Evening star., 1901-11-16

by the protective tariff law, there will be
great danger at the next election of a fatal
overthrow of the principle of protection
itself. We are not yet sufficiently assured
of Our foreign markets to depart from The
policy of reasonable protection of our home
market But we are sufficiently assured of
our home market to make concessions of
rates to secure our foreign markets. Doing
this simply adds protection to our home in
dustry in it's expansion. And this is .he
great object of our reciprocity treat
les before the Senate-to secure
protection for the surplus of our home in
dCStries Are not S943 000, 900 of our an
nual agricultural exports and S412 900 900 of
manufactured exports as well worthy of
protection our s96,O00,0OO of knit cotton
goods? Furthermore, it Is a policy of fair
play and equity, against the policy of sell
fshness and eXclusivenesS; a policy of wise
foresight, against a policy of blind obsti-
nacy-
Dangers Threatening Our Export
Trade.
Il do not present to you statistics of
our commercial expansion in European
countries. There has been too much ma
tional boasting already, increasing Euro
pean alarm. We have ample official evil
dence that this alarm is leading many
countries into preparatory measures of re-
taliation. Our thoughtless advocates of ex-
clusiveness say. What of that? We also
can retailate.' So. fortunately, we can, in
respect to both commerce and shipping
But cui bono? They have the advantage
of us. We sell to them many millions more
than they sell to us. Why waste our mar
kets and our profits in a commercial war?
when, by a friendly concession of possibly
a hundredth part of that loss We can re-
tain the markets and save the profits and
also continue the active employment of our
laDor and capital, as well as preserve COM
mercial peace. This discussion is not theo-
retical merely. 1t is eminently practical.
Official letters show that even in Great
Britain, which, with her possessions, gives
us a market for over 30 per cent of all our
exports, the agitation for tariff protection
has already commenced. In Germany gov
ernmental hostile action has been officially
announced. One German economist, after
asserting that our tariff is now seven times
higher than the present German tariff and
will remain four times higher than the new
tariff. proposes that legislative provisions
on the part of, the central European states
shall make the new tariffs applicable to
European countries only; and that they
adopt for American exports the iden-
tical rates of the United States tariff. He
adds that. of course. the United States
cannot complain II Germany simply recip-
rocates their own tariff
Both agrarians and manufacturers
abroad are appealing to their governments
for new measures against the American
invasion. They are specially aimed at our
agricultural interests. Our defense hither-
to has been in existing commercial treaties
among European powers which will expire
in 1893. President McKinley's administra-
ton, by it's foresight sought to obyiate or
at least diminish, the menacing conditions
by reciprocity treaties for five years, which
might tide over the crisis
The non-action of the Senate interfered
with the signature of several such treaties
for which negotiations were pending. From
four countries we have already had sam
PIES of retaliation. General congressional
legislation cannot meet the emergency
arising with the separate interests of diff
nations. he
plished by treaty. The present situation
now again presents the alternative de-
scribed by Mr.. Jefferson hundred years
ago-that is, reciprocity or retaliation We
must choose. We are already prepared for
reciprocity by the policy of the Dingley
tariff law. We have a little congressional
legislation already preparatory to retalia-
ton. But it is by no means sufficient for
coming emergencies. Either reciprocity
treaties must be approved or Congress must
enact new and far-reach:ng measures for
retaliation.
Like my late great master in office, for
whom We still mourn. | earnestly advocate
commercial fair play and peace, instead of
commercial exclusiveness and war. The
first assures a continuance of mutual pros
perity; the other admonishes to make ready
for mutual losses and economic disaster.
In the words of that great patriot and
thoughtful statesman:
80 We have vast and intricate business
built up through years of toll and struggle
in which every part of the country has it's
stake. which will not permit of either neg
lect or of undue selfshness. No narrow,
sordid policy will subServe it. $ If per-
chance some of our tariffs are no longer
needed for revenue to encourage and
protect our industries at home, why should
they not be employed to extend and pro-
mote our markets abroad? s. Our in
dustrial enterprises, which have grown to
such great proportions, affect the homes
and occupations of the people and the well
fare of the country. Our capacity to pro-
dpyploDpH
our products have multiplied that the
problem of more markets requires our ur-
gent and immediate attention. Only a
broad and enlightened policy Will keep what
We have No other policy will get more
A system which provides mu-
tual exchange of commodities is mani
festly essential to the continued and health
1ul growth of our export trade. We must
not repoSe in fancied security that we can
forever sell everything and buy little or
nothing. If such a thing We're possible it
whom we deal. Reciprocity is the
natural outgrowth of our wonderful indus
trial development under the domestic policy
now firmly established. We should
sell everywhere we can and buy wherever
the buying will enlarge our sales and pro-
ductions and thereby make a greater de-
mand for home labor. The period
of exclusiyeness is past. The expansion of
our trade and commerce is the pressing
problem. Commercial wars are unDrofit-
able. A policy of good will and friendly
trade relations Will prevent reprisalS
Reciprocity treaties are in harmony with
the spirit of the times; measures or retail
fation are not
Thus. after four years of deliberation.
spoke President Mckinley, who. being
dead, stiil possesses and deserves the trust
of the American people.
Gentiemen, We have come to the parting
OF the ways We must go to the left or
the Spanish road of csIusiveness and in
dustrial stagnation in our home market and
for our insular possessions: or go to the
right. on the smooth highway of reciprocity
and industrial expansion
Noting ham.
From the Outlook.
Nottinghams chief industries are the
manufacture of lace curtains and of hos
iery. and Nottingham was the scene of the
riots and machine breaking which in 1911
were led by local hero known as King
Ludd The machinery for lacemaking Is
also made in Nottingham, and not a week
passes without the sending of one, at least.