The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-12-19

hight OF Trivial reasons changes 6lOlt4
not be made unless It is clear that duties
are too high OF too Low. Tariff seized
ules, like all other laws are TO be made
unmade and -re-made according to the
public needs and We are not 10 be
warned Of By the CRY that We are on
holy ground and that the sacred vest
meDts Of the priests are not to be touch
ed by prOfane hands
There are duties notably IN the iron
and steel schedule, although not confined
to it which are absolutely indefensible,
which no man viii ever attempt to de-
fend, and which are as much at war
with the real object Of protection as free
trade itself They can be greatly re-
duced and still the American manufact-
urer viii occupy the whole American
market, pay the highest American wag-
es and be rewarded with an ample Amer
lean profit and therefore they ought to
be reduced-nOt years hence but now.
There are materials which our exper-
fence has shown US should be admitted
free simply because they would give our
people more work to do IN preparing
them for their ultimate uses and it
should be done, not a year from now,
but now.
"'I, for one, have stood too long and
too often before the people Of my cOun-
try defending the principle Of protect
ion to admit that the schedules which
carry it into execution are the results Of
a miserable and contemplate barter
and exchange among the special repre-
sentatives Of industrial interests
why should we not approach the
consideration Of a change in tariff SEIZED
ules in precisely the same spirit which
cOntrOles Us as We approach all other
notifications IN existing statutes?
Why should we not Danish forever this
apparition of imaginary danger perpet
ually invoked to paralyze the mind Of
inquiry when it turns toward tariff dut-
les? Our motto should be, Care in ev-
erything, fear in nothing
1T is 4 Islander upon the fundament-
al truths of the world to say that the
prosperity of the people ever has been
or ever can be impaired by doing what
is right and Just and fair. What evil
dence is there that the assertion that a
correction of the grossly excessive duties
would hasten the day Of extreme com
mercial activity to a close? None what
ever save the cries of those who want it
TO be let alone repeated by a cOterie of
statesmen who have become imbued
with the calm philosophy Of the citizen
Of Arkansas who refused to mend his
roof IN dry weather because it was IN
necessary and did not mend it when II
rained because il was impossible.
We who believe that the time has
come IN which to make certain changes
are in favor Of no modification that vii
admit-except through fair reciprocity
which will increase rather than diminish
the work to be done in this country
single dollar Of imported commodities
We do not favor the reduction Of any
| schedule below the point at which the
| American manufacturer can if be vii
monopolize the whole American market
at fair price. We stand for tariff dut
les so adjusted that the potential com.
petition from other countries will pre-.
vent producers at home from exacting
more than just and reasonable price
for what they produce.
The time has gone by when we car
satisfy ourselves or the people with mel
lifuOus phrases concerning reciprocity
/ If it is intended to employ the doctrine
only in those instances in which we can
get something and give nothing it i:
but an idle dream and we might as vel
eliminate the word from our platform
and expunge it from the literature o.
political economy. It is possible thai
the superior sagacity of the American
diplomat might occasionally commit LAT
ceny Of that character but if it were
consciously done it would be a stain up
on the honor Of the American name anC
when understood would meet the swift
and emphatic condemnation Of the
! American citizen.
The conclusion Is inevitable that il
the great majority Of cases a reciprocal
treaty respecting competitive cOmmOdi
i ties would interfere aud injure some
home producer or producers and if tina
fact be bar to the operation Of TIT
principle let US at once abandon it.
for one, however, am willing to be count
ed among the ranks Of those who bellows
that the consequence is not a bar and
that great public policies should not b
viewed from 50 narrow and illiberal
standpoint. The purpose Of any sucl
treaty on our part would be to open VI
a new market OF enlarge one already
discovered for our products and il thOst
who are charged with the respOnsibilit,
Of making in our behalf q commercia
trade are OF the opinion that upon tn