The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-10


inabued with The calm philosophy of the
cit.zee of Arkansas who refused to mend
his roo :. IL Gather scsfuse 1t was un-
necessary. aff did not aend it when it
rained. because it wa possible
We, who beliese that the time has
come in which to make certain changes
are in favor of no modification that will
admit, except through far reciprocity
which will increase rather than diminish
the work to be done in this country. a
single dollar of imported commodities We
do not favor the reduction of any scAed-
ule below the point at which the Ameri-
can manufacturer can. if he will. monop-
olize the whole American market at a
fair price We stand for tariff duties so
adjusted that the potential competition
from other countries will prevent produc-
ers at home from exacting more than a
just and reasonable price of what they
produce.
I'VE must either approve or disapprove
the doctrine of reciprocity upon the as
sumption that any treaty or bargain
which carries it into effect will be advan-
tageous To both the high contracting par
ties, and that both will receive from it
those benefits which it promises. We
must assume that any such treaties or
bargain win nave the effect of admitting
to the United States competitive coInm6-
dities upon better terms than heretofore
and that is to say upon such terms as will
enable the foreign producer to at least
fairly compete with the home producer
and therefore it is not only probable but
reasonably certain that any such arrange
ment Will result in diminishing the out
put of the home producers in those things
upon which duty is reduced or re-
moved. It will help us to look this pro-
position in the eyes. The time has gone
by when can satisfy ourselves or tho
people with mellifluous 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 is but idle dream and We might aa
well eliminate the word from our platform
and expunge it from the literature of DO
litical economy. 1t is possible that the
superior sagacity of the American diplo-
mat might occasionally commit larceny
of that character. but if it were conscious
ly done it would be a stain upon the honor
of the American name and when under
stood would meet the swift and emphatic
condemnation of the American citizen.
The conclusion is inevitable that ir
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 once abandon it. for one, how
ever, am willing to be counted among
the ranks OF those who believe that tho
consequence. is not a bar and that great
public policies should not be viewed from
so narrow and iliiberate a standpoint. The
purpose of any such treaty on our part
would be to open up a new market or
enlarge one already discovered for our
products and if those who are charged
with the responsibility of making in our
behalf commercial trade, are of tho
opinion that upon the whole the market
thus opened up or enlarged to US will
take more of our products, measured by
the labor required to produce them, than
the new competition admitted to our
shores will obliterate then we should mako
the trade
Whenever the people take up the sub
ject congress wiz take it up also: and
whenever the people shall pass upon it.
congress will register the decree. Local
lied interests may prevail when the people
are acquieseent, but they can not rid the
storm of public agitation and anger Ev-
cry student of the subject knows that we
can mako a treaty with Canada that will
give us more work than we now have and
the time will come when the adoption of
any such treaty will depend not upon the
will of any state or of anv district but
upon the centralized, unselfish, righteous
will of all the state. entered for the well
fare of all the people
''The protective policy of the United
States is impregnahle against the assaults
of its enemies; and if the citadel ever falls
it will be because it's friends sleep while
the world IS awake: it will be because its
friends make its excesses and perversions
so obnoxious that they obscure the right
eousness and the glory of the principle
itself"