New-York tribune., 1899-07-21
NEW POSSESSIONS AND THE TARIFF.


This is Just the time of all Others cries stall
wart Free Trader, for the Democratic party 10
accomplish the overthrow of Protection with
ease After battling for generations on that
| issue. Is it conceivable that the party will run
away from It precisely when the best opportu-
nifty of its whole history comes? This was the
one question on which 1t won success with
Cleveland, and it would be amazing folly now to
abandon it for the one question on which 1t
sustained its most complete and humiliating de-
feat with Bryan. With new possessions which
produce sugar largely, some radical alteration
of the tariff will be unavoidable, and it will be
all the more easy just now to overthrow protec-
tive duties, because the great industries have
gained a hold on foreign markets and want Pro-
lection no longer Such, In substance, Is the
reasoning of sundry Democratic Journals which
seem to have been suggested by certain pithy
remarks of Senator Morgan in the same vein.
That Senator will be treated with respect by
all who appreciate genuine Americansm, but
# this particular suggestion were found afioat
without his name attached it might be attrib-
uted to those whom that Senator holds In deep
contempt as enthusiasts of things foreign. Where
has the Senator learned that American indus
tries no longer want protective duties, unless
from foreign journals printed on both sides OF
the ocean? He would not find his constituents
about Birmingham of that mind nor the sturdy
wool growers of the West, who have done at
least their full share in maintaining the honor or
the flag Nor have the wool manufacturers
made so much as respectable beginning In the
way of invading foreign markets. and they well
know that another Wilson tariff would mean for
them, and necessarily for wool growers another
four years OF extreme prostration. But the
question will in fact be decided, not by the man
ufacturers, but by the millions of workers who
knew what it was to hunt in vain for work at
low wages under Cleveland. 1t is exactly be-
cause the Democratic party did succeed once on
that issue with Cleveland that 1t was ready to
run away from it, even into Populism, defeat
and disgrace.
The idea that the tariff must be reconstructed
because new possessions grow sugar Is pre-
sented by Senator Morgan with his accustomed
zeal but not with his usual studious eXamna-
ton. II he had reviewed the history of his coun-
try with reference to this question he would
have found that it had been decided before and
not as he supposes. Possessions of the United
States do not become part of the United States
until they have been brought within the Union
as States or Territories. The tariff is to-day
enforced respecting lluPOitS iioih AoAtO AN'N"
and the Philippines exactly as If they had In no
sense become property of the United States
President Mckinley is we'll advised in declining
to abrogate law on the supposition that Con-
gress will make such disposal OF new posses
sions that the tariff will no longer apply to
them. 1t is a marvel that Senator Morgan
seems ready 10 assume that Americans will re-
quest the mixed and colored races of the Islands
10 help Americans govern this country.
Were It determined on any ground or for any
reason to admit the sugar Of Porto Rico free, as
the sugar of the Hawaiian Islands has been ad-
mitted. II does not follow that the consequences
would be of large Importance Porto Rico is
not of unlimited size, nor has 1t such supply
of unoccupied land and available labor as would
promise any vast outcome OF sugar. The supply
from that island has fallen off materially to this
country more than half since 1872, and was
never large enough TO all countries to compare
with the quantity received by this country from
Hawaii But II may be added for the enlghten-
ment Of Free Traders that any reduction in the
revenue derived from importatlons OF sugar
would assuredly be followed by heavier duties
upon the manufactured articles which this coun
try is able to produce for itself In order to Sc
cure further development Of home industries as
n result of the collection Of higher revenue for
n time. This country has not done growing yet
IS not inclined TO stop developing Its Industries
and is not I'm the humor TO return to the theories
which brought disaster under Democratic rule.