The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-04
Circulation Statement.


Readers of The Times viii remember
that when the guns of Dewey at Ma
Mia and of Schley a Santiago had shat-
tered the sea power OF Spain, we re-
marked that the same guns had shat
tered the Mckinley and Dingley Chi
nese tariff wall for good and all. So it
has eventuated. The structure is still
maintained nominally, is still intact in
spots for temporary purposes; but the
acquisition of Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines and the progress Of our infant
industries TO a point where they can
defy competition at home and engage
in il successfully abroad have conjoined
to dig the ground from under the wall
OF commercial prohibition. 1t is use
less survival of an unworthy past, and
the chief prophet of the protection cult
talks as if he were on the verge of a
new confession of faith.
When the President tells the people of
Memphis that 1t is markets and not
maxims" we are after, he says thing
calculated to send a cold chill down the
spines of the New England tobacco and
rum interests. but which will only cheer
the rest of the country, Mr.. Oxnard's
Havemeyer beet sugar monopoly per
haps excepted. Mr.. Mckinley from the
start was too shrewd not TO know that
when he reluctantly took over the Phil
ippines he was signing the death war
rant of protection. Its execution might
be deferred, but the hanging was bound
to come before long. When he pro-
claimed "our plain du,y" to Porto Rico
he recognized the fact that the Consti-
tuition made it Illegal to exact customs
taxes on the domestic trade between
States and Territories of the United
States. The opening up Of the great
cane and tobacco fields of our Asiatic
empire to American enterprise without
tariff restrictions upon their products
would simply knock the underpinnings
from the mainland organization for the
monopolization of the sugar and tobac-
co industries by two of our greatest and
most oppressive trusts. Other interests
tending TO monopoly would be similarly
affected.
Since Mr. Mckinley heard of the de-
cision of the Supreme Court practical
ly. that Porto Ricans are citizens Of the
United States. he has adopted the
market as against the maxim
theory in his public utterances. Proba
bly, this action of our highest tribunal
has appealed to him much as it has to
us, as foreshadowing a decision in the
constitutional cases supporting the |
Constitution and endorsing the dicta of |
the court in Chief Justice MarshalPs |
time, explanatory of it, If such a thing /
should happen. a new national vista J
would at once open, one of constitution
al democracy ana approximately free
trade, as opposed to colonial imperial !
isnn and colonial oppression for the ben
eft OF the trusts.
The President and the wise men of
his party are not oblivious of the fact |
that the American people for some time
have been growing FESTIVE under the
exactions and eXtortions of the trusts
and monopolies under cover of the out
rageous Dingley tariff. The masses
may be pretty dense at times. but they
are not enough so not to realize the sig
nificance of a selling price for Ameri-
can rails of twenty-four dollars a ton
in London. as compared with New
York price of thirty-five dollars for the
same commodity. When fiscal sys-
TEN in such ways bleeds the home mar
ket in order to cover the cost of wreck
ing foreign markets. il does not take
political prophet long to make up his
mind that a national issue is incubating
which sooner or later will swamp the
party defending injustice.
This view Of the matter possibly is Of
secondary Importance, for we believe
that the ''infent industries" which in
chief control the Republican policy, are
beginning 20 feel that they can do with
out the high tariff and that it would be
better to keep their agents and attor-
neys in Federal domination indefinitely
by reduction of the tariff to one for
revenue only. and thus appeal to popu-
lar sentiment. than to risk being turned
out in 1905. with the possibility Of pre-
ventive and punitive legislation to fol-
low.
The Hon. Joseph w. Babcock, of Wis
who was Chairman of the Re-
publican Congressional Committee dur
ing the Presidential campaign OF 1900.
was undoubtedly used as a feeler when
in the late session he INTRODUCED bill
for the revision of the tariff. He has
been and is being roundIy abused by {
the Home Market Club. and other Chi |
nese reactionaries. but it is fairly wei
understood in Washington that he was
acting under inspiration. Mr.. Mckinley :
apparently is working in harmony with
the Babcock idea, In feeling the public y
pulse as he swings around the circle. v
10 see how much tariff for revenue y
only the masses want or will stand.
The Wisconsin Representative planted.
)r replanted. the issue, and the greatest
IF all Republicans appears 10 be water
ing it. We are permitted to hope that b
God will give the increase. a
The silence of MIR. Rockhiu. c