Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1911 — BRYAN ON RECIPROCITY. [ARTICLE]

BRYAN ON RECIPROCITY.

In a statement made recently in Cincinnati; Mr, Bryan reminded the Amerjican people that they did not need the help of any other nation in getting rid of high taxation. That is a truth which it is important to emphasize at the present juncture. The question is notion e of punishing Canada by retaliatory action, but of gating relief for ourselves. “The failure of the agreement/ says Mr. Bryan, “shows how difficult it is to enter into contract of that kjnd/' “The very fact that it was ratified in this country was/’ he' thinks, “viewed over there as an argument against it." For the Canadians argued that "it would not have been ratified on this side if it had not given, more* advantages than Canada received from it/’ Surely our protection's ought to understand and sympathize with such a state of mind. For it is their ■own. : i. : „'■ ~ But the important thing is that we are not dependent on Canada or any other power in such matters as this. Mr. Brian says: */' ■’ . : ■ Tie defeat of the measure in Canada ought not to lessen the chances of tariff reduction. In fact, when rightly considered, it ought to increase the chances, because it is now evident that whatever relief is brought must be brought by our people, without waiting for others to help. There is no reason why a reduction of duties should be made the subject of a bargain with another nation. We can reduce them whenever we choose to do so. Such of them as we wish to abolish we cam abolish bv the action of congress. The powers of Congress are ample, and its jurisdiction is complete. Xor is the fact tha# such action would help other nations any argument against it, since it would help us even more. In every speech that the President makes he pledges himself to support all tariff reductions that the report of the tariff board may show to be feasible. And these reductions are to be effected, not through negotiation. but by legislation. Reciprocity. therefore. is a rather awkward device for bringing to pass a result which we can achieve by our own unaided efforts. The question primarily is. not one of stimulating trade, but of getting rid of taxes —of stimulating trade by freeing it from burdens which we ourselves have imposed and which we can remove.

If the reciprocity defeat shall serve to impress these truths on our national consciousness it will not be withont its compensations. Incidentally we may say that the same moral applies to the people of Canada. The present situation is absurd from the point of view of both peoples. We are neighbors and friends, and are parts of the same economic system, though holding allegiance to different political sovereigns. There ought to be unrestricted trade between us, as there will be one day. The only obstacle in the way of realizing it is politics, the influence which has robbed the people of so much good. As long as men think, it wise to legislate so as to hurt others than to help themselves present conditions will continue. But this political doctrine is already greatly discredited. It can not endure forever.—lndianapolis News.