The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-02
AN AMERICAN TARIFF UNION

forcing their way into the markets of the
world, and Europe is turning green with
envy at our success. Even as long as we
exported nothing but agricultural pro-
ducts, the European nations regarded Us
with jaundiced eye, but now, when our
manufactured goods begin to flood the
markets of the world, they become
positively frantic and any proposition to
thwart or hamper US finds ready APP
plause.
NJ. Paul Leroy-Beaulieu, a distinguished
French economist, proposes the forma-
ton of a tariff union or economic fedora
ton on the continent of Europe TO pro-
tect the industries or those nations from
American competition NJ. Beaulieu is
very much alarmed at the aggressive de-
velopment of American commerce and in
dustry, and the only salvation for Europe,
he says, lies in a commercial and in
dustrial alliance which may ultimately
develop into political federation with
united foreign policy. The basis of this
federation is to be the tariff union with
either free trade or a low rate of pre-
ferential tariff among the members of the
union. This plan has been suggested
before. but NJ. Beaulieu's reputation
gives it additional weight. The plan may
be a good one, but it involves a great
deal of gan. 1t proposes to shut US out
of the markets of Europe. while the
markets of South America are almost ex-
clusively in European hands, which are
doing everything in their power to drive
US out completely.
This scheme, if carried out would mean
a great deal 1t could do US any amount
of harm both commercially and politically
and, therefore. deserves careful atten-
ton. There is, however, an appropriate
and very effective answer to any such
proposition. DO otlSrs as they would do
YOU" says David Harum, ''but be sure
you do them first" The same principle
applies here. If a tariff union would be
great thing for Europe it would be the
same and even more so for America
This is the accepted time We have an
opportunity and the material to start
such union and demonstrate its advant-
ages to the other American republics.
Porto Rico and the Philippines should be
given a constitution and government of
their own as soon as they are fit for
it and be joined with us into such tariff
union, the foreign affairs of which should
be entirely in the hands of the United
States. Between the members of this
tariff union there should be either free
trade or low rate of preferential tariff,
say only one-half or one-fourth as high
as against other countries. Cuba might
wish to join such a union and so might
San Domingo, which has already on sew
eral occasions before asked to be an
neXed to the United States.
The advantages would soon be appar-
ent. 1t would secure the markets of
those countries exclusively for American
-four and manufactured goods. 1t would
give their tropical products, sugar, fruits,
etc. the same advantage in our markets
and bring them uudreamt of prosperity.
OF course, even such an ocular demon
stIation might not incline our South
American neighbors to join this tariff
union. They are peculiar With our
Monroe doctrine we have built a hog
tight barbwire fence around them; but
they do not love us for 1t, and if we were
to withdraw our Monroe doctrine. the
European pigs would Immediately rush
into the clover and gorge themselves.
South America would be divided up
among them as they have divided Africa.
Yet We have protected those countries
sesir;st European aggression. And why.
We hardly know, ourselves. Not for
commercial reasons. Their trade is main
ly in European hands and they are do
Ing their best to drive us out complete
~. Such is ingratitude.
A man considers those as his best
friends with whom he does the largest
and most profitable business. He does
everything in his power to make his re,
lations with them more cordial. He
IS exceedingly careful not to offend them.
Nearly all Of our foreign commerce is
with England, Germany and France, and
IS carried on with an enormous trade
balance in our favor. By insisting on
the Monroe doctrine. We are constantly
taking the risk of offending and precipi-
tating a war with those very nations
on our commerce with whom depends our
OWN prosperity. We have hitherto taken
that risk and protected the South Ameli-
can countries without expecting any
thing in return. But It is getting time
TO teach those ingrates a lesson ard make
thsm understand that re can't afford to
protect them without any compensation
whatever. except their inGratitude and
petty nl;lice.
After we had established this tariff
union with Porto Rico. the Philippines
ana perhaps Cuba and San Domingo.
and after sufficient time had passed to
show he advantages of the plan. we