The Meeker herald., 1901-09-21

will be messengers of peace and amitY
wherever they go. We must build the
isthm!an canal, which will unite the
two oceans and give straight line of
water communication with the western
coasts of Central and South America
and Mexico.p 80
All OF this Is indicative Of q rather re-
markable blending of ideas, haviag for
their basis the. extension OF our COM
merce and incidentally the protection
of our domestic consumers from the
greed of our domestic producers. The
isthmlan canal must be built; on this
subject public opinion is practically
unanimous. the only exception, small in
number but powertulin its component
parts. being the interests bound up in
transcontinental railway property which
fear dangerous competition through the
waterways. Everybody wunts an
American merchant marine-everybcdy
would like to see American goods car
lried In American ships, floating the
American nag. to the uttermost corners
Of the earth. The title which England
long las held. this country is now ready
to dispute and ultimately wrest from its
rival. But to say that the people favor
the ship subsidy bill that is now before
congress, backed by some Of the most
influential men in the Republican party
and which would simply legalize whole
sale robbery. is quite another matter,
and the party which stands responsible
for such measure could not justify
itself before the voters.
But the tariff question. upon which
the president SO lightly touches, is also
something entirely within the apprehen-
sion Of the whole people. The day Of
protection for projections sake is pass
ing. il 1t has not already passed. To
maintain that certain great industries
which are now able to meet the compe-
tition Of the world and underbid 1t must
still be protected from that competition
in our own country is simply another
way of inviting the formation of trusts
to rob the many for the benefit of the
few. With competition shut out 1t Is
possible for these favored industries to
practically set their own price for their
products and the consumers In this
country are unable to secure relief ex-
cept through the action OF congress.
There are men In the Republican party
who dnits n keeniy realize this condl-
ton ~ do the masses Of the peop,e upon
whom the burdens fall heaviest. They
have already brought the matter to the
attention Of congress, and it will not be
safe to ignore it at the next session.
- President Mckinley is now safely
seated-in the presidential chair for an
other term. He has before him an
opportunity snch as has fallen to the lot
OF few men. When he first entered the
office he was handicapped 10 many ways
and in the judgment Of the public could
not always follow his own devices. But
now conditions are all changed. He
has the opportunity, II he embraces it,
to rise high above party and render his
countrymen such service as they will
long remember with gratitude. To do
this he will be forced to antaaonize
some of the weightiest men in the party.
but in doing so he will have the proud
satisfaction of knowing that his work
10 calculated to make that party irwin.
chile. Among these things none is of
more importance than the tariff ques-
ton, which involves no departure from
party presidents. but which in the
evolution Of things endeavors to meet
the new conditions. Why protect in
dustries that no longer need protection.
and Why thus permit them to exploit
ttieir own countrymen and levy a tribute
upon their thrift This is the question
which President Mckinley and his party
must face at the coming session of
congress. The diplomatic hint which
he conveys in his speech seems to indi-
cate his line OF thought and gives rise
to the hope that he Will be found with
the advanced wing Of his own party in
bringing about such reforms in the