The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1890-08-02
TRYING TO COERCE US.

TRYING TO COERCE US.
It appears from the proceedings in
the French chamber of deputies Mon
day. says the San Francisco Bulletin,
that tie French government has been
trying to get up European combina-
ton against the United States in con-
nection with the tariff now under con-
sideration in the senate. France had
previously, on her own responsibility,
undertaken to demonstrate in semi
official manner against the passage of
the bill. Having failed to make the
desired impression, her government
appears to have attempted to form a
European combination against US. Ri
bot, minister of Foreign affairs, reply
ing Monday to an Interpolation, said
that "the government had been in ne
eotiation with other European powers,
with the object of trying to concert
collective action against the bill (the
proposed American tari6). But the
other powers" he said, "were averse
to entering into any engagements in
connection with the matter"
But, however unpleasantly the last
proposed interference in our affairs
may CRATE on national feelings, the
light it sheds on our Democratic party,
its aims and purposes are quite pecu-
liar. If r. Q. Mills or any of the
free-trade leaders should be asked to
explain this proceeding they would
say that France was moved to the
course in question out of loving kind
ness to the United States, and not
from any selfish interest of her own.
It would follow that the combination
which she endeavored to get up against
US was designed for our benefit. There
is, perhaps, more here than human
credulity of the broadest kind could
possibly accept. The spectacle of
European nations employing all the
arts of diplomacy to organize league
of nations to improve our condition
and promote our prosperity is unique
In the history of mankind. But this
is just what R. @. Mills, ex-President
Cleveland and the free-.raders gen.
orally would have US believe.
Tho sober fact, on the contrary, is
that the alleged Democrats of the
period are pretty good Frenchmen;
they are passabie Englishmen; they
are good Germans and Spaniarda But
they are not Americans at all They
are in line with foreign nations against
the United States. They are laboring |
to bene6. foreign countries at the ex-
pense of their own. They are engaged
in grand national sell-out. 1t is not
likely that the great majority of them
get, or expect to get, anything out of
it. Perhaps only in some instances
rewards have been gained. The great
masses will have to be acquitted of any
such sordid purpose. 1t is certainly
an interesting inquiry to determine
what could have forced a national
party into such queer position.
The motives are, perhaps, very
mixed. One of them undoubtedly has
been the notion that whatever the Re-
publicans propose must be antagonized
by the Democrats. But it is begin
ming to appear that that blind policy
is ranging them on the wrong side of
American problems. They are at one
with French, English and other manu-
facturera But they are against their
own people. They declare by their
action that foreign nations know what
is good for us better than we do our .
selves. They are abreast with the (.
foreign nations. They are partlsans
Of M. Ribot. They are in sense all
members of the Golden Club. They
a-e upholders of foreign fiscal systems. ,
TaeY are concerned mainly for the
prosperity of the nations Of Europe ,
md not of their own.
But reverting to the original form /
Of the controversy, it may be said that ,
France is the last nation in The world
which should have entered on the
course above Indicated. She has been
protectionist since the days of Colbert.
Nowhere else IN the world have more ;,
benefits been derived from 6
protection. Instead OF gravitating to
ward free trade she is steadily becom.
ng more protectionist. The reciprocity C
:reaty negotiated by Louis Napoleon t.
With England has not been renewed a
" the republic. No nation in recent g
lines has questioned her right to regu. 8
ate her fiscal system to suit herself. b.
We have never made any ci
omplaint on the subject. To do SO W
'ould be to call in question her SOW j.
reign independence. There will be tb
othing to wonder at if NJ. Ribot's til
lrious proceedings should excite un- tn
leasant feelings in this part of the DIR
orld. The hereditary friendship be. th
veen the nations is no doubt strong, es'
1t it will not stand constant strain po
&, at least on one side. Gel
- BILE
WASHINGTON Us. OREGON.
The DhanOme. al Urnwth If Woeh