The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-24
ton. n. c.. as Second-Class
Matter April 13. 1879.
CONDITIONS AS TO TARIFF OVER
HAULING.

the one hand that there is sure to be a
rush OF white voters in the south from
the democratic party to the repuol:-
can party. Southern Cleveland organs
in the past are saying that the repub-
Iican party is the party of pro-
gress and for the south. They say it
represents a high tariff, trusts. expan-
sion and sound currency, and is the
party to join. On the other hand there
are scores of republican
and politicians in the north that are
-favoring 4 decided modifying Of the
high. drastic. unequal and unnecessary
tariff schedule. 1t is confidently pro-
-phesied by some newspapers that tariff
reform is bound to come and before
1904. There is indeed some prospect
that the republican party will so re-
coil from it's greatly advanced position
as the advocate and hacker OF a great
Chinese wall arrangement that bur-
dens home people and enriches a COM
Daratively few manufacturers-about
one in n hundred or one in one thou
sand of population that it will be much
reduced and reconstructed and with
the consent of thousands of prominent
republicans al around the north.
If this should be done-so needed, so
just. SO 5alutary-what will the boilers
10 when they find they nave Rugged a
~iphGntasy. betrayed the grand old par
rty?
What does Mckinley mean in his
many tariff talks recently in his long
Journey? He said this, whatever he
means: I'VE have reached that point
in our industrial development, and in
order to secure sale for our surplus
products We must open up new avenues
for u surplus. 1 am sure that in that
sentiment there will be no division,
north or SOUTH"
He probably. with his usual cunning,
means only to have access to other
countries with American products free
of duty. while keeping up the huge tar
If tax on all the products of the oblig- |
ms countries that receive what is sent
from the United States. We have no
confidence in Mckinley at any time.
He is the political "Artful Dodger of
This country and of his party. He has
been all through the years very violent
ly in favor Of 4 high tax, including the
-abominabIe high tariff bearing his own
name.
But other republicans are out in plain
words. Representative Babcock, a |
prominent republican leader in the !
EaOuse of representatives, has beer re-
Iferred to by the Messenger as to his
his attitude for reform and reduction. |
He will try results mex winter in the |
congress. Mr.. William E. Curtis, one
of the best known of newspaper cores
po~ndents, wrote lately to the Chicago |
-Record-Herald that the recent re-
Oellion of Representative Babcock. of |
Wisconsin, and the heresies taught by |
MI. Roberts. the director of the mint, |
and others concerning the tariff, are
causing considerable alarm among the
high protection leaders of the republic
can party. and as soon as the presi-
dent returns from California they will
endeavor to secure his influence in
Silencing those who advocate q reduc-
ton of duties. This will be difficult if
not impossible. because President Nc
Kinley. as loyal a protectiOnist as there
is in the republican party, is himself
sof the opinion that notifications in the
tariff must be made to meet changed
conditions. and that it is wise for the
republican party to make them volun-
-tarily by the next presidential cam
Daign. In other words, President Nc
Kinley is a strong believer in the reci-
procity theory and considers it the best
policy to promote the foreign trade by
exchanging tariff concessions with the
countries whose markets we are seek
ing"
That may all be and yet the high
tariff upon scores of household articles
so important to the American people
may remain untouched to do its robber
work. The Philadelphia Press. one of
the ablest of northern republican or
gans. and edited by a member of the
Mckinley cabinet, has this:
There is nothing we need so much
as said the president at New
Orleans. Fair trading makes fast
friends. Here is the principle OF reel
procity summed up in a sentence. Inc
United States needs to meet the mar
kets of tn world half way. II it is to
get ii must give. If its goods are to
ind their way into foreign lands the
obstruction foreign tariffs put in their
way must be removed by reciprocal
concessions"
That really looks like tariff reduc-
ton. If it means what it says, it must
look to razeeing the present enormous,
robber system. The Press sees a ne
-cessity for a change of policy whatever
may be really that policy. 1t says, and
If not playing with the subject, not
trying to deceive, it must mean radl-
cal changes:
"Rising prices abroad have created a
constant demand. Foreign quotations
are beginning to fall. Our own exports
of manufacturers feel the cnanse. roi
tha 6rst three months of this year ex-
norts of manufactures were $lol 500. GOO