Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-20

4 ton of the tariff the American produce
hwill graciously reduce his price, suppl,
/ his own people and still be fairly re
/ warded, the principle would be likewise
unimpaired.
There are two propositions which al
the very outset of the agitation shoulo
be firmly impressed upon the American
mind First. congress ought not anc
will not subject the home producer to
Improbable competition unless it is rea-
sonably sure that the loss sustained here
will be abundantly compensated for IN
an increased export in some other com
modify. Second, reduction or moditica.
ton of duties upon our chief products
does not imply the increase of imports
for il we have any chance abroad we
have certainty at home.
In this connection let it be said thai
there Is one condition which the con-
sumers will not endure. They are pa
triotic enough to see American goods
sold in the markets of other countries
cheaper than they are sold at home Ii
the purpose is to establish trade or to
unload an unexpected surplus, but they
will not tolerate. as a permanent trade
policy the selling of goods abroad at a
less price than they are sold at tome,
and if they believe that tariff duties
have any influence upon the mainte-
rance of such conditions the man or
party that stands for the perpetuation
of such duties is destined for bitter dis
appointment.
II have said enough to indicate that /
believe the field for reciprocity is ample
for the employment of the highest
genius of American craftsmanship.
am not, however, deluded with the hap
ply dream that reciprocity is synony-
nous with ideal mutually. Every recip-
cocal treaty will be bargain, and ca
veat emptor will be the recognized rule
cf the negotiation. The maxim of all the
powers will be, We will sell all we can
ard buy what we must The outcome
will largely depend upon the skill and
strength of the American diplomat. Our
producers, in all the ranks of brain and
Drawn, have vindicated their claim to
supremacy and it remains for our
statesmen to now exhibit an equal SUI
periority. l am an optimlst, and ] pre-
dict for them the most brilliant victo-
res in the amending contest which
of the world.
"As I pass from the tariff, permit an
other suggestion. We recognize but one
method of fixing prices in the industrial
field. / need hardly say that it is COM
petition. We have been not only willing,
but anxious, in times past to exclude
foreign competition, believing that un-
der the benign influence of protection
home competition would reduce the price
of every product to the American level:
and if that was higher than the price
abroad, we gladly accepted it, because it
was a requisite for the employment of
our labor and the payment of our wages;
but, IL thru combinations home compe-
tition is prevented. depend upon 1t that,
during the period in which we are seek
ing an effectual check for these combs
nations, we will not allow the tariff to
aid the manufacturer In his fight for
monopoly. Competition they will have
that of the republic preferred; but that
of the world If necessary.
What have said touches mainly the
manufacturing nations of Europe and
their dependencies. but / am not un-
mindful Of the fact that lie we would pre-
serve our prosperity and give our people
work there are markets in Cuba, in
South America and in the orient to be
held and enlarged Here American reci-
procity will do something. but agrees
siveness and American ships will do
more, and this thought leads me to an
other phase of our foreign trade.
During the last five years the ball
ance has been SO tremendously with us
that without serious results we have
been disbursing to the people Of othAr
nations about s3OO,0O00O0 each year for
carrying American products upon the
seas. If we were strictly accurate, we
would charge this sum as an import,
for it is in it's most distinctive sense a
drain upon the national wealth. So long
as we can sell SO much more than we
buy. it matters but little; but the con-
servative investigator, not daring to
hope that we can permanently put so
large sum annually to our credit in the
clearing house of the earth, looks hope
fully to time when American bottoms
will sustain and the American flag will
protect the commerce of the United
States. 1t may truthfully be said, be-
lieve, that the people of the west, with
whose sentiments / am more familiar,
have not favorably regarded any sub
sidy bill hitherto considered by con-
gress; but they are firmly of the opin-
ion that the dominion of the seas should
be transferred to the stars and stripes.
and they will demand that such encour-
agement and advantage be given to
American ship building and ship own
ing as will make our merchant marine
as dominant in commerce as our navy
will be inyincible in war.
There may be differences OF opinion
respecting its proper place, but that the
waters of the Atlantic and the Pacific
will be united by shipway under the
control Of the republic is no longer in
doubt. 1t is as essential to the honor of
the republic as to its prosperity. When
the Oregon went blowing down one side
nf South America and up the other, IA,
600 miles. in q matchless race. toward
the shores of Cuba, the isthmian canal
was decreed. needing nothing but time
to complete its physical existence.
II see no decadence in the forecast Of