to justify the
} action the Republican press and til
Republican leaders throughout tn
union preached to the people tt
, benefit Of a "free breakfast table,
that is, free sugar. They preache
this doctrine in the campaigns
: 1890 and 1892, with the view
9 thoroughly iudoctrinating the Amer
can people with their theory OF fr'
sugar.
It is time that in puttir
sugar on the free list they allows
r the sugar producers the delusi,
! bounty; but this was only a NAL
= shift granted for only IA years, al
y which would have expired in 100
y Had this arrangement: Of the Reru
d Iican party, regarding sugar, be'
.. carried out 40 intended, the incide
I tai protection to sugar would ha
been doomed foreve:. After hfte
years OF free sugar, the Americ'
10 people would have been loath to 9
re a tariff again placed on II, and as
the bounty. it proved 80 unpopu'
!. that no party would have dared
advocate It's extension.
ss In 1894 the Democrats repeal
he the unpopular bounty and restor
u sugar to its former position on
to dutiable list. True. the duty "
e. not as high "a We could wish, but
en- the face of strong Republican
be position q return TO correct prin
i's pies was effected and the sugar
,e. dustry was saved from the impendi
,st doom which was certain to overts
rs, 1t at the expiration Of the boun
ia had the precarious condition in VII
m, the Republicans had put it been
RI lowed to continue TO exist.
ms 1t is true that after the Democr
on had reblazed the way by putt
70 sugar back on the dutlab'e list
ar. Republican cong, ess raised the d
ais on sugar in the general tariff Law
1897, but is it possible that our
o. publican sugar planters have alre'
forgotten the part which Sens
McEnery and our three congressr