Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-17

tHOshN 8. NOHEs................ Editor.
THE EVENING; STAR has the fullest Local
Circulation Of my Newspaper I'm the World
and ~ an Advertising Medium 10 worth
thnn all the other papers published in
Washington.
The American people have never been long
patient under direct taxation il 1t affected the
public at large. Hence national taxation has
been indirect and disguised and the revenues
have been chiefly derived from import duties
The people OF the United States have accepte d
ths tariff principle with connected protection,
both because Of its ease and convenience a. q
revenue producer and its assumed connection
with the material prosperity Of the republic.
They have never accepted the principle of free
trade, because that principle has not been
adapted to the conditions OF the country
They came nearer dong SO in the
First Congress than they have since. But
their action then and their action at several
important crises since show beyond question
that while they believe in a measure of protec-
ton they do not adhere to the extreme doc
trine that absolute prohibition of foreign
goods, if attainable, would be an unmixed
benefit to Americans. Preferring the
safe middle course the people OF
the United States have, with occasional
objections, pursued an economical policy which
has protected the home industries, but has not
destroyed trade with other nations. II is not
probable that they will seriously depart from
this broad American and common sense policy
until all the conditions Of American life
and the relations Of American with
European, Southern and Oriental COM
mercs undergo a fundamental change.
No matter whether this economical policy shall
lean moro or less toa revenue or to strictly
protective" basis, the result will be the same
The facts Of peoples life are a guide to the
government Of that people. The feeling of the
people o: the United States condemns all
extremes, the Chinese wall prohibitionist of
foreign trade as we'll as the absolute free trader.
The cold facts of the republics situation and
the conservative tendencies of American opin-
ION must be accepted by the statesman and po-
liticsi economist. and, being accepted, they
narrow the fighting ground on the tariff ques-
tion to very small proportions. Free trade is
impossible. A prohibtive tariff is impossible.
The actual fight can be only over q few cents
more or less Of duty on particular articles. The
tendency Of today is to the tariff slightly,
with the purpose of finding additional custom
ers for American producers. The reciprocity
plan Of admitting neighboring friendly powers
and provinces, which are so situated as
to be good customers and not compoti-
tors, to the benefits in respect to certain
articles Of the free trade which exists be-
tween the several states Of the Union, on con-
dition that the American products which need
additional markets are admitted free by them
in return, accords with the tendency Of the
times. There are some indications, however
that politicians with free trade or anti-protec-
tive tendencies will not be satisfied with the
reciprocity suggestion and moderate tariff re-
vision; that they will overcrowd the public sem
timent in their enthusiasm, and that reaction
in the direction opposite to that which now pre-
walls will set in as q result. The American pub
he will check any radical over-stepping of the
line on either side.
New Hampshire politically is all storm up"
II is all about the legislature. The situation in
brief may thus be stated: Under article 10 of
the state constitution whenever any town.
place or city ward shall have less than 600 in
habitants the legislature shall authorize such
town, &C., to elect and send to the legislature
representative for such proportionate part Of
the time as the number of its inhabitants shall
bear to 600. but the legislature shall not au-
thorize representation Of such town, &C., ex-
cept in the manner just stated. No action under
this provision was taken by the General Court
or Legislature, but number of towns elected
representatives assuming that their action
would be approved. A majority Of these repre-
sentatiyes thus chosen are republicans. II
seated the legislature will be republican and
elect United States Senator to succeed Sena-
tor Blair. The democrats dispute the right Of
these members to seats because the result of
the census under which they were chosen has
not been officially declared. Whatever the
equities, and Massachusetts precedents seem to
point to acquiescence in their ultimate right to
seats IL the census is promulgated in time, their
title before the legislature acts is clearly hypo-
theticaI, as expressed on the face of the ballots
which elected them.
Among the valuable suggestions in the an
nual report OF the Secretary of War is one in
viting increase of the efficiency OF the
National Guard and the bringing of them into
closer relations with the War Department
Under the present law the United States ap-
propriate sI00, 200 and the individual states
over S2.0O0.000 for the benefit Of the militia.
The Secretary hopes that the appropriation by
Congress may be increased, and The STAR
thinks that it ought to be increased As the
Secretary says, the encampments have been
very satisfactory in results. Another important
Recommendation Of Secretary Proctor Is that
concerning our coast defences. "with an au-
nual appropriation" he Gays, ''of eight or ten
milions-only little more than that of the
present year-the construction and replace
ment Of guns and mortars, works Of torpedo
defence for the whole coast. can be carried on
and in ten years our principal harbors and
cities rendered reasonably secure"
The conservative action OF the Bank of Eng
land syndicate has saved Engla nd from q panic
worse than the one from which similar action by
the clearing house rescued 1.-The street. in New
York few days earlier. For more than one
hundred years the Earrings have been at the
front Of the worlds finance That they should
be embarrassed was almost incredible, and as
soon as the fact was known the great money
kings came promptly to their assistance. Great
interests are conservative, whether il politics
or finance. The effect of the syndicate's wis.,
dom and promptitude will doubtless be to aliay
alarm
Mr. Blsseli OF Buffalo, former partner Of Mr.
Cleveland, IS mentioned as a candidate for u