The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-15
TWO WRONGS

,i--2ang's Frohih!Jive tactics against American
fca-istufs are injurious and provoking: hui W. need
not further destroy trade that account The new
-yur=-food- law = to ie administered 81 a 20 els
bitter i.ade relationships How seriously German
trade with his Country WI. u affected may D. GaTn-
ered from Tho fact that tae F2thes-ands wines. beer
mat sausa-es beverages and other food products.
which have been exported 10 rAe United States IL IN
cyeasing quantities and - I1e value of many millions
annually. VII l- barred from yItraaee
No- the least ab,rn!uzbe asTeer o: h law i that
Of slb-e.fg- The .-ec method by which the effect Of
he lireCeG law would have been accomplished had
not TIE administration feared 10 incur the peoples
displeasure would have been by adding 70 the r.
s-rirti7a rarlG e1nhodyln- IN the D.nsey schedules
T.ryhbi,ve rates against the German articles in ques
-.u and ba~iG= te action upon The ground Of needed
protection.
But TIC cou1trE was il To mood for raising the
tariff and the administration feared 10 touch even
where The operation suited the purpose q privileged
Interests. 80 The resul- was sought in another way
The -pure-tood~ lava clumsy eountrivance- being
aoInuaIy Z police laws b. made supplement 70
Tie tariff: in operation i VIII side by side with
te Di,l-e schedules: il effect VIII be 70 shut out
competition. the only difference being thar its r.
-rricrion is positive and absolute while the Din=ley
far acts under the cover Of proh.btve and in
the maine Of protection
The clause under which Ge-Inany's imports Will
h excluded Is that food products shall be received
this country which manufactured contrary 10
the laws Of the country from which they are OK
ported. Certain German stuifs not marketable III
the home country. ii is alleged because of chemical
compounds and authorizations. But il is significant
that the articles in question have passed inspection in
this country and thar objection has heretofore been
taken the alleged compounds and authorizations:
and doubg significant that the purpose Of the law
i rtaliatnry and the intent Is. to ahSidon il when
Germany shall ,haye been brought tn terms. II
looks very much if the administration had oppor-
tuneiy seized upon the fact Of technical nOnmarket-
ability for If better II is reasonably
certain that when Germany shall have made certain
desirable tariff concessions prodigi1usy vcilant
protectors will drop their squzlmshness. admit the
goods heretofore time Of mind and apologize
to the German manufacturers. Officials OF the AgrI-
cultural Department make no Of the fact that
the pure-fCod' be operated for the pro
lection Of the American consumers health hut simply
as realiatory counterfeit tariff discrim-
nations.
In the light of all tariff experience. how re-
raliation produc. the desired result? Reciprocity
which is the euphenisn for tariff warfare has pro
cceIed upon the scheme of going the enemy bet
ter-or one worse Nations have demonstrated human
nature. Tariff blows met by blows have not led TO
pacifcation. Bad met by bad has not brought good.
Bad has become Pursuant to the present pol
icy Of reciprocity the administration has for some
time gradually and Of late almost precipate!y in
voved the United States in tariff difficulties with the
other principal nations. series Of discrinlina tons
and oscillations has resulted in damage and in some
cases in anniflatioE of trade.
With Canada are at England is consider
ing the ACCESSIBILITY Of hitting back. Germany has
struck severe blows France and Italy likely 10
retaliate soon for the injury done them AS among
themselves these nations involved a like
| tent In general the tendency is toward more and
harder blows and severance of trade relationships
! Retaliation is suicidal