The Saint Paul globe., 1901-07-10
STAND BY THE PRESIDENT.

SIAAD BY THE PRESIDENT.
The next session of congress will be re-
plete with strange complications. A hope
less difference exists between the pres1-
dent and the Dingleyites There is a
greater difference between the extreme
and the conservative wings of the Re
publican party on the question of tariff
than there is between the conservative
wing Of the Republican party, repre-
sented by the president, and the Demo-
cratic party.
When the Dingley tariff act was passed
1t was understood that the high sched-
ules were to be used for the purpose of
securing concessions from foreign coun-
tries through reciprocity treaties The
Republican platform of 1896 declared that
protection and reciprocity were twins
sired by Republicanism. On this confess
sion of faith the president acted in the
negotiation of reciprocity treaties. In the
meantime the radical element of the party
obtained control Of the senate and the
party machine. The machine revised the
Republican confession of faith, as to rec
iprocity, by inserting into the Philadel-
phia platform the following meaningless
affirmation: I'VE favor the associated
policy of reciprocity, so directed as to
open our markets on favorable terms for
what we do not ourselves produce. in
return for free foreign markets" This
ic rppnrnpit,- xErffb "a
open our markets on favorable terms Ga
reduction of 20 per cent? for what We
do not produce for free foreign markets
The trainers of that plank evidently took
the foreigners for fools if they ex-
pected to negotiate reciprocity treaties
on that basis. The president evidently
paid no attention to the new confession
of faith, but went on with his reciprocity
scheme. The senate. however, called him
to a realizing sense of his littleness. by
completely ignoring the carefully drawn
treaties. Notwithstanding the opposition
of the dominant powers Of the party the
president. secure in his office and not
hoping for denomination, seems deter
mined to force the reciprocity matter
upon the senate at the next session. In
this he is acting, not as a partisan, but
as a patriot. He will have the support
but here 1t will end, unless a combination
be made with the opposition and enough
of the majority stand by the president
to force the hands of the machine
Here comes up question of political
eApedience. 1t will be better for the
Democratic party should the Republican
senate refuse to support the president
in an attempt to save the commerce of
the country through reciprocity treaties.
1t will be better for the Democratic
party if the liberal wing of the Repub-
lcan party, led by Babcock and Little
field, fails to disturb the present tariff
status. But win it be best for the coun-
try? Is it not the duty of the Demo-
cratic and Independent members of con-
gress to stand by the president if ne
can summon enough aid from his party
ruin? If the Fifty seventh congress fails
to modify the tariff either by direct legis-
lation or by treaties, it will be swept
from the political map in 1904 Under
these circumstances there is a tempta-
tion on the part of the Democrats to al
low the Republican machine to have the
right of way to it's own destruction, even
If it carry the country with it. This
no doubt is good party tactics, but is it
good citizenship? 10 be consistent be-
fore The people, to which every issue
must be ultimately submitted, the Demo-
cratic members of congress must be
ready to enter into any combination
with those who favor tariff reduction.
In the matter of reciprocity treaties the
duty OF, every Democratic senator is
first to his country and then to his party.
Stand by the president if he has the
manhood to stand by his convictions.
Then throw upon the Republican ma
jority the responsibility of the conse-
quence of failure. National prosperity is
of greater Importance than party sue
cess. A straightforward course may Sc
cure both