New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-23
RECIPROCITY WINS.

Inc passage or the Canadlan reclprOC-
ity bill is an unmixed triumph for Presi-
dent Taft, whose foresight, courage and
perSistency have overcome the obstacles
placed in its path by interests unduly
alarmed and politicians Of narrow
vision. The President was bold enough
TO approve and submit TO Congress a
compact at which it was evident that
many representatives Of his own party
in both branches Of Congress would
balk. They were keenly alive TO its
possible local and temporary disadvan-
tages. but were unable TO realize the
vastly greater permanent benefits which
it would produce through the virtual eX-
tension Of our economic system over
Canadas share OF the northern contl-
nent. Though both branches Of Con-
gress have carried the agreement into
effect by large msjorities, many Repre-
sentativeS and Senators have given
their assent more or less reluctantly to
a programme which the President ini-
tiated and behind which he has been
the largest personal force.
The passage Of the bill is also q
tribute to the power Of public sentiment,
which President Taft rallied to his sup
port. The reciprocity policy is neither
partisan nor sectional. Its purpose Is
broadly national and It aims only at
benefiting the country as a whole. 1t
has, therefore, appealed to voters Of all
parties and all sections, and their appre-
citation Of its patriotic disinterestedness
and breadth of craftsmanship broke the
courage of the opposition and compelled
an obdurate Senate to yield to the Presi-
dents view.
On January q, the day after the COM
pact was made public, The Tribune said
Of it.
1t will encounter opposition on the part
OF neighborhOods more or less directly
affected by the free entry OF Canadian
food products. Prejudice will be excited
against Il in the border states. and at
this late stage OF the short session 1t
will be extremely difficult to obtain leg
islation carrying it's provisions into ef-
feet Small local interests Will make a
good deal Of a stir If they feel that they
are being sacrificed TO the larger good
1t is the larger good at which President
Taft and his advisers are aiming-at
friendly extension northward OF the
sphere Of American activities and IN
nuence. They are convinced that the
cost of the extension will weigh little IN
comparison with its ultimate benefits. 1t
may take the representatives OF certain
sections of the country some time 10 see
this, but in the end the view Of the
makers Of the treaty is likely 10 prevail
that the initiation Of such an experiment
as the Taft administration has now un-
dertaken Will be entitled to rank rs q
notable contribution TO the cause OF
political fraternity on this continent as
well as TO the cause Of economic prog
ress.
That prediction has been fulfilled in
every respect. The Presidents pro-
gramme has won its way against selfish
end narrow opposition because It was
broad-gauged patriotic and right
1t would have been pleasanter TO find
a larger number Of Republicans in Con
gress supporting a programme so OBJ
viously sound and beneficial A few
more Republican Representatives were
against the bill than were for it, and
in the Senate the division was u Re
publicans in favor and q against. The
regular Republicans stood IS in favor
and II against, and the insurgents di-
vided. in favor and 10 against.
OF the Republicans whose natural in
CipationS were to support the admins
tration, but who opposed reciprocity,
most were overimprcsscd by local prot
cStations against possible temporary
injury. They took parochial rather
than a national view of the opportunity
offered. Their inability TO prefer the
larger good 10 the smaller is TO be re
GREETED since it may compel some hasty
establishments of opinion on their part
In the next Presidential campaign.
As for the Republican insurgents who
opposed the bill 10 the end, they have
forfeited whatever confidence the cOun-
try had in them previously by their H.
logical course They shrank back from
applying principles TO which they had
boosted their devotion, simply because
the application came too near home.
The publics faith in their sincerity and
in their political Sagacity has been de
stroycd. They have come out of the fight
for reciprocity shorn of the respect even
of their own constituencies and pow
erless to injure the administration, out
of petty antagoniSm to which they were
willing entirely TO reverse the position
toward tariff legislation which they oc-
cupied last year and two years ago.
They have invited the country to jeer
at them in their present unhappy plight.