The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-01
ATHoROUGHsTUDYOFYE
The Nature Reflectionsof an Indiana
Statesman on Tariff and Free Trade.
Ex.Secrstsry Of the Navy, Thompson Tells
How His Book Was Written bat Declines
10 Talk About Politics


Hon. r. W. Thompson is in the city. stopping
at the New Denison. A Journal reporter met
him in the Office OF that hotel, yesterday after
noon, leisurely smoking his post-prsndal cigar.
and apparently enjoying life like young man
1T least half century younger. The reporter
asked him what he thought Of the political stu
alton in Indiana The venerable gentleman re-
piled: "Oh. now don't want to talk on poll
ties. You'll have to excuse me from that to-day.
Ny opinions on those questions only represent
my own ideas, haven't anything TO say on
that subject"
"How is your book on the tariff ssllingP'
'"That is entirely in the hands of the publishers
/ have nothing to do with it, but am told by
them that the sale is goods beyond expectation
You see, OF course, that the time is opportune
for its publication. The people are studying
that question these days.
'.How long were you working on the bookF
"Well. on the mere matter Of composition but
q comparatively short time. / have. however.
been collecting the facts, statements and figures
which you see in it. for many years. ever since
was member of the lower house Of Congress.
You may say. in a measure, that the book repre-
sents the work and convictions of years have
tried TO be as fair and impartial in the consider
alton of the great question now so prominent
before the public. as know bow. Ny one de-
sire has been to arrive at the truth in the mat
ter. ] give the facts and my conclusions. All
people may not agree with my deductious-but
they can derive what conclusions they desire
from the data present have tried to be as
impersonal in the matter possible. The
pronoun does not appear in the book.
you found writing history quite different
from writing political addressesT
''Yes. the great labor attendant on an histori-
cal writer Is the verifcation of facts. l may
feel almost certain about anything, but that
does not matter when writing book; must go
and look it up and be able to give authority for
any statement if necessary. found this great
labor, especially in the tariff question. i have
collected great mass Of documents OF all kinds
bearing on the question. and of course it took
me q long time to 60 through 1T. but have done
So"
Your conclusions in your work then are the
results OF years of rehectioup
''Yes sir; they are certainly not made up on
the spur OF the moment There are q good many
things in the book which / do not remember TO
have seen stated elsewhere-thess are matters
that have come under my personal observation.
can remember tho presidential election of 1924
quite distinctly. aud all the issues of the campaign
each year from that time on. / have personal
knowledge Of the workings OF the tariff In our
country from that time on through ell It's
phases. have stated In my book that General
Jackson was . Arm advocate OF protection,
something that not generally known.
Through ell his life he maintained . consistent
attitude on that subject and remained be-
lever in the doctrine to the last Why, In 1873
when he was a candidate against Adams for
President his election Was strongly urged by
his friends on the ground that Adams had mani
Tested free-trade notions which. IL was SAID,
l. A. - l. Il t..s
teal to the best interests Of the country. JACK.
son held that protection should be maintained
although 10 resulted In q surplus In the treasury.
The only thing he ever changed his mind about
was the manner OF dealing with that surplus"
''You have not tried. then. to make the book
conform 10 any prscopceivsd ideas 10 political
economy. but to present the practical side Of
the tariff" ~
"Yes. that has been my idea; to study II In o
practical way. have not cared FOR the theories
Of political economists They do not touch the
marrow Of the question. They usually advo,
cate doctrines which will be practiced when the
mllsnuium comes-when tho universal brother.
hood OF man prevails. but not I'LL then. The
trouble with political economists usually. In the
study of this question, 10 that they start of with
the proposition that country's economic Affairs
ought 10 be managed In way nat will be most
beneficial 20 the world-a grand, lofty. q
philanthropic sentiment but ono that has no
place In the practical. every day life OF nation
Nations, liks men that compose them. are self-
ish. Patriotism isenly another name for national
sslnshnsss. When we legislass on the question Of
for the Interest Of England or France, or Ger.
many, or mankind In general. but simply and
oxlufivsly what 10 the best thing for our own
country. Other nations of the world are nos
shaping tho scislationin their anmirs 70 suit the
interest OF the world, and 10 would hardly be
good business policy for ne 20 do 90. The main
thing 10 DO kept In view In the regulation OF our
economic affairs. and In this question OF the
tarin. 10 what will DO best for us, which win
make IA. the people Of the United States, the
richest. most prosperous, most indspenasnt--
protection or free trade. On this point might
| say. think the so-called political economy Of
to-day 10 too philAnthropic, too ethsreAl, Tor
practical business lfe The question Of free
| trade and tariff 10 not one OF ethics. but OF ex-
pedi~ncy. solely"
'srhen you would not want man like James
Russell Lowell or any OF these theoretical free
trade writer's ~ the head Of . largo manufactur-
| Ing industry OF yoursf
| "Why, certainly not. Most of that class OF
| men couldn't run q country grist-mill on correct
| business principles. Smart. very able men In
their line. but they have not any practical bust
inc. but at last know very little about the com.
mon, everyday affairs Of mercantile life. It's a
| good deal like my farming. You know I'm a
farmeri Well. sometimes get an idea into my
head from reading and reflection that q certain
plan ought to be pursued In farming study
| on the matter. and the moro study tho more /
think of my idea. Well, my nsiehbor. a prac-
teal farmer OF long. experience, comes along
some day and he says why, that won't do;
Pve tried IL; there's nothiog In IT, And so. in a
| few moments, my fne-spuu theory 10 exploded
blown up by the cold facts Well, that's some-
| thing like tho free-trado view. Free-traders
evolve good theory, but when you come to ap
| ply IL. somehow il don't work"
''You don't care tn talk politcsf
"No, not az all. have nothing to say on that
| point"
| What do you think of McDonald's letter."
| 'Well. I've known Senator Mcdonald all my
| life, and believe him to be an honest earnes,
| man. Ho has more influence In this State than
| the convention of last week indicated. and out
side of Indiana HE opinions will command erea,