Evening star., 1901-09-06
The President on the Tariff.

In some remarks prepared before the text
of the Presidents Buffalo speech had been
received The Star yesterday suggested tnat
the subject of reciprocity and limited
tariff revision might occupy space IN the
Presidents next annual message to Con-
gress. This would appear now to De as
sured, since the President would haroiy
have spoken as he did at Buffalo except 10
prepare the country for something more
elaborate in that line. What he said yester-
day, however, needs amplification to
show precisely where he stands with regard
to the enlargement Of our trade relations
and the means by which 1t should be -ac-
complished. Take this:
.By sensible trade arrangements which
will not interrupt our home production we
shall extend the outlets for our increasing
surplus system which provloes d
Mutual exchange of commodities Is man
ifestly essential to the continued ana
healthful growth of our export trade.
We must not repose In Ianeleu se
curity that we can forever sell everything
and buy little or nothing. III sucn tnlhs
were possible it would not be best 1or US
or for those with whom we deal. we shouid
take from our customers Such or tneir
products as can use without narm 10
our industries and labor. Reciprocity Is
the natural outgrowth of our wonderful IN
dustrial development under the domeStlc
policy now firmly established. What we
must have a vent abroad. The excess must
be relieved through foreign outlet and We
should sell everywhere we can, and buy
wherever the buying will enlarge our sales
and productions, and thereby make great
er demand for home labor.
1.-The period of eXciusiveneSS Is past. The
expansion Of our trade and commerce Is the
pressing problem. Commercial wars are
Improbable. A policy of good Will and
friendly trade relations will prevent re-
prisals. Reciprocity treaties are in har-
mony with the spirit of the times; meas
ureS of retaliation are not.
If perchance some of our tariffs are no
longer needed, for revenue or to encourage
and protect our industries at home, why
should they not be employed to extend and
promote our markets abroad?'
This is very sound reasoning, and 1t comes
from protectionist par excellence. If any
antagonism between protection and rect-
procfty existed would not a student Of
tariff duties, such as William Mckinley has
always been, have discovered 1t? Evidently
he has detected no danger, or he would not
commit himself SO fully and unreservedly
on the subject at this time. He is the most
eminent of living champions of the Ameri-
can economic policy. and occupies his great
office the result of an appeal to the peo-
pie in behalf of American labor and Ameri-
can industries And he employs the inf1u-
ence of his great Office in addressing the
people thus in the interest Of an increasing
foreign trade.
And particularly note this: 'If perchance
some of our tariffs no longer needed"
&c. A diplomatic way of course of calling
attention to a fact. Some of them. as the
industries to which they relate plainly
show, are no longer needed, and the Presi-
dent suggests that they should give place
to expedients for extending American trade
abroad. Is there anything heretical In
that? Is the President false to his princi-
Piles In taking the ground that protection
should be withdrawn when American In
dustries under the fostering care of the
protective system have attained a growth
and strength enabling them to compete sue
cessfully in the markets of the world for
business and to sell more cheaply in Europe
than they are willing to do in the United
States? Who will charge that?
The President then, we may assume will
lay this matter in this form before the in
coming Congress. Shall we hear further
now that Congress will take no action?
VIII 1t pigeon-hole the suggestion In the
committee room Of the ways and means?
If II does, then the next House Of Repre-
sentattves will be chosen on the tariff issue,
with the Presidents unregarded message In
use as the democratic shbboleth Would
that be good politics for the republican