The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-15
:Very Like the Boomerang.


Of a man somewhere who? in a fit of
anger, undertook to kick dog, threw him
self out of balance and, falling off the
porch, broke his neck and died.. That
man began this chain Of circumstances by
doing what he supposed would be benefit
to himself, viz, kicking the dog.
Nations have comparable experiences.
It is a wise man who can say that de-
signedly selfish national policy will pay,
even. from the selfish standpoint. Take
our own experience with Canada. Our
policy has been purely selfish and may
have had some motive of repression Of
Canada behind it. The result is that we
have driven Canada into the arms Of
British policy or at least away from our
policy, and have thereby set back in
definitely that peaceful union of the Eng
disappearing people of the North Almeri-
can continent which has long been our
hope. q
A more recent illustra ton of thes pun
ishment Of national selfshness Is TO be
found in the botch we have made of the
Cuban situation, though it is possible that
it may be remedied. This mistake was
concisely described by Mr.. Frank D.
Pavey of New York in his address before
the Detroit reciprocity convention last
week. In part Mr.. Pavey said:
1.-The representatives of the beet sugar
interests made their fight. in congress
upon the ground that tariff concessions
upon Cuban sugar would injure the farm
ers of the United States. The senators
and representatives from Michigan were
particularly active in this work. They
were assisted by the cane sugar planters
of Louisiana. What will the farmers
Of Michigan think if this action of their
representatives in congress produces a
competition in the sale Of corn and corn
products to Europe, with capa city equal
to that of Indiana? What whistle cot
ton planters Of Louisiana think if this
action of their representatives in con-
gress produces a competition in the pro-
duction and sale Of raw cotton to Europe
with a capacity equal to that Of Missis-
sippi?'' -
Cuba has not hitherto raised much cot
ton or corn. But finding that the policy
of the United States was taking the profit
out of sugar planting, the Cubans have
cast about for something else to do. AS
they found that they were purchasing
most Of their cotton goods in Europe and
were paying for them with the proceeds
Of sugar sold to the United States, it &C.
CURED to them that it would be a good
stroke Of business to raise cotton and send
it to Europe to pay for the manufactured
goods. And they are doing it. The right
| Kind of reciprocity agreement yeal
ago would have transferred Cuba's i'm
port cotton trade from Europe to the
United States and would have prevented
Cuban competition with our cotton plan.
| tations. Cuba was eager to make sucl
an agreement.
Similarly with corn and corn products
| which in the past the Cubans have bought
from US. They have now taken to raising
| them for themselves, thus reducing the
extent of the American farmers market
and making the beginnings of what may
| be competition with him in the foreign
markets.
At present we supply Cuba with 43 pei
cent of her imports. The kind of agree
ment Cuba was eager to grant year agt
would have given us the supply Of 81
per cent Of her imports, Mr.. Pavey, VIII,
is an expert on Cuban trade, thinks.
The great difficulty with the applica
ton of the protective tariff policy is tina
it is too often applied with the interest!
| of On1y one industry or one locality II
view, whereas, the whole national .interes
should be consulted in framing ever.
| schedule. .~- *','. '..s u