Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1899-09-29
CHANGED HIS VIEWS.
RECLAMATION BY A LIFELONG FREE
TRADER.

/
mixes Facts as Stronger Than The
cries and Avovvs His Convention 20
| the Doctrine Of Protection.
! Hon. William r. Grace, exmayor Of
the city Of New York. lifelong Dem
Ocrat, and, moreover. heretofore one
OF the most strenuous advocates Of n
free trade tariff policy, has publicly
acknowledged that he has completely
changed his views regarding that eco
homie question. He says in an inter-
view with the New York correspond
ent OF the Philadelphia rress:
II now see, AZ believe clearly, that
the amazing growth in all that makes
for permanently prosperous conditions
and in all influences that have so re-
Gently established the United States
as first power among the nations Of
the world, not only politically. but
financially and commercially, Is due
IN great measure to the policy OF pro-
lection. l never dreamed that the
time would come when | should be
willing to make an admission Of this
kind. But facts are stronger than
theories and the fact remains that in
the past six years we have had abun-
dant proof that there Is some fallacy,
SO far as the United States Is con-
cerned. In the doctrine which the
Democratic party held and which MIR.
Cleveland proclaimed in his message.
And, on the other hand, there was
truth IL the claims made by Mckin-
ley, by Dingley, by Morrill, and by
Outstanding this, am ready to say
that ! now see the truth"
1t will be observed that there Is not
the shadow Of equivOcation In this
statement and not the least reserva-
tlon. and, moreover, the declaration or
confession, II such 1t may be called.
was manifestly the result of careful
deiiberation and Of the analysis OF
economic conditions by judicial mind.
Mr.. Grace, a lifelong Democrat. looks
beyond the limited environment Of
party lines He has not failed to OBJ
serve the maze of economic and politi-
cal errors through which the Demo-
cratic party has been cropping during
the greater part of the century and
into the inextricablc depths Of which
1t now seems to be helplessly founder
Ing. AS n merchant and banker Mr.
Grace daily. and indeed almost hourly
at least during Mr.. Mcl<inley's admin
istratlon. has had thrust under his OBJ
servation the most convincing evidence
OF prosperous financial, commercial
and industrial conditions and he could
not. II he would. close his eyes to the
facts thus forcibly presented. Not
only has prosperity attended his own
individual enterprises. but the entire
country has marvelously prospered.
and Mr.. Grace well knows, as indeed
does every one who Is not blinded by
prejudice. that individual prosperity
canno. well exist without correspond
ing degree of national prosperity.
This evideice Of prosperous condi-
tons has led Mr.. Grace carefully to
study the underlying cause for such
conditions. He has seen most mar
yelous expansion in our total foreign
trade during the past three years: an
excess of exports over imports of more
years; an increase in three years Of
Sllo,ooo.OO In our exports Of manufac-
lures. which doubtless has most strik-
ingly attracted his attention. and the
evidence Is presented of tho successful
competition of our manufacturers win
those OF England, Germany and Bel.
ginm. natlons.which have hitherto mo.
hopoiized the trade in manufactured
goods.
lie must likewise be particularly i'm
pressed with the fac that we are en-.
loylhg under protection that which
WAS Intellectually promised by the free
trade overwhelmingly, possession
OF the markets of the world Turning
his attention to the domestic situation
ne hhds our currency firmly establish
ell on gold basis: the METROPOLIS If
which he was once mayor taking
equal rank with London. the financial
center OF the world; prosperous conui-
TONS prevailing in every branch Of
industry, perhaps most notably in iron
ana steel. in which we are In direct
competition with Great Britain. sun
plying her shipyards and railroads
With the finished product and her
snops with cur machinery and under
bidding her manufacturers on con-
tracts In every part of the globe. In
deed. turn his mental vision where he
VIII. Mr. Grace finds such evidence Of
general prosperity rs has not been
Witnessed during the history OF this
aatIon.
How did this monumental array of
evidence OF prosperity present itself
70 the mind Of Mr.. Graceg He doubt.
less eontfasted present conditions with
those existing during the admiuistra-
ton or Ills friend Cleveland. and he
Remntly reached the conclusion that
't"iehic laws were the underlying
cause Tor our prosperity. With this
convection he manfully abandoned the
ialacious theory of free trade. and he
Row acknowledges that our existing
hnaheial and commercial prosperitv