Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-09-11

Representative Mckinley, the Repub-
lican leader on the floor of the national
House of Representatives, and Secretary
Blaine, the Republican leader in the ma
tional administration, have both taken
the stump for the Republican party and
each has pointed out what he considers
the true policy for the party and the
country in its commercial legislation.
They point in opposite directions.
Mr. Mckinley spoke at considerable
length at the convention in Massillon last
week when he was renominated to Con-
gress. He covered a number of topics,
but, as might be expected, addressed
himself chiefly to the question of tariff
The principle of the Mckinley bill was
defended; the bill which Mr.. Blaine has
declared does not contain ga section or a
line in the entire bill that will open the
market for another bushel of wheat or
another barrel of pork;' the bill which
is based on the idea of preventing foreign
products coming into our markets to meet
the home consumers and preventing our
own products going out to other markets
to be sold to foreign consumers. 1t is
not surprising that in Mr.. McKinley's
long speech, touching upon nearly every
other topic, there was not line or
word concerning trade with other coun-
tries. The subject of reciprocity was
not even remotely limited at. Why
should it be? The Mckinley bill aims
to restrict trade with other countries and
finally suppress it. Commercial rec
iprocity has no place in the program of
Mr.. Mckinley.
Mr.. Blaine spoke on Friday at Water
vile, Me-, and his entire speech was de-
voted to the proper policy in commercial
legislation, From beginning to end it
was plea for letting down those barriers
against foreign commerce which the
Mckinley bill is designed to make higher.
81 wish to declare" said Mr.. Blaine,
the opinion that the United States has
reached a point where one of its highest
duties is to enlarge the area of its foreign
trade. We have developed a volume of
manufacturers which, in many depart
ments, overruns the demand of the home
market. In the field of agriculture,
with the immense propulsion given it by
| agricultural implements, we can do far
more than produce breadstuffs and pro.
visions for our own people; nor would il
be an ambitious destiny for so great 9
country as ones to manufacture only
what we can consume or to produce only
what we can eat. We are already il
many fabrics and in many products fan
beyond that and our great demand is
expansion. | mean expansion of trade
with countries where we can find profit
able exchanges" Thus the policy of the
Republican leader in the national ad
ministration is in direct opposition tC
that of the Republican leader on the
floor of the House of Representatives
The one considers foreign trade unnec
essary and injurious; the other insists
that it is beneficial and necessary. The
one would contine all buying and selling
to the home market around which al
unscalable wall is to be built; the other
would make breaches in the wall cleai
to the ground through which reciprocal
free trade between the home and desig
mated foreign markets can be established
The two policies are irreconcilably an
tagonistic.
A third policy to further confuse anG
worry the Republican masses has beer
presented for adoption by another Re
publican leader. Senator Aldrich, who
by virtue of his having in charge the
finance committees amendment to tn,
tariff bill may be considered the Repub
lican leader in the Senate, has givel
notice of amendment to the bill whicl
differs from the proposals of the othe
IWo hepuDllCdH leduerS. MT. Alurlcl
proposes reciprocity by retaliation. II
, would invite foreign trade by putting
J pistol at the head of the foreigner an,
t telling him to trade or be shot. If
foreign government will not remove tn
duties on such articles as the Unite,
States wants to sell them the Presiden
is authorized to proclaim "articles" W,
buy of that country and forthwith heavy
duties are imposed.
Here are three different policies urget
by three Republican leaders, one pre-
sented in the name of the Honse one ot
the Senate and one of the national ad
ministration. One looks to no foreign
commerce, the other is inviting foreign
commerce, the third is bulldozing a for
eign trade with greater activity or blud-
geoning it to death,