The times., 1901-06-04
Circulation Statement.
The siegrrfcd Incident.

Daily average (sundsy. 20 $40. eNceptsdl.. s--'-'
The siegTried Incident.
The recent speech Of NJ. Siegfr'ed.
formerly a member of the French MN
istrv. in which he declared that 1u'-
ing his recent visit TO washington
President Mckinley had confessed
change of heart on the subject OF pro
hibitive tariffs, has created more Iha"
a little stir in Administration ana as
sociated trust circles. Senator Hanna
for example. has rushed into the breach
and declared that NJ. Slegfried must
have been misunderstood, or have ms
understood Mr.. Mckinley. According
10 MIR. Hanna. his chief IS as much
protectionist as ever, but now oeheNes
in reciprocity. and would like TO see
the twelve treaties of that nature ne
gotiated by Special Commissioner has-
son. but ignored by Congress at the
late session, ratified. a member of the
Cabinet is quoted as endorsing TINS
view. and we do not see any particular
objection TO it. As we have more than
once observed in the past, reciprocity
is a Republican device for getting rld
of some Of the fooIishness Of the pro-
hibitive protection system, without say
ing so. Mr.. Blaine was first among the
marty leaders to realize that the trend
of world events must soon compel
abandonment Of the oppressive and un-
scientific fiscal system Of his day,
which. unfortunately has survived TO
the present time, but which could not
be much longer maintained without the
certainty of European reprisals that
would close vastly important and even
necessary markets to our productions.
OF course Mr.. Mckinley is not free
trader. openly a friend to tariff fer
revenue only, or any other distinctive
" Democratic doctrine. What he ap-
proves is reciprocity, the convenient
route over the back fence for reach
ing the same thing without attracting
the angry attention Of the Home Mar
ket Club and other archaic organiza-
tons of like character. Whether he has
been misunderstood or misquoted, or
otherwise, there is no question that NJ.
Siegfried has a very clear understand
ing Of what he thinks the President
said to him in Washington. In an in
terview at Quebec, since his Montreal
remarks excited public comment IN this
country. N. Siegfried said: 4 met Mr.
Mckinley with great deal Of pleas
ure. but told him 1 was aware that
he was a pronounced protectionist " To
this the President replied, as mis- Wis
itor recalls the conversation, as fol-
lows:
There you are not quite correct for l have
within TIE last few years greatly modlhed ny
views on this subject. / formerly a strong
advocate Of protection, but since then we have
advanced a great deal in the United states ana
cur rusnufa facturers have gone ahead with gigantic
strides so that now are IN position TO
trade with foreign countries on reciprocal
basis with mutual advantages 70 both, ezchang-
ing our steel and other products Tor the goods
which they specially produce
The language above attributed to our
Chief Magistrate is redolent Of COM
mon sense, and is by no means incon-
sistent with his course in attempting
TO avert an economic war against the
United States. by resort to the oppor-
tunity for making reciprocity agree
ments under the provisions Of the Ding
ley act. Mr.. Hanna and other Of his
powerful political associates do not like
the idea, and would pursue a different
policy. The sugar tariff war on Russia,
forced by a monopolistic influence too
great for the Administration to resist
is a case in point, and it is altogether
probable that the lash Of pronibitive
duties on our goods in Continental Eu-
rope may be necessary to bring deg
in-the-manger protectionists in Con-
gress, and their inspirers, to a recog-
milton Of the danger Of pushing our
commercial competitors abroad to des-
per@tion-
When the next regular session Of
Congress shall come, it is expected that
the annual Presidential message Will
urge upon Senators and Representa-
tives the early passage of the French
and other reciprocity treaties now
awaiting ratification. as a means OF
avoiding an alternative which would Dt
greatly injurious TO American trade in
terests. Whether favorable action vii
follow or not is something we cannO'
tel; but at least Mr.. Mckinley vii
know that ne Is IN lhe fShI, ana t.d
the masses of the country are with him
The influence of the trusts and monop
olies possibly may defeat relief for {
time, but the old Chinese wall sys
TEN which has made multi millionaire!
Of the few and helped 10 impoverist
the many is doomed That matter wa.
settled by the guns Of Dewey in Manila
Bay. and those Of Schley off Santiago
Juggling with the Constitution MAJ
postpone the day Of destiny for a yea
or four years. but it is on the way, anC
inevitably viii arrive.
British Finances.
When President Kruger, before tn,
outbreak Of the South African war. de
elared that the conquest OF the Boei
r,.r,rfE gpGf rgf15gI