The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-01-04
Editorial Symposium
Selected from the Columns of the Leading Newspapers
of America.
GERMANY AND THE TARIFF.

GERMANY AND THE TARIFF.
Germany is making heroic efforts
to develop her colonies. 1t Is hoped
that the colonies will ultimately fur.
nish much of the raw material for
German manufactures, as well as the
foodstuffs now obtained from the Uni
ted States. But the United States
has nothing to fear from the German
colonies. The total commerce of the
German colonies in 1908 amounted to
only Sl6 100000, or one-half of l per
cent. of the commerce of the German
empire. Some day, the Germans hope
they will obtain cotton from their
colonies in Africa. But they must
first conquer disease, construct roads
and find competent labor-a task of
dec AIDES. In the meantime the United
States will be glad to sell cotton to
Germany, and Germany will be glad
to get it. If she raises the tariff wall
on materials for manufacture, she
must expect howl from those con.
nected with manufactures as loud as
the howl that is going up for cheaper
American meat.
1t is to be hoped, of course, that
satisfactory commercial arrange
ments will be made with Germany.
At the same time, there is no occa-
sion for the United States to "view
with alarm" the threat of a tariff
war.-New York Times.
THE SWEARING OFF HABIT.
All of our holidays are responsible,
it seems, for some sort of detriment
mixed in with the benefits. After
every celebration of Independence
Day the papers are compelled toprint
a sorrowful list of deaths and mutila-
tions the Thanksgiving Day football
festival puts the finishing touch upon
the gridiron massacre of the season,
and Christmas is responsible for at
least forty-eight hours of national in
digestion.
But New Years Day works a great
er detriment than them all, with its
swearing off iniquity. For how many
perjuries is 1t responsible?
If you think you ought to quit-just
quit. Don't swear off An overt SYM
Dol of reform, 1t seems, should make
the task easier. But 1t doesn't. It's
merely challenge to the habit. It
makes you think about it all the
time. Setting special date to swear
off only makes it all the harder, in
really. Why add perjury to your
other sins ? Don't swear off-just
quit.
Quit what ? Bless you, we don't
know. No. we didn't have any spec
ial reference 20 booze. We didn't
know yau used it. Maybe it's cigars
ia your case, or perhaps II Is the gum
habit, or maybe you chew tobacco,
But what ever it is you won't quit it
because of any fused up ceremony.
Ceremonies and dates and such things
are signs Of weakness. If you are
strong enough to cut 1t out, you'll do
so as the result of reflection, and
quietly, without any overt advertise
ment.
THE REPENTANT RAILROADS.
The change which apparently has
taken place in the railroads attitude
toward the interstate commission and
the laws which the commission is
especially charged with enforcing Is
TO the GOV ernment and TO
the public. From an attitude of hos
tility and stubborn disobedience the
roads seem suddenly TO have changed
to one Of amity and compliance. Rep
resentatives of the big lines went to
on Thursday and on their
own motion faithfully promised the
commission that their companies will |
not break the rebate laws any more
and that they will help to catch those
who do. 1t will be money in the stock
holders pockets to keep that promise.
The big shippers, not the roads, have
been enriched by lawless discrimina
lions. About all the rebate system
has in the long run got or ever will
get for the railways are hostile pub
ic sentiment, restrictive legislation
and law suits.