Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-06-20

WY H. 1'N'r
The Advance Of Reciprocity.
Washington DISPATCHES indicate that
the nltra-protectionis,s are becoming
much alarmed atsthe dimensions of the
reciprocity Iwave now yelling up in the
West, They are beginning to see
visions Of mighty inundation that
willsweep away every tariff dixie In tho
sacred Dingley law, and they already
picture to themselves little boat float.
ing on the crest of the topmost swell.
with a free trade pennant planted in
the bow and smiling Napoleonic
figure seated IN the stern. Oh, these
opporturist Presidents, what an annoy
anoe thoy are! Just when our benefi-
cent tariff wns pouring millions into
the private purses Of tho protested In
terests" and the people had been hum
Rugged by the cry OF prosperity into
paying the piper without a squirln, this
shifty President is going to desert and
get into the band wagon Of that iRnor-
ant organization known as the National
Association OF Manufacturers Gould
anything be more irritating? After all
these years Of tariff devotion and abuse
Of free trade he is going to execute
another baclt-handed somersault and
leave the high protectionists stranded,
while he will feat on the bosom OF
public opinion in political security.
We really syinpathize with these poor
people. They have right to raise the
cry of ingratitude, but II they will go
back over the career Of their great pup
| pet they will discover that he ia only
doing what has been his habit. We can
remember when he was leader in the
free silver heresy, and one OF the best
speeches, be ever delivered was one
against what he called President Cleve-
lands unpatriotic efforts to debass the
sanctifled silver dollar. We can re-.
member also that be was an ardent ad
vocate of Civil Service reform and
fought for efficiency in the public ser
vice with commendable persistence. We
recall when he was opposed to imperial
ism, when he maintained that tho Torch
BILE annexation of alien peoples was a
crime. when hs believed, or rrofassed
to believe, that free trade with Porto
Rico was our "plsin duty. " But he
reversed himself with little difficulty
on all these pretended principles. He
is now gold bug, q political spoils.
man, an inperialist, benevolent as.
similator" and q Porto Ricsn tariff I'D
4 yocate. His support OF a high protec.
tive tariff all these years and his con
atantly reiterated assertions that low
tariff would ruin the country would moi
deter him in the least from becoming
an outright free trader tomorrow, il b,
thought the majority Of the people ii
the country wanted the tariff removed
1t would not matter whether the ma
iority was right or not; lie would 9,
with it and then quickly come back, /
the majority should suddenly discove
it was wrong. A man Of this kind il
politically invulnerabls. because ne i
| merely an automaton and has no
, brains enough to lead public thought
: nor character and firmness enough t.
! stem public move in the wrong direc
tion. Only the other day be is reporte,
} as saying that government In thi
. country had now to be conducted b
! public opinion.
Public sentiment at the present mo
|, ment is drifting toward free trade, a
: we had occasion to point out some tim
: since, ard naturally President Mex in
ley is going with it, We should be n
! more surprised to hear him delive
i speeches in favor Of free trade than W
8 were to hear him deliver them in atlyo
$ caoy Of the gold standard. 1t. course
y is immaterial to him whether be adyc
oates protection or revenue tariff
+ provided there is sufficient majorit
4 behind HIM to keep him at the front {
8 tine political stage.
= 1t will be quite useless for Senate
y Aldrich and Congressman Payne to tr
: to kick over the traces. They wi
e have to fall in line, Or else join the TO
q lowers Of Henry George, for the Pres
" dent isalready whooping up re oiprocit,
!, There are three stops, You know: Pr
- lection, reciprocity, free trade. watc
the Hon. William step down, bow in
J. gracefully to the audience at each suel
l D. 4 d