Evening star., 1901-09-06
REVISE THE TARIFF
Comments of Editors on the Presi-
dents Buffalo Speech.
RECIPROCITY ADVOCATED
Rational Trade Agreements With
Foreign Nations Needed.
MR.. M'KINLEY COMMENDED

The address delivered by the President Of
the United States at the Pan-American ex-
position. Buffalo. yesterday, Is the leading
editorial topic in the United States today.
This Is because President Mckinley made
deliberate pronouncement of his opinion
on the tariff question the upbuilding Of the
merchant marine and the construction OF
an isthmian canal, and thus indicated the
policy which the republican party Will
pursue in it's treatment Of these problems.
The keynote of the Presidents address was
| reciprocity" Excerpts from newspapers
of New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore
are given below. One Of the features OF
the case is that two of the republican
newspapers of New York-the Tribune and
the Sun-make no comment on the Presi-
dents significant speech.
From the Philadelphia Press.
Among the many able addresses the Pres
ident has delivered in recent years none
will take higher rank than the one spoken
yesterday at the Pan-American exposition.
Above all things the President wants
peace and good will-competition, but not
epmity. The struggle for success will, In
his opinion. be no less sharp in the future
than In the past, ana lie hopes to See IL
conducted on friendly kneS
Our great problem Is that of securing
more markets for our increasing surplus
of products. One way to accomplish that
is by reciprocity treaties, sensible trade
arrangements which will not interrupt our
home production Such part of our tar1H
as is no longer needed for revenue, or 10
encourage and protect home industries, ne
thinks could we'll be used to extend ana
promote our markets abroad. That is emf
nently sound advice and properly dennes
true reciprocity. 1t does not mean a ~ per
cent reduction in the rates on any line OF
goods produced in this country, though not
yet to an extent to supply our own market
or to meet successfully at home foreign
competition. Reciprocity on the President
lines should meet with no opposition in the
republican party or from any friend OF the
protective tariff. 1t would be highly ad-
vantageous to the nation. and the sooner 1t
can be carried into effect the better.
From the New York Times.
1t would be easy to select from the utter
ances of President Mckinley at Buffalo
yesterday enough to show that he Is facing
forward in tariff legislation and not back
ward. And the logical inference from his
words is that his influence will be thrown
in the direction of decisive change In the
| commercial policy of the republic. Mr.. Nc
Kinley sees that mutual exchange OF
commodities is essential and Is best for
us and for those with whom We deal" 1t
Is as creditable to his sense of public duty
as MS lnIeiNSenc6 lHdl taxes lHe
py occasion of an international exposition
to define thus broadly his progressive pol
icy. 1t is profoundly to be desired that he
shall be able to impress upon Congress.
and especially on the Senate, his enlight
| ened views.
From the New York World.
Mr. McKinley's address at Buffalo Is
notice to his party that 1t Is time to move
| forward. 1t is his boIdest and most sig
nificant utterance since his reelection. Mr..
Mckinley asks:
'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?"
These are the words of statesman and
wise party leader. They are economically
| sound as applied to a palpable trade condi-
ton. They are politically sagaciouS in re-
spending to and leading a popular demand
which Is certain to extend and grow more
insistent with the passing Of time. They
are logically and effectively supplemented
by the Presidents argument for more ships,
for an 1Sthmian canal and for a Pacific
cable. Mr.. Mckinley, always felicitous in
his public addresses, has never appeared to
better advantage either orator or q
leader than he does in this admirable
speech at the Pan-American exposition.
From the Philadelphia Times
If. as the President says. some Of cur
tariffs are no longer needed for revenue or
| to protect our industries at home, why
should they not be employed to extend Cur
| markets abroad? There Is but one answer
| to this, and the most timid manufacturer
| cannot distrust the President as free
trader" We may accept the idea of COM
mercial reciprocity as a distinct policy of
| the administration. The President speaks
also OF the need to encourage our mer-
| chant marine" though without defining the
means, and to build the isthmian canal
| topic not to be avoided in Pan-American
celebration, and he closes with a graceful
eager American spirit anticipated much
that has since found practical expression.
1t Is altogether an admirable address, ap-
propriate in matter and manner. tasteful
and tactful In expression, and yet not
without clear significance.
From the Baltimore American.
In the presence Of vast audience. gath
cred from every section Of the country,
from all the Americas. and from nearly
every quarter of the globe, 1t was Prcsi-
dent McKinley's privilege yesterday to
| speak not only on this marvel OF the new
century. but on the progress the country
Is making in every direction. and on the
prosperity that has come to all parts of our
land. II this country. in its search for rev
markets, has overlooked any part of the
| world, 1t is that section Of this continent
| that lies to the south Of the United States.
Latin America has always fought shy Of
the United States, and the sentiment there
| In favor Of this country, In spite Of Pan
| American expositions and Pan-American
| congresses, Is not strong today The South
American republics are willing to sell us
| their products, but they still prefer to buy
| In other lands Had Mr.. Blaine lived to
| carry out his policy Of reciprocity, different
conditions might exist today but a policy
| founded upon Mr.. Blaine's ideas is still
| feasible and absolutely necessary IL the
United States would be a successful COM
petitor with Germany. Great Britain and
other European lands In the South Ameri-
can trade
From the Baltimore Sun.
Mr.. Mckinley displays practical wisdom
| in appealing to the sober common sense OF
| the country. 1t Is immaterial whether the
| American restrictions upon trade which
| have aroused European resentment are
! modified by reciprocity treaties or through
amendments to the tariff act. Whichever
| means may be adopted the result will be
| substantially the same. The United States
| Senate has heretofore blocked the way to
| improved trade relations by defeating the
| reciprocity treaties which have been sub
| mitted to 1t. Possibly the President has
| not exerted as great influence as he is
| able to WELD upon the obstructfonists in
| that body. Now that he has spoken so
plainly upon the subject in his address at
| Buffalo yesterday, there Is good ground
| for the hope that he win spare no effort