Arizona daily citizen., 1901-07-11
OUR FUSS WITH RUSSIA.

An amusing result OF the Russian tariff repris-
ais is the attempt of the administration to escape
from the odium OF foolish tariff ruling by stirring
up feeling against Russia 1t has been demonstrat-
ed that Secretary Hays explanation OF Secretary
Cages action has not been of the slightest service in
satisfying the Russian minister On the contrary,
according to the press reports, M. De Witte made
public statement that he could not Imagine that Mr.
Gage would Intentionally mislead the people of the
United States, and therefore he can only conclude
that Mr. Gage not possessed OF all the facts in the
case. This is certainly diplomatic way Of putting
it, and yet in Washington dispatches this remark is
being changed into statement OF opinion that Sc
cretary Gage does not understand the tariff laws of
his own country. This is absurd on its face. for
there hes been controversy as to what our law
was, but only to whether Russian sugar is bounty
fed or not Of course a statement that Secretary
Gage is not possessed OF all the facts in regard to
that matter is reflection ON him, yet it is made
the basis for charges of discouresy and for attempts
to dictate to this country. The Washington Post
evolves the following spirited defiance.
Our dear friends in Europe, however, may be
sure that neither the London Times nor the Cologne
Gazette, nor any other foreign influence will be re-
cognized by the American people in the formulation
OF their plans OF government. The United States
has grown rich and powerful by legislating for it's
own welfare and development 1t viii continue 10
develop in the same ratio by adhering to the policy
which has made it first among the nations II may
we'll be that present tariff laws can be advantage
ously amended at this time. We have so expanded
and advanced within the past three years that the
garment which fitted 10 perfection in 1897 needs
alterations here and there to meet the new condi-
tons. But We are not going to accommodate our
fiscal methods to the demands or the caprices of M
DE Witte, or Baron Buelow or any other foreign
premier potentate, cabinet government or autocrat
We did not reach our supremacy by that route We
are not likely TO retain 1t by departing from the poll
cies and principles through which we have become
the greatest force in Christendom.
III Nd. DE Witte reads this he will probably be
somewhat astonished to learn that this country at
tanned greatness by declaring that other countries
paid sugar bounties when in fact they paid none.
And even that construction would not be much more
absurd than the assumption of the Washington Post
that the tariff is the author and nsher of our great
ness 1t would be dreadfully unfortunate If We were
in fact dependent on the sugar trust for our stand
ing among the nations. And weimagine it will be
rather difficult to stir up much excitement, even
among the jingos. over Russas retaliation for this
act OF favor to the sugar trust 1t is explained to
Russia that the question is in the courts that moth
ing can be done until they decide and that Secretary
Gage had no choice in the matter That is nothing
to Russia in any event. and Russia knows as Amer.
lea knows, that it is not true. Secretary Gage was
not obliged to put any countervailing duty on Rus
sian sugar, especially in the face of protest from
Russia as to the facts And Americans will not de-
velop any indignation the theory that he was OBJ
lged to do So because they know better.