The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-19
GOOD LORD AND GOOD DEVIL.

The position of those Republican
members of congress who profess to
oppose the Cuban reprocity treaty and
the bill to carry it into effect on
grounds of principle, is one neither
easily Ineligible nor greatly to their
credit. If we may take the speech de-
livered by Congressman Stevens, of
this state, as an example, we fear it
will be concluded that these gentle
men are playing to the galleries. They
are endeavoring to secure the credit
for convictions that they do not enter
tain, and for courageous action that
they dare not take.
Mr.. Stevens opposes the proposed
treaty for a variety of reasons, but he
by no means makes 1t clear what he
himself desires or where he himself
stands. He is rather in the position
of the seeker for objections to some
thing distasteful to himself, who does
not particularly care what reasons he
gives for his opposition as long as he is
not pledged to confess the true one. 1t
may be an unjust, but it certainly
would not be an unwarrantable infer
ence from Mr.. Stevens speech, that he
stands simply as the advocate of beet
sugar interests against any reduction
for any reason upon their product. He
has a right to take that stand if he
wishes, but he should say so.
1t is foolish to oppose the Cuban
treaty on the ground that it is but a
partial and trifling measure of reci-
procity, if one believes in reciprocity in
general. For while the assertion is
true, still it is beginning; and not
only half a loaf, but even single slice
or a single mouthful is better than no
bread. 1t is foolish for a man to say
that he will not vote for reduction
of the tariff on sugar because he wants
a chance to vote for a reduction of the
tariff on lumber, and glass, and wood
pup clllO a OOHC1 OtAC4 I111AlSos Lie lays
his honesty open to question by such
a statement; for if he honestly be-
lieves that the tariff ought to be re-
duced on dozen articles. he will vote
for the reduction on one as cheerfully
as on the whole twelve, knowing that
it is the entering wedge that counts.
We object to the course taken by
Mr.. Stevens, as to recent contortions
by most of the Republican delegation
from this state, because they are pal
pably mere part Of political tactics
and much less than honest. The great
issue of today is the issue of tariff re-
form. Are the people going to toler-
ate the distraction Of our industry by
the prohibitive duties now placed upon
our people? Are they going to feed the
trusts with bread taken from the poor,
or are they going to insist upon read
justment? The Democratic party says,
reduce the tariff. The Republican
party says, stand pat. We know
where these two parties belong. We
know where every man in public life
belongs. Either he is for tariff reduc-
ton, in which case his place is with
the Democrats; or he is for the Ding
ley rates forever, in which case he be-
longs among the stand-patters
The Republican party policy has
been declared. 1t is to let the tariff
alone. The people of Minnesota by
vast majority are against it. They be-
lieve it to be bad business policy and
a moral iniquity. The Republican poll
ticians Of Minnesota lack courage and
honesty to face the issue. They can do
either of two things. They can break
with their party, or they can take their