Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-07-03

There are now forty.eight beet sugar
refneries in the United States, having
a daily capacity each Of from $50 to
5000 tons Of beets. OF these, seven
teen are situated in the state OF Mich.
igan, fifteen in the west, ten in the
states bordering on the Pacific coast,
and two in New York.
The abolition Of the European beet
sugar bounties place beet sugaFlds
dustry in more favorable trad son-
dition than it has heretoiot6 been;
but, just on the threshold Of a com.
plete and permanent establishment OF
an industry calculated to make our
country independent Of all foreign
nations to this staple product, and
promising to make us large exporters
Of sugar, in addition to supplying
our home consumption, comes the de.
mand on the part Of sentimentalists
to partially open our markets to the
sugar from Cuba.
The government Of the United
States, in the interests Of humanity,
took the part Of the struggling peo-
pie in Cuba, rescued them from a con.
dition Of gross mis-government, es'
tablished for them q free government,
and by our protection guaranteed
them from interference on the part
Of any other nation. When we had
done this, We had done all that hu.
msnity demanded, or that neighborly
interest could inspire. 1t was not
our duty to rob our own people and
to ruin any promising and growing
industry in our own nation iD order
that they might be further benefited.
After We had given them all the
rights and privileges which we enjoy
our duty ended. 1t was then our
plain and paramount right to look
after our own business and the inter.
ests Of our own people, at the same
time guaranteeing them the right to
do the same. Should they at any time
desire to become part Of the United
States, opening their ports free to the
agriculture and manufactures Of the
United States, we would then afford
to extend them a like courtesy, and
admit freely the most favored pro-
ducts Of their land, they also bearing
a part Of the burdens Of government
imposed upon us. But, while they
reserve the right to tax our products,
we should also reserve the right to
protect our own and to protect them
fully.
Again, protection to American in
dustries has always been one OF the
cardinal principles Of republicanism.
The lamented Mckinley insisted that
the United States could produce Its
own tin and that industry should be
fostered and protected. 1t being then
barely probable that we could sue
cessiully manufacture tin, great hue
and cry was raised against him, and
after the protective duty on tin was
levied, creating a temporary increase
in the price, peddlers were sent all
through bis congressional district
with tinware for sale at an exorbitant
price to the people, they explaining
that the duty imposed by Mckinley
on tin had made the dinner pail cost
double what 1t had before.
In that campaign Mr.. Mckinley
was defeated for reelection to con.
gress, but like the able and courage.
GUS statesman that he was, knowing
that his position was right, he sui-
iered defeat willingly, knowing that
the economic principles for which be
stosd should be 'vindicsted. And
who, today, looking upon the splen-
did results Of that one act, can deny
that be was a great leader and an
able and courageous statesman.
But now, at the instance Of senti.
mentality run daft, II is supposed
that this cardinal principle be set
aside in the interests Of Cuba, and
that the growing and splendid beet
sugar industry Of our country should
be put back, in order that the Cuban
plantations may be made more prof
liable, and the people Of Kansas, with
out having fully considered the ques-
tion, without having informed them.
selves upon the issues, relying upon