Hutchinson gazette., 1901-05-30

Long on patriotism and short on
economies, would be fair criticism OF
President McKlnley's speeches, for
his Idea that trade follows the flag will
not bear investigation, I'VE want to
send the products Of our farms, our
factories and our mines into every
market of the world to make the for
eign peoples familiar with our products
and the way to do that is to make
them, familiar with our nag" That Is
what the president said ut McComb,
Miss II Is possible that he wished to
convey the idea to his Southern hear
ers that men and guns were to accom-
pany the flag and shoot American
goods down the throats of foreigners,
II IL to be hoped he did not mean that,
for besides Its barbarIty and cruelty,
II has not been Il success where tried
by other nations. But perhaps the
president was thinking Of the ship sub
sidy bill and thus forcing the flag to
the front Hanna thinks that way and
1t is known that they agree on po-
litical matters,
The fact is that trade does not fol-
low the flag, our greatest trade Is with
England and Europe and there outside
OF our legations the flag Is rarely
seen. We have had the flag raised
over Cuba for some time, two years
or more, and We are losing ground
instead Of gaining
American manufacturers who looked
for large increase In their trade with
Cuba upon the expulsion Of the Span
lards, says the Chicago Chronicle are
disappointed and looking around for
explanations, The events Of 1899 led
them to believe that their eXpeCta-
tlons would be realized The value OF
cotton goods, for instance, exported to
the Islands, increased considerably and
reached over 100000, In 1900 there
was a sudden drop to 1927 500, de-
crease Of more than two-thlrds. This
was not due to falling off In demand,
for importntons from other countries
increased far more than those from
| the United States diminished. The like
Is true In greater or less degree as
to various lines of goods.
An explanation which Is offered is
that Spanish officials collected full du-
ties on goods from all countries cX-
cept Spain, but passed Spanish goods
practically free when they were suili-
| GENTLY seen" When American OH
ciaIs took hold importers expected
American goods to be similarly ia.
vored Finding themselves mistaken
in that respect, they bought less In the
United States and more elsewhere, for
reasons which are not clearly stated
Probably however the reasons were
| various, such as more satisfactory
credit, lower prices and goods better
suited TO the Cuban demand
As a result we may expect certain
classes Of manufacturers to appear In
| Washington lobbying for either legis-
lation or some sort of reciprocity
treaty which viii give them an arti-
fetal advantage in Cuban markets, but
they are surely to be met by sugar and
tobacco protectees protesting against
any concessions in exchange for the
special fayors desired by these Ameri-
can manufacturers in Cuba, Our Gu
ban relations are not settled yet by
any means,
From this It will be seen that the
fallacy Of the dogma preached by the
president that trade will follow the
flag is equal to that other illusion, pro
lection, Of which the president has
long been the high priest
| .ssaH.-z-aasa-a-zz