The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17
Circulation Statement.


In their wild. sordid desire to seize
everything in sight. whether domestic OF
foreign, the trusts and monopolies have
betrayed the Administration into inter
national blunders which, one of these
DAYS may react in very severe manner
upon their responsible authors
Perhaps the most serious mistake in
the connection that could have been made
was committed when President Mckin-
ley permitted Secretary Gage to plunge
into a tariff war with Russia to the sole
advantage of the Sugar Trust Because
of old associations and the tradition of
especial favors to the United States, Rus
STA, until a few weeks ago. was showing
exceptional kindness to us. We had the
benefit of free trade in Siberian ports. and
the most favored nation" privileges in
other ports of the Empire. We had en-
joyed these things 50 long that they prob
ably appeared in the eyes of Havemeyer
and Gage as ours by prescription.
1t happens, however, that the Russian
Minister of Finance, NJ. de White, is a
statesman, az well as financier of con-
structiye genius. For years he has been
watching the evolution of the great COM
binations of American capital devoted to
industrial enterprise. He has taken leaves
from the books of Mckinley and Dingley,
and he believes in fostering the infant
industries of Russia. and in protecting its
productions generally from the competi-
ton of the ''pauper labor of America.
Nothing could have pleased him better
than the opportunity offered by Mr.. Gage
to shut down on the old policy Of favor
to America. He is in a better position
than the United States in the premises.
He can make us vince with every ton of
rails. or bridge, or locomotive. or sewing
machine that goes from this to his coun-
try.
on our part. we can protect AIR. Have
meyer from a few thousand dollars of
competition, and that is all.
The paretic nature of Mr.. Cages atti-
tude toward Russia might be treated with
something like indifference if its effects
could be confined even to so important a
customer as Russia. Unfortunately, it
has walked up all the chancelleries of Eu-
rope to a practical realization of the ex-
tent to which American trade is taking
the bread out of European mouths. Not
one nation but all the nations of the Old
World are alarmed and ready to resist.
Before three years have passed, if our
present fiscal policy be maintained. we
shall have to face a united Europe ar
rayed against us in an economic fight to
the bitter end.
Perhaps it would be only fair to Mr..
Gage to say that this might come in any
case. Nevertheless. he is responsible and
blamable for precipitating a crisis which,
hut for him and his Sugar friends, might
have been STAYED of several years.
1t is quite superfiuous. after what we
have said regarding NJ. de Witte, to
state that he is not the kind Of states
man to tolerate the idea of the open door
in The Russian part of China. He is
quite as unsentimental in that direction
as an American trust magnate is about
running a rival. Mr.. Rockefeller is par
ticularly interested in having Nieu-
Chwang made a free port. NJ. de Witte
is equally satisfied that the entrepOt for
Manchurian and northern China com
merce would be much better investment
for Russia in case It is altogether Rus
sian. with a high protective tariff. This
is all We seem likely to get for our active
assistance in the Muscovite game in
China.