Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-12-18

procity lies in the field Of competitive pro-
duction, actual or potential, and II lie my
desire at this time TO bring the questions
which there arise so clearly before the minds
of the people that they will consider them
Understandings and decide them accord
ing to the very right Of the matter. There
are some things that must be ssumed in
the Investigation of any subject.
81. That reciprocity treaties Will be ne
gotiated with intelligence and patriotism
IN both sides. 1t is always gratifying to
our pride to believe that We are a little
better, clearer and more farseeing than
the people of other countries. but it is not
safe to proceed upon that hypothesis with
respect to commercial treaties.
"2. We must assume that any such treaty
or bargain will nave the effect of Admit
ting to the United States competitive COM
modities upon better terms than there
tofore they received; that Is to say, upon
such terms as will enable the foreign pro-
Queer TO at least fairly compete with the
home producer, and therefore 1t is not
only probable but reasonably certain that
any such arrangement will result in d.
minishing the output of the home producers
in those things upon which our duty is
reduced or removed.
1.-THE conclusion Is inevitable that in the
great majority of cases a reciprocal treaty
respecting competitive commodities would
interfere and injure some home producer
or producers, and If that fact be a bar to
the operation of the principle let us at
ono abandon 1t. I for one, however, am
willing to be counted among the ranks
of those who believe that this consequence
is not a bar and that great public policies
should not be viewed from so narrow and
ilnberal a standpoint. The purpose of any
such treaty on our part would be to open
up a new market or enlarge n already
discovered for our products, and II those
who are charged with the responsibility
of making in our behalf a commercial
trade are of the opinion that, upon the
whole, the market thus opened up or en-
larged to us will take more of our prod
ucts, measured by the labor required to
produce them, than the new competition
admitted to our shores will obliterate, then
We should make the trade.
Public Good the Test.
"You will observe I am putting 1t mar
rowly. / intend by this illustration to en-
brace all the indirect advantages or dis
advantages which, according to the best
judgment of man, would flow from the
proposed relations. If 1t be, as ~undoubted-
ly 1t Is, the purpose Of all Interference with
the laws of trade to increase the business
of the country which enacts the laws, and
SNND SA'S sApfS
number of Its people, then it is difficult to
perceive the ground upon which there can
be fair opposition to the principle of reel
procity. The trouble is that whenever a
concrete instance arises the attention of
the people is drawn not to what we gain,
but What we lose. They see a vision of dis
mantled, factories, but they do not per-
ceive the new homes of industry springing
up to meet the demands of the markets
which we acquire.
why Is it hat this distorted notion of
the doctrine has so constantly prevailed?
To me 1t has seemed that the reason Is
to be found in the fact that IN the congress
of the United States there oftentimes pre-
walls a courtesy which ignores the public
good. 1t Is wholly natural that the tariff,
expressed along protection lines, takes on
a local tinge. And here again l reach the
substantial difficulty of the whole subject.
The tariff is not and must not be a local
question. In all the history of our coun-
try | have never known of an instance in
which our legislative tribunals did not
faithfully respond to the will of the people
when once hat will was aroused and ex-
pressed. And so 1t will be with regard to
reciprocity. Whenever the people take
up the subject congress will take it up
also, and whenever the people pass upon
1t congress will register the decree.
HTSues h5uAhst Auchl lhttUtsts
EVERY student of the subject knows that
we can make a treaty with Canada that
will give us more work to do in the United
States h we have now, and the time
will come when the adoption of any such
treaty will depend not upon the will of
any state or of any district, but upon the
centralized, unselfish, righteous will of all
the states, exercised for the welfare of all
the people. Every student of the subject
knows that the treaty with France, ne
gotiated upon our part with consummate
ability by one of the most capable and pa
triotic statesmen of his age, will give to
the people of the United States more work
In producing things that will be exported
under it into France than it will take away
from them on account of the things inn
ported under it, and when the people ade-
quately understand this 1t will be more
difficult for those who are interested In a
special industry to prevent its passage
through the seAate of the United States.
IT again appeal to the sentiment with
which l began, that our tariff laws, wheth-
err 1t is proposed to change them by direct
legislation or through the medium of COM
mercial treaties, must be examined, dis.
cussed, amended, in exactly the same spirit
which imbues our legislators in examin-
ing, discussing or amending any other law.
The people will never, under any circum-
stances, forgive the man who exerts his
influence to so amend these laws as to
deprive the workingmen Of the republic and
those who come after them of a single
days work. On the other hand, they will
be just as swift to punish and exile those
who, through fear or favor, fail to SO
amend and change our tariff laws as to
give these men and their posterity more
work, a vaster field for their energies and
a better opportunity in the struggle Of