Evening star., 1902-01-16
ReciDrOcity,

Francis B. Thurber, president of the
United States Export Association, and a
prominent New Y ork merchant. in a state
nent submitted yesterday to the ways and
means committee advocating reciprocity
with Cuba, said:
Il am republican and protectionist,
but there is reason in all things; and l be-
lieve that there should be a power above
Unreasoning protectionists to say what is
reasonable.
THE permanency of a protective tariff
will largely depend on this. and 1 contend
that it is shortsighted on the part of our
protected industries not to recognize
changed conditions, and that unless they
are recognized there will come a ground
swell of public opinion which will go to ex-
tremes on the other side and be disastrous
to all of our industries. This was the view
of William Mckinley, who could not be
considered an enemy to American indus
tries. 1t is especially shortsighted on the
part of our domestic sugar growers not to
be willing to make liberal concessions at
the present time in the tariff on Cuban
products.
The Star, on more than one occasion since
Mr.. Mckinley spoke at Buffalo, has sound
ed this same warning. 1t is worthy of the
attention of the republicans in Congress.
They are responsible for legislation, and
Mr.. Roosevelt in his annual message has
fortified with expressions of his own the
sentiments delivered by his predecessor in
that last memorable address, Reciprocity
is both feasible and advisable. 1t is a
sound business proposition, capable of be-
ing worked out on lines of safety and
profit to American industries, and, what is
more, the extraordinary volume of our
manufactures demands that this be done
If it is not done; If matters are postponed
and disaster from unsold products results,
the republicans win be held to account,
and will pay the penalty at the polls.
AS respects Cuba and sugar, the Louis
lana democrats are working in harmony
with those republicans of uncompromising
protection leanings. The alliance is neither
new nor startling. But it would be well
for the republicans to face the whole situa-
ton frankly. These democrats have no
other interests in view but those of sugar.
They are protectionists no further And
they will not even be grateful if they Sc
cure the protection they desire for sugar,
and the republicans are called to answer to
the people for refusing to liberalize Ameri-
can trade with foreign countries. If the
present opposition to reciprocal arrange
ments for trade with foreign countries
wins, and becomes the issue in a national
CdHlpdlSn' anu tiie ueInocrdtlc party asks
for power, the Louisiana democrats al
though partly responsible for the republi-
can position, will vote to turn the repub-
licans out They are far and away the
nimblest gentlemen engaged in politics in
this country. The figure on a weather vane
in a stiff wind doesn't face about with more
ease
The first consideration of course is a
safe business policy. That the party in
power must keep constantly in view And
that end it will best serve by steering clear
of all entanglements with those who have
no national policy Of any kind, and who
are not in sympathy with any tenet Of re-
publicanism which does not directly benefit
their own states interests.