The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-12
of Benjamin Harrison as a candidate for
president.


THEIR OLD MAN OF THE SEA.
The great Puerto Rico tariff blunder Of
the imperialists has been fruitful of at
least one very good result 1t has re-
moved all doubt as to the important
part which the tariff plays in maintain
ing the trust conspiracy.
There is no politician in the country
at the present moment who would un-
dertake to deny that the trusts dictated
the action of the majority of the house in
voting the Is per cent monstrosity. What
appeared to be complete acquiescence in
the free trade recommendation of the
president prevailed In the house and
senate for many weeks after the issu-
first murmur Of dissent was not heard
for long after and came from the New
England tobacco organization. IT did not
require long for the Republican politi-
clans to take their cue, and in the space
of comparatively few days those VINO
before were unconcerned over the presi-
dents recommendation became greatly
excited. Only the New York press, of
all the imperialist organs. opposed the
recommendation from the outset.
The debate has made very plain the
conviction Of even the Republicans them
selves that the trusts represented the an
imating spirit of the entire crusade
against free trade. Senator Foraker. in
responding to certain remarks of Sena-
tor Davis on the subject In the senate,
fairly acknowledged the important rela-
tionship borne by the trusts to the con-
troversy. Even the opponents of free
trade with Puerto Rico felt called on
to base their arguments on the assertion
that the tobacco and sugar trusts had
loaded the warehouses at the point Of
departure with Puerto Rlcan products in
| anticipation of their admission free OF
duty to domestic ports. Apparently en-
tirely unconscious of the dangerous char
acter of their admissions these gentlemen
freely avowed their belief in the inter-
| vention Of the trusts and even went so
| far as to insist that the imposition of the
tariff was necessary in order to hold the
trusts In subsection in that particular
case. Still other Republicans, who &c
cepted the imperialist doctrine that the
constitution did not extend to the ISL
and, were heard urging free trade as a
measure Of national protection against
the trusts.
All this is very instructive. 1t gives
fair indication of the drift of public sem
timent toward the conviction that the
trusts and the tariff imposition represent
kindred evils. 1t, moreover, stands for
one Of the chief causes of embarrass-
ment to the friends of Imperialism and
high tariff. 1t is the handwriting on the
wall. The high tariff must go. It cannot
be maintained under the conditions which
are forcing themselves to the front It
is inconsistent with the development Of
American foreign trade It cannot be
made compatible with the maintenance
foreseen in the reciprocity treaties which
have been negotiated through the pres
ent administration. 1t is the breeding
place of the trusts, and. coupled with the
refusal of the Republican majority in
congress to consent to wipe 1t out on
articles which are exclusively dealt in
or controlled by trusts. 1t goes to estab-
lish the identity Of the administration
and of the protectionist doctrine with the
cause Of the trusts
No doubt it would be folly to expect a
serious effort at this time on the part
of any Republican statesman to rid the
party Slnbad Of this veritable Old Man
OF the Sea- But there Is. none the less.
great opportunity waiting some Repub-
lican leader. who like Senator Nelson.
has refused to bend the knee to the pro-
tectionIst Moloch