The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-12-11

demand, Which We have witnessed III Inc
last three or four Years, our hobe pro-
ducers have been able to exact more
than a fair price for what they have sold
recognize the difficulties OF preparing
tariff schedules so that they will answer
with accuracy the abstract test, aud We
may not look for absolute perfection. yet
the disparity is so great in some things
that l have believed and still believe. that.
without regard TO reciprocal treaties.
there should and must be, revision of
these schedules. With q Law thus fairly
complying with the theoretical standard.
/ care not at what price our exporters sell
in other countries II we pay but fair
price aud the exporter finds ii for his
advantage for our men have been at work
to produce the exports If he sells at
more than fair price, We are not hurt
for still our labor has been employed
! deprecate the habit of shivering into
which We are in danger Of falling. Why
should the business interests of the Unit
ed States be taught to trenbie whenever
1t is proposed TO modify trade regulations
along the lines OF greater home produc-
ton? The bogie of industrial depression
and unsettled commercial conditions has
been carried up and down the country.
first, by timorous souls who never took
0 step forward in their lives. followed by
a corps of men who have all they want
and more than they deserve ana when
ever it is suggested that we car perpetu-
ate the prosperity We have and increase
it. with our expanding capacity. the cho-
rus is "sh-h-h--, do not wake the sleep
ing power of the people. for they have
not sense enough to say what is true and
do what is right
/ refuse to believe thai our industrial
and commercial structure rests upon
foundation so insecure. refuse to be-
lieve that there is so utterly a want of
confidence N the wisdom OF congress that
n proposition % amend our schedules or
negotiate a trade treaty would terrify our
producers; but if We must either stand
still or have a spasm, L say, move on.
AS recall it, the negotiations of the
Mckinley treaty did nat paralyze bust
ness or arrest enterprise. AS l remember
the meetings of the joint high commits
sion did not disturb the serenity of the
public mind. and l do not see that the
treaty with Cuba. about to be consummat-
ted, has any serious effect upon the sta
bility of industrial affairs. May we not
hope, therefore, that we can go quietly
on doing the best we can to get better
terms in foreign markets and avert the
threatened retaliations without a culver
of apprehension or shadow of dlstrust?
Let me test the sincerity OF those who
profess to fear that movement toward
reciprocity would dismay, dshearten and
frighten the business men of The coun-
try. / take Canada as an illustration.
Suppose we could tonight add Canada.
from ocean to ocean and from her south
ern line to the north pole, to the terri
tory of the United States. so that when
some courageous American explorer
plants the banner of the republic upon
the axis of the world, and its beautiful
folds fill with the air of the north, it will
proclaim the eternal sovereignty of the
United States. How many arc there here
or elsewhere who would not hail the
mighty event as the proudest victory
achieved since the old flag was run up at
the rampsrts of Yorktown? How many
are there here or elsewhere who would
look upon the accession of power and Of
population, of land and lake and sea as q
misfortune to our country. or blow in
flic,ed upon our prosperity? 1 go further
and eliminate national pride. How many
banks would fail on that account? How
many factories would close because the
Stars and Stripes were flying over this
vast domain? What acre would be worth
less? What man would be without work
or receive less compensation? And yet.
were il so done. there would be free trade
from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic
Ocean. Mark you, ! am not dreaming of
annexation. nor am i advocating free
trade with Canada, for the former is more
remote than ever before, and the latter
is wholly impracticable. / have used the
figure only to show that we can safely
draw nearer to our neighber and safely
enter upon the negotiation of a reciprocal
treaty.