New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-17

men prepared long beforehand in order to turn out
quickly and promptly weapons when desired
am perfectly willing to concede that the navies OF
to-day may he useless fifty years from now
That has nothing to do with the case
do not think that even the humblest
owner of the smallest house. with nothing moro
than mere hide stretched upon its inner walls,
would hesitate to close his door against intruders
rather than to wait for the possible development
Of some future style of hinge, which would enable
him to close his door with more economy and dis
patch. The truth Of it is that the establishment
Of Navy puts a nation upon respectable loot
ing and is the best guarantee against the posi-
billty of any war. In other words it is insurance
and should be regarded
The President was asked if he did not think
that the tariff Issue for the present was ended so
far as the Republican party was concerned. and
that the party as party should resist the furtner
agitation of the subject for at least time.
The President said In reply TO this: Most de-
cidedly | think there should be no more agitation
upon this subject until the Mckinley bill has
been fairly tried. 1t has been charged with nu-
merous faults. There IS no reason why its work
ings should be prejudiced by malcvoent predlc-
tions. The bill has been already long enough In
operation to indicate that much that was charged
against it is untrue. period should be per-
mtted to pass long enough to test fairly the char
acter of the measure. Then, if it can be shown
by such fair and impartial trial that it has faults.
let them he eliminated, but until such period
is passed, should be strongly against any further
agitation of the tariff question:
WHAT FREE COINAGE WOULD MEAN.
asked the President if he did not hold to
much the same opinion concerning financial legis-
lation.
The President said 81 do not think that we
need any more financial legislation for the present.
What we have, too, should have its period Of
\ trial / do not see any present or near future
necessity of further financial legislation. / have
favored silver coinage up to point where /
thought it could be safely used. It is not always
easy to determine exactly the danger point. 1t
is best, however, to be conservative, and
think we have gone about as far for the present
in the direction of free coinage Of silver as can
be done for the best interests of silver. To go
further might result in depreciating it. de-
preciated dollars first mission is to go out and
cheat some workman in the payment of his days
wages. 1t is the poor man who feels first the
i'll effects of cheapened currency
The President was asked about the reciprocity
policy of the Administration. He said Il have
been engaged for the last few days in consider
ing various subjects of treaty under this policy.
have been doing what could to urge along and
develop the possibilities which see in this new
extension of our trade. believe that this policy
will result in great good"
He was asked about the criticisms directed
against the policy where it has been said that
there is no real advantage, because the English
merchant can still undersell the American mer-
chant on account of his being able TO produce at
home cheaper and because he has better trans
portation connections with the South American
countries than we have.
THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
The President said in reply to this that under
the Mckinley bill he had full authority to give
the American merchant such advantages as would
enable him practically to stand upon footing
with the English merchant, as far as the cost
of production was concerned. Under this act
the American merchant get raw material for
the duty is not charged where such material is
imported TO be manufactured into articles for
expectation, and so the American merchant will he
able to sell at the same point Of advantage as the
English merchant, with the additional advantage Of
free entry into ports where treaties are made As
to the improved means OF communication, ne would
soon have the same advantages through the
establishment under stimulus of postal subsidies
of American steamship lines. These steamship
lines will be constructed in the same way as were
the modern steamships in England They would
be so built as to be available as cruisers in case
Of war, and would therefore be valuable auxil-
iaries to the Navy.
At the close of the talk I asked him what
he thought of the future Of the Republican party.
The President said that there was already n
strong reaction in favor of the party, and that
the future would show that il was upon the side
Of good government and modern progress, and
| we'll merted the confidence Of the country. In
| expressing this opinion the President said en-
| phatically: 81 think it is about time TO abolish
| the Craftsmanship of the Apologies for the
| Republican party T. C. CRAWFORD