The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-08

. Oh ~ 70 IDVft hhu iNlllONOu ~
Princeton, N. j., where he has since resided.
II was in his first annual message, Dec. 3
1886. that Mr.. Cleveland undertook to defend
his withdrawal from the Senate of the treaty
concluded with Nicaragua by his predecessor
a treaty which. had 1t boon carried out. would
have assured to us the use of an interocennic
canal during the recent war with Spain. We
reproduce his apology for an act which the
country has since had reason to denlore
Maintaining. as l do. the tenets for the limo
of precedents from Washington's day which
proscribe entangling alliances with foreign
States. l do not favor a policy Of acquisition OF
new and distant territory. or the incorpora-
tion OF remote interests with our own.
l am. therefore, unable to recommend
propositions involving paramount privi-
leges OF ownership or right outside Of
our own territory when coupled with alb
solute and unlimited engagements to defend
the territorial integrity o: the State where such
interests lie. While the general project of con-
Meeting the two oceans by means Of a canal is
to be encouraged. / am OF opinion that any
scheme to that end. to be considered with
favor. should he free from the fpatures alluded
to-" Mr.. Cleveland went on to observe that
whatever highway may be constructed across
the barrier dividing the two greatest maritime
areas OF the world must be for the worlds BEN
eft-a trust for mankind. to be removed from
the chance OF domination by any single power.
nor become q point OF invitation for hostilities
or a prize for warlike ambition. An engage
ment combining the construction. ownership.
and operation OF such a work by this
Government. with an offensive and defen-
sive alliance for Its protection, with the foreign
State whose responsibilities and rights we
would share. Is. In my judgment, Inconsistent
with such dedication to universal and neutral
use. and would. moreover. entail measures for
its realization beyond the scope Of our national
polity or our present means. The lapse OF
years has abundantly confirmed the W sdom
and foresight OF those earlier Administrations
which. long before the conditions of maritime
intercourse were changed and enlarged by the
progress OF the age. proclaimed the vital need
OF interoceanic transit across the American
Isthmus and consecrated IL In advance to the
common use Of mankind by their positive
declarations and through the formal obligation
Of treaties. Toward such realization the efforts
OF my administration will be applied. ever bear
ing In mind the principles on which It must rest.
and which were declared In no uncertain tones
by Mr., Cass. who. while Secretary OF State in
1855. announced that what the United States
want In Central America. next to the happi-
NESS Of its people. Is the security and neutrality !
OF the interoceanic routes which lead through
IT." In this passage will be recognized an in
timation that the writer approves Of the Clay
ton-Bulwer Treaty. and 1t is known that Presi-
dent Cleveland directed or permitted Mr.. Bay
ard. his Secretary Of State. to indicate to the
British Foreign Office that he regarded that
convention as still binding, thus abandoning
the position taken by Mr.. Frelinghuysen.
Presi lent Cleveland's third annual message
was devoted entirely to the announcement Of
his conversion 10 the principle OF tariff reform.
We say CONVERSION. because up to that time he
had omitted to indicate precisely where he
stood with relation to the doctrine OF protec-
tion. After protesting that he did not under
estimate the difficulty attending q wise and
fair revision Of our tariff laws. he submitted
that Congress should evince a patriotic disre-
gard of such local and selfish claims az were
reckless of the welfare Of the country consid-
cred as n whole. and he then proceeded as fol-
lows: Under our present laws. more than
1000 articles are subject to duty. Many o'these
do not in any way compete with our own manu-
features, and many are hardly worth attention
as subjects OF revenue. A considerable reduc-
ton can be made in the aggregate by adding
them to the free list. The taxation OF lux
uries presents no features OF hardship:
but the necessarics OF life. used and
by all the people. the duty
upon which adds to the cost Of living In
every homo. should be greatly cheapened.
The radical reduction OF duties imposed upon
material used In manufactures. or its free
Importation. is. OF course. an important factor
Ia any effort to reduce the prices Of these nee
assarles. 1t would not only relieve them from
he increased cost caused by the tariff on such
but the manufactured product
being thus cheapened. that part OF the
>arin now laid upon such product. as
| compensation to our manufacturers
or the present price OF raw material. could be
modified. Such reduction or free
m Importation would serve. besides. to largely re- 7
luce the revenue. 1t is not apparent how such '
change can have any injurious effect upon {
'ur manufacturers. On the contrary. it would |
'ppear to give them a better chance in foreign 7
with the manufacturers OF other coun- {
ries. who cheaper their wares by free material. |
Thus our people might have the opportunity OF I
attending their sales beyond the limits OF homo /
saving them from the depression, g
Interruption in business and loss caused by a n
lutted domestic market and affording their t
Employees more certain and steady labor. with t
ID resulting quiet and co~ntentment." r
MIR. Cleveland went on to say that the ques- q
lon thus presented for solution should be u
pproached in a spirit higher than PARTISAN p
hip. and considered in the light Of that regard b
patriotic duty which should characterize Il
he actions Of those intrusted with the veal of s.
contding people. Blu, the obligation to de- "
Jared party policy and principle is not wanting I
> h'S' i'hip tsiid wv u OF ~
ne great political parties now represented in Ii
10 Government have. by repeated and Il
declarations. condemned the Il
ondition OF our laws. which permit tho W
election from tho people OF unneces- HI
Try revenue. and have In the most W
manner promised It's correction and IL
either as citizens nor pa artisans are our coun- W
ymen In a mood to condone the deliberate W
olation OF these pledges. Our progress to- m
n r1 n uriaa annolrIaiNn xgfl 80 - --.--- y
y dwelling upon the theories OF protection and m
ee trade. This savors too much Of bandying fe
1t is a condition which conrronts us, 7
ot Q theory. Relief from this condition NAV HI
volve a slight reduction OF the advantages II
hich We award our home productions. but IN
10 entire withdrawal OF such advantages Ia
lould not be contemplated. The question OF Ir
ee trade Is absolutely Irrelevant. and the
claim made In certain quarters that NJ
the efforts made to relieve tho people AT
ON unjust and unnecessary taxation arc or
ham al ~ ao-pallad fraa fra ars 10 ., isob;auz,. II,