The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1898-12-05
Is This the Ultimate Mean
ing of the "0pen Door"
Programme.
FUTURE TARIFF POLICIES
Belief THAI the Oren Door MAY Mean
the Final OverthI CIV of the High
Protective Tariff of the Re
puhlicans of the United
States.
By Jos: Oil,

Washington, December 3.-(Special)-
Does the accession of the Philippines mean
the beginning of the end OF high ,protec-
ton?
That is a question being generally asked
by those people In Washington who have
made a study of the American peace terms
with the idea of getting at their effect upon
tho future policy of this government.
Up to this time the imperialism" buga-
boo has been so vigorously kept to the front
by the anti-eXpansion element as to over
shadow. to a great extent. the other issues
raised by this new departure from this
countrys traditional path. There has been
all sorts of talk of the impossiblity of our
taking on outlying islands or of our enter
ing upon anything like colonial policy
with regard to these possessions, and the
attention of the country has been focused
upon that phase of the problem. but now
taat it has been finally determined that no
such impossibilities exist, and that are.
In fact, going to take possession of the
Philippines well as the former Spanish
colonies in the West Indies, the declaration
of the intention of this government to
operate the Philippines under tho "open-
door, policy has caused widespread COM
mcnt.
The Open Door and Protection.
Those who believe themselves in posi-
ton to know have always explained Speak
er Reeds opposition to this So-Called cX-
pansion policy as being based on the con-
viction that such a policy would inevitably
lead to the overthrow of that high protec-
ton which has been the chief bulWari of
strength of the republican party. Other re-
PuhliCanS as strong prOteCtiOnIStS as the
man from Maine, were swept off their feet
! by the popular tidal wave in favor of first
the acquisition of Hawaii and, since the
war. Of the Spanish colonial possessions in
the Pacific as well as in the Atlantic; but
Reed was wise enough to see that the two
ideas of Il Chinese wall built around this
country by high protective duties and OF
expansion, which meant pushing the COM
mercc of this country in all the markets
of the world. would not go together
Other Eyes Are Opened
Other republicans have opened their eyes
to these facts when il was too late. The
Home Market Club Of Boston. which voices
the sentiments of the New England manu-
features, is now out in strong protest
against the expansion idea, and it is the
very general belief that back of Senator
Hoar's pes2imstic belief that this govern
ment Is going to the dogs by me imperial
ism route, is this same spectre Of dead
protection.
President Mckinley has been pictured
from one end of the country to the other
an imDerialiSt por So but according TO his
own most recent dc ,IaratiOus he has made
the demand for the Philippines with many
misgivings in his heart. He does not hesi-
tate to say. to those with whom ne talks
contidentiaily, that he would have been
greatly relieved had Dewey smashed the
Spanish fleet ont on the high seas. Then
There would have been no Philippine ques-
ton, and there would have been no thought
.,f 'It.y ION, rf h,g t. 90
fears the commercial effects upon those
protected interests which are chiefly re-
sponsible for bis own exalted position IN
public life; but having listened to the pop
ular expression in favor of expansion and
annexation, ne has done the only possible
thing in declaring that 1t is the policy of
the United States to maintain in the Philip
pines an open door to the worlds com
MERGE.
No Kick from London.
1t will be noticed that all of the London
papers give especial praise Of this clause
Of the American terms ana well they may
for under such conditions the American
possession of he Philippines is of just as
great advantage to Great Britain as would
be British possession of those Islands,
and that without Cntailing any of the re-
sponsibillly Of furnishing government
for them. The Spanish. too. can we'll af-
ford to do some laughing up their sleeves,
though, Of course for political effect they
are just now putting up a very poor mouth
over the terms offered them by this gov
and