The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-11-13
RECIpRoClTY's BENEFIT.

, DeIiberation was one of the most
striking characteristics of President
Mckinley, and his administration /:
marked by many instances of calm and
thoughtful action. 1t is this character
istic which has given rise to some OF
! the criticism of the late president and
his attitude toward Reciprocity.
The policy belonged to Blaine and was
the pet theory of that idol of protec-
tionists. Mckinley while recognizing
the value of the policy could not bring
| himself to a determined advocacy OF
it until such time the United States
has sufficient to offer to justify Europe
in bidding for our trade. How COM
pletely he entered into the spirit of the
| development of the policy is shown by
the course his commissioner, John A.
Kasson followed, building up a series of
! treaties covering a range of industries,
so as to consolidate all sections through
their senators behind the group of con-
ventions. The Washington star says
/ of McKinIey's elaboration:
When the Maine was destroyed there
was the loudest demand for an immedi-
ate declaration of war. Probably no
man saw more clearly that war was
coming, but few could know well as
the president that the country was not
with a power like Spain. And 50 he took
his own time. He conferred with friends.
He argued with the impatient. He alien
ated a few men, who in their great heat
conceived the idea that he was refusing
TO look the situation in the face. All
the time, however. he was clearing the
deck for action. When all was ready he
announced ready, and the war was over
in ninety days. The president had known
when to strike better than many of his
advisers.
Mr.. Mckinley had listened for many
years to arguments about free trade, and
freer trade, and reciprocity and all that.
He was told that protection was a him
drance and not a help in the develop
ment OF n nations material resources.
Lower the tariff bars and let everybody
with stuff to sell come In on their own
terms. and we should presently have the
greatest country on earth. Keep up the
bars, and I'VE shouli nuke little if any
progress. Mr.. Mckinley was not con-
WINGED. He knew the country was not
prepared for any tamparlnS with the
bars at all. He therefore continued to
advocate protection, knowing full well
that in time it would lead up to freer
trade. through the medium of reciproc-
ity. 1t was his good fortune to live to
see that day dawn, and 1t was character
istic of the man to speak out as soon
as he was convinced that the country
was ready for the fray.
How well he would have led us into
the new field had he lived we may know
from the successful way in which he
led us In past engagements.
What we have now to do is to push
on in the direction that he marked out.
We have assurance from him in his part
ing message that we are ready for the
movement. Many of our industries are
firmly established, and our general man
ufacturing output is so large mat new
markets. and sales of increased size in |
old markets, are essential to our nation |
al prosperity. The proposition is clear. |
The details must of course be worked |
out by experts. We have worked and 1
waited and we are now ready.