Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-26
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
THE QUESTIONS FOR THE FOLLOW
Il ing interview with Senator Sherman at his
homo in Mansfield, Ohio, on political matters
| were written out for him and his replies were
revised before being returned to me. Tho
nrst question was a. TO the political issues Of
| today.
Said Senator Sherman: 1.-THE chief issues In
national politics are no doubt the tariff ques-
ton and the free coinage Of silver. Upon
these have expressed my opinion 90 fully in
public speeches that it is hardly wort while
to make them the subject of an interview.
The Mckinley tariff is no doubt the most COM
prehensive and carefully prepared reven ne
law we have ever had on the statute books. It
provides the largest measure of free trade ever
contained in Q tariff law. increases the pro-
tective rates on articles which come into COM
petition with our productions, both Of the
farm and the Workshop, and tends more than
any previous law to build up industries not
heretofore existing in the United States Some
OF its details will be the subject Of contro-
versy during the next Congress and may be
changed, but believe the principles Of the
bill will be maintained. As our industries are
developed rates may be reduced and free trade
VIII be extended as rapidly as our needs for
revenue will permit"
THE RECIPROCITY SCHEMES
"How about reciprocity with South America
and Canada?'
Reciprocity is spoken Of Is il there was
something novel in it. This is not true, as we
nave had several examples Of reciprocity, most
OF which have turned out very badly. The two
reciprocity treaties with Canada were put an
end to by the United States as soon as the
treaties permitted. The Hawaiian treaty is .
monument Of folly which cost us q great many
millions Of dollars without sny substantial
, Oner TeclProcity treanes were elmer
tvss refnsnd 20 0r Ms "a. n1 ~ Q, Yep
into effect
TIE xK1SLxY sn1 aro,pnoo,ry
1.-THE reciprocitv nrovided nv thu McK;r,ev
bill il extremely limited IN ;ts .cora Tbs
| third saction nrov;d.. .h.. wAau.. -.
.-. A"' "Ane'o1 my
S. ounHy Prooucins ana exporting sugars, mo-
M ' vGnee, soa snu nlues imposes unreason-
of the Initial n s;ataa th anu otner PrGducts
rard ~ o. o'aes .ne fresident snail sus,
Stata. ~ nh . tn1ao9uclon into tne United
vsases VI sucn arucles from sucn country, and
s shsr uurihg sucn suspension these articles
s sha1 90 suo1ect 10 she old duties provided by
the five sr,;c1ss ra Mo.Procf H Is eonnnea 70
vo a. IoIos naheo, an9, as tney are sucn
quantities. in the limited Statas -n ~ =
| very simple question of fair trade. on which
| the President could exercise his discretion
W'nout the intervention OF Congress I sec
the crsd;t ~ ths odra;u;sptr.s;y' s1I ~ ~ 70
Harrison that he has been able 70 maLa 49,
satisfactory arrangements with Braz;l snd
Cuba, which win be a benefit to all the conn-
| tries affected. Our trade with the conntr;as
south of us will be greatly benefited nv rail-
roads and ship lines. which. I believe. witbont
the aid of the eoyernmsnt will in time ha 90.
tablished. but which. I think onght N he
favored and ENCOURAGED bv auch assista nca %
we can render.
,vc,n,o,,-v
s:-1..,.t oAsADA.
AS ior reciprocity with canada, 1t presents
much more difficult problem. The productions
Of Canada are substantially similar to those Of
the limited State. M 20 ,,h;,h -. - .,.-,
.ou,..;.. d.. "o a'o "a'ufai
ui I:.. oo'n countries would DC bene-
=; '.t ~ nni'lns IeciProciy ana the dlmcuities
- a..o! ao ~ VIC uo's. Inc naturai orlit
baeorna 80. ,oi anu tne united States 70
OeonMo parss VI one country, ana peileve
a,a! !" 'uo,r uie 1esuny' put nope It Will
.SI oAooP' W sne free consent not
C.y W VIC PSoPie oI tne ohteo otatee ana
siaoa ou. OF sne government OF Great Britain.
opens susn wioe neio OF conjecture In
~ U =. iue nu'ule Si me Angi0-Saxon race
sua' ~ IS nsrudy worm Wnlle 70 TAX OF what We
nope may De-
HOW SENATOR SHERMAN BECAME YINANcIER.
"Will you please tell me. Senator. how Won
became ident;6ad With A,on.,.I ,n..to.. -
,,.a. ,h;, ga -:-,.-a,, ~
80 A !0.A 'Peei"i'y'
Il hardly know how l came to drift into my
connection with the national finances. When I
entered Congress in 1855 l had but one idea and
that was to prevent the extension of slavery
over free territory. Originally did not en-
terrain any extreme notions about slavery. ex-
cept as q palpable moral wrong that hoped
some day would be eradicated, but the repeal
Of the Missouri compromise and the desperate
effort made by the most lawless means to az
tend slavery over Kansas and Nebraska made
me Q determined opponent to the democratic
party, then in power in all branches of the gov
ernment
my first participation in financial leoisla.
ton was after was appointed Chairman of the
committee on ways and means in the Thirty
sixth Congress in 1850 Then for the first time
had to deal with fiscal affairs. AID that too at
time when the credit of the government was
at the very lowest ebb and when members Of
Congress had to receive their nav in trea.nrv
notes, as the treasury was substantially bank
fupt: from that time to this l have been
s;sI W sIea'er OF iess oeeree win our
now by a referencs TO the history of the COM nm
| try. When was transferred to the Senate in
| 1861 was placed on the COMMITTEES of finance
| Of which Mr. Fessenden was chairman- He
| was a man Of marked ability, perhaps as in
| tellectually able az any man in the Senate
| then or for many wears before. He WAS sbarn
incisive, not always pleasant in his. manners
but his ability az n deba ter gave him comn,on6
4