The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-12-03
"0PEN DOOR" MEANS FREE TRADE

LII Ills ouuudy leLIeT from LONDON 10
the New York Tribune, of which White
law Reid. the Paris peace commissioner,
is proprietor. I. N. Ford says that the
reports of Secretary Hays definition of
the American open door" policy in the
Philippines have excited general discus
sion. What the English peo-
pie really want the Americans
to do in their Philippine de-
tendency" says Mr.. Ford, sis to make
no distinction between cargoes sent from
different parts of the world, but to adj
NIT them on terms of commercial equal
ity, without regard to the flag under
which they are carried"
He adds that if the Americans admit
goods into their newly-acquired terri
tory in that way, ut will be considered a
pledge Of the active cooperation of
America and England in China" SIM
ultaneously with the news that England
had grabbed an island at the mouth of
the Yang-Tse river, the Associated Press
informed the public that American sail
ors had landed in China. This remarka-
BILE coincidence goes to show that an
understanding" exists between the state
department at Washington and the court
of St. James in London. 1t would ap-
pear that for the sake of pleasing the
mother country" the Mckinley admin
istration Is willing to depart from the
policy Of protective tariff. so far as the
confiscated islands are concerned.
The Chicago 1nter-Ocean. protection
list paper, which is strongly opposed to
any active cooperation between Great
Britain and the United States. declares
that the "open door" paragraph in the
treaty conditions evoked a shout Of ex-
ultation in London as soon as it was pub
lished. 1t then goes on to say:
These commissioners were not sent to
Paris to modify or alter our system of
taxation, to grant commercial favors, or
to fasten upon this country by treaty any
policies or principles abhorrent to the
letter or spirit of our present congress
sional legislation. They were sent abroad
merely to draw up a treaty of peace with
Spain in such manner as to secure to
lis the territorial fruits of victory. They
should be admonished from Washington
that such is their duty and their whole
duty 1t is not their place to be liberal
or "amiable," or enlightened" in the
sense attributed by English statesmen to
tn
our just rights, and the recognition of
these just rights in signed and sealed
treaty. If this country is to resume ex-
periments in free trade or tariff reform,
or taxation of any kinds, such expert
ments are to be conducted under the
power and authority of the American
congress, and not to be foisted upon us
by any document belonging to the arch
sooner the commissioners understand
this the better it will be for the American
people and the administration at Wash
ington. There is little time left, but that
little is sufficient to render the open
door" paragraph entirely innocuous, and
this should be done.
This nation fought great fight against
Spain, won great victory on lara and
sea, and grasped with firm hand the
most splendid commercial opportunities
that have been within the reach of any
one nation in the last half of this GEN.
tury. 1t is the duty, therefore, of the men
who represent the nation in Washington,
of the men who negotiate in its interests
in Paris. ard of the men who voice its
sentiments in the halls of legislation, and
in the public prints. to see that the glo-
rious results obtained by deeds of valor
in the field are not frittered away at the
eleventh hour. flippantly or clandestinely
in the cabinets of diplomacy.
At dinner to Sir Anthony Mcdonnell
recently, Lord Russell, of Killowen. was
in his happiest vein. He Immediately
told very apt story, which is
too good to be lost. The late James
Russell Lowell once related to him how
leading American politician. whose
party had been defeated, was dcnouncing
the Irish in America in all the moods
and lenses. as the cause Of the disaster.