The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-17
NM Blaine tho Protectionist, Mr.. Mo
Kinley the Free Trader.

Kinley the FREQ Trader.
Tho open letter OF Secretary BLAINE to
genator FRYE, exposing the folly and fulfil
fly Of the MCKINLEY Tariff bill as it stands.
commands at once the attention Of the
whole country. For months the Republican
statesmen in the House of Representatives
have been busily engaged in bringing up
to their idea OF perfection u measure
which should give practical expression
to the popular vote in favor Of
q tariff for protection. and not merely for
revenue. Differences of opinion among the
House Republicans wero differences as to
details only, not as to tho general principle
behind the bill Hostile criticism Of the
MCKINLEY bill has treated IT as protective
measure too rigid, too Bourbonsh too fa-
natlcal for the times. Under party discipline,
as exercised by the able autocrat In tho
chair of the House, the bill has passed In
that body by party majority, and gone to
the Senate for its concurrent vote.
In the preliminary and informal Discus
sions of the MCKINLEY bill by the Republi-
can Senators, the differences OF opinions thus
far developed have likewise been differences
as to detail and method. How shall the bill
be treated Shall 1t have precedence over
other legislation as the main measure OF
Republican polioyY Does 1t go too far in
the direction of high protection, and does it
need modification IN Difference to q supposed
Republican sentiment against extreme
measures in the way Of protection? Is the
compensation provided for the Incidental
sacrifice Of the American sugar-growing in
terests sufficient These and other less
Important II moro interesting questions of a
purely political bearing, havo clustered
around the MCKINLEY bill at tho Senate end
OF the Capitol to the impeachment Of It's prog
ress rather than to its direct impeachment.
Now comes the foremost statesman OF tho
Republican party, neither Representative
nor Senator but the officer in Gen. HAIR
RIsoNs Administration specially charged
with the management of our forciF, fairs;
and In single written sentence OF about
twodozen words he goes right to the heart
of the MCKINLEY project and exhibits
1t as q radically and structurally
defective scheme. practically worthless
as q measure OF protection. "There Is
Rotd section or a line in the entire blu" says
Mr.. BLAINE "that wiH open the market for
another bushel Of tphedt or another barrel of
pork, If sugar" he continues, as now
placed on the free list without exactlng I'm
portant trade concessions in return, We shall
close the door for q profitable reciprocity
against ourselves"
The letter to Mr.. FRYE Is tho most impOr-
tant and valuable letter Mr.. BLAINE has
written In the whole course of his varied
and vicissltudinous career. Its political con-
sequences are matters of speculation, but It's
practical craftsmanship is not subject to
question. The force Of Mr.. BLAI>iE's criti-
cism and the truth Of tho statement which
we have put in italics are recognized Mt once
by everybody. Congress has tho oppor-
tmity to open the markets Of millions Of Dco-
pie to the products OF American farms by
making sugar free. Tho MCKINLEY bill
throws that vast opportunity to tho winds.
It makes sugar free, and secures for tho
American farmer and manufacturer no mar
ket IN returnl As measure for tho benefit
OF American industry, it is In that respect
worth nothing.
Strange to say, Mr.. BLAISE's known dis
approval OF the MCKINLEY bill has boon
treated almost everywhere as a sign of
wavering faith in the protective system.
His attitude toward the Republican protec-
tfonists responsible for that proposed law is
ONCu IcHdihph Wy bpIIIo EulcAllNlhl bDN''l N'I5
% an indication Of readiness on his part to
take step nearer to tho position occupied
by the gentlemen who call themselves tariff
reformers. Several iocose individuals have
gone 80 fur as to inquire how soon the Sec
reta-y OF State may be expected TO declare
himself for free trade out and out.
There Is no sense In that view OF Mr..
BhAINE's remarkable departure. The very
essence Of the protective idea is In it's rocog-
milton of the power and right OF the Ameri-
can Government to use the tariff in such a
way as to encourage, stimulate, and
promote American industry. Tho very
essence OF the free trade movement Is
q denial Of that right and power Mr..
BIAINE's fatal objection to the MCKIYLEY
bill is that 1t neglects the greatest opportu-
nifty of years to use the tariff to benefit
American interests. So far as concerns tho
proposal to make sugar free without exact
ing for American producers a compensatng
advantage in the markets of nations bene-
fitted by the abolition of our duty on sugar,
1t Is Mr.. BLAINE that Is the protecLionist
and Mr. MCKINLEY the free trader
Byone bold stroke mastery IN it's annoep-
:, ESns and sensational In Ito political interest,",