The Lamar register., 1899-09-13
DEMOCRACY,s sCHANCE.
CAN GET FREE TRADE WITH Ex-
PANSiON.
The Party seems to lie Againss unre-
strict.d Foreign Composition Regret
In Advance the Opportunity to Fight
Next Years Campaign ON Ola Iinss-

trader, for the democratic party to ac-
complish the overthrow OF protection
with ease. After batting for genera
lions on that issue. is it conceivable
that the party will run away from it
precisely when the best opportunity ot
its whole history conies2 This was
the one question on which Il won sue
cess with Cleveland and it would be
amazing folly now to abandon it for
the one question on which il sustained
us most complete and hGmiliating de-
feat with Bryan. With new posses
sions which produce sugar largely,
some radical alteration OF the tariff
viii be unavoidable, and II viii be all
the more easy just now TO overthrow
protective duties, because the great
industries have gained a hold on for
eign markets. and want protection no
longer. Such. in substance. is the
reasoning Of sundry democratic jour
mails which seems to have been sug-
seSted by certain pithy remarks of
senator Morgan in the same vein.
That senator will be treated with re
spect By all who appreciate a genuine
Americanism, but If this particular
suggestion were found afioat without
his name attached il might be attrtb-
uted to those whom that senator holds
in deep contempt as enthusiasts OF
things foreign. Where has the senator
learned that American industries no
longer want protective duties, unless
from foreign journals printed ou both
sides Of the ocean, He would not find
his constituents about Birmingham OF
that mind, nor the sturdy woolgrow-
cts Of the west, who have done at least
their full share in maintaining the
honor o; the flag Nor have the wool
manufacturers made so much as a re-
spectacle beginning in the way OF in
vading foreign markets. and they well
know that another Wilson tariff would
mean for them. and necessarily for
wool-groweTs. another four years OF
extreme prostration. But the question
will, In fact. be decided. not by the
manufacturers. hut by the millions OF
workers who knew what Il was to hunt
in vain for work at low wages under
Cleveland. It is exactly because the
democratic party did succeed once on
that issue with Cleveland that II was
ready to run away from 1t, even into
populism, defeat and disgrace.
The idea that the tariff must be re-
constructed because new possessions
sTow sugar is presented by Senator
Morgan with his accustomed zeal. but
not with his usual studious examina-
tion. II he had reviewed the history
OF his country 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 en-
forced respecting Imports from Porto
Rico and the Philippines exactly as If
they had in no sense become property
Of the United States. President Me.
Eirley is wen advised in declining to
abrogate law on the suppositlon that
congress will make such disposal OF
rev possessions that the tariff will no
longer apply to them. II IS marvel
that Senator Morgan seems ready TO
assume that Americans VIII request
the mixed and co.ored races of the
islands to 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 admitted.
it does not follow that the conse-
quences would be Of large Importance
Porto Rico is not OF unlimited size, nor
has it such a supply OF unoccupied Land
and available labor as would promise
any vast outcome Of sugar. The sup
ply from that island has fallen on ma
terially, to this country more than half
since 1872. and was never large enough
70 all countries to compare with the
quantity received by this country from
Hawaii But it may be added for the
enlightenment OF free-traders that any
reduction in the revenue derived from
importations of sugar would assuredly
be followed by heavier duties upon the
manufactured articles which this coun-
try is able to produce for itself. in or
der to secure further development of
home industries as a result OF the col
lection of higher revenue for time.
This country has not done growing yet,
IS not inclined to stop developing its
industries ard is not in the humor to
return to the theories which brought
disaster under democratic rule.
Find Out the Cause.
II halt .