The Atlanta constitution., 1901-12-09
An Historic Parallel.

The country stands at the threshold
of an epoch-making event i'm its pol.t-
iro-economic history. The last speech
of President Mckinley. at Buffalo,
came at a psychologist moment. II
rang through the union like a clear
bugle call to an imminent and impera-
tive national duty. Standing in the
center of a climacteric environment,
surrounded on every side by the wit
nesses of the prosperity producing pol
lev of which he himself was the ac-
ceptpd apostle. Mr.. Mckinley looked
out upon the future and prophesied
as a seer that the times of prohibi-
tive protection. of indirect bounties to
giant. xorld-grasping industries were
past.
This lold pronouncement from their
political chieftain struck dumb the
Brahmins of the party of hard and fast
protection. They knew he had re-
vised in a radical direction his views
of our international trade relations.
They realized that he was at the be-
ginning of new presidential term
that would give him annie opportunity
10 exploit TIE new policy. That he
had the statesmanlike sagacity. the po-
liticaI power and the popular conf
dence i'm measures to guarantee his
success in his new departure they
could not deny. Reciprocity" spelled
itself within an hour from east to
west. from north to south i'm electric
letters and seeming syllablcs OF vic
tory.
Ten DAYS later. when the man and
hn
paralysis of the protectionist host
PASSED and the air became Ominously
audible with their angry protests.
These have grown now to the point OF
defiance and the dictum mo interfer-
encc with the tariff" has issued from
the headquarters Of the Dingley der
wishes. The Infant Industries" that
have enlarged themselves by tariff
loot. each as a separate and particular
giant after the fashion of the spirit
that Sinbad uncorked by the seashore.
have usu-pcd the coigns and corridors
OF the national capitol and callenge
all who come that way. They mean to
fight 90 the death every endeavor 20
unloose their grasp or deny their
greed.
In 1860 a similar crisis came to the
nation and its administrators. Lin
coin. looking ahead 10 the problems
presented by a surrendered south.
had formed policy by which he
would restore the union speedily. con
stitutionally and harmoniously His
ponularitv with the people of the
north. his preeminence over the mere
politicians. his honesty and great ma
triotism were adequate to awe opposi-
ton and command acquicsence. Had
he lived. history had had another tale
10 tell than the grewsome. scandalous
ohapters Of hate and crime that now
cover the period Of southern recon
struction.
Andrew Johnson succeeded the as
eaSsiuated Lincoln and the temper and
trend of the times went swiftly awry.
Johnson lacked the confidence Of the
northern masses. the politicians did
rot fear him. and his native stubborn
ness invited conflict instead of confer
once and compromise. The result is
historic. Congress- rioted over the
constitution. degraded the southern
states into snoilsmen's territories. SUD
n'autod laws hv bavonets. and surfeit-
"a The nation with i.s corrlptions and
its crimes. II world have none OF the
policy OF the masterful Lincoln from
tho hands Of the mistrusted Johnson.
Today we face a like condition of af-
fairs as 10 our tariff policy. Tho pro
eramme Of the late President Mckin-
Low IS known. and President Roosevelt
stands pledged 20 carry ont that policy
to the highest advantage Of the ma
tional prosperity Mckinley could
have carried out his own poiicy with
buf slight friction and with an almost
solid countrv behind him. President
Roosevelt finds before him solid.
angry and rapacious phalanX of his
rartv leaders opposing the policy be-
crcathed 10 him with all the enormous
forces within their control.
Tnon the integrity. the courage. the
uopuIrr reliance end the political skin
~ President Roosevelt the issues OF
thc coming conflict viii turn. and we
fcar that his message contains svmp-
toms or surrender on the ailimportant
question of reciprocity.