Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-05-22
European Retaliation.


European Retaliation.
The agricultural and manufacturing
interests Of Europe are suffering re-
lapse from the good times of few
years ago. and statesmen and mer-
chants are looking for the cause and a
remedy. They have arrived at one con-
clusion that American competition
must be curbed by increased tariff pro-
lection to their own people, or national
bankruptcy will ensue, for 1t is impos-
sible to continue buying American
goods without reciprocal purchases by
this country.
Wide interest has been created In
Great Britain, says the Mail and EN-
pire of Toronto, Canada, by the an
nouncement that Austrian manufac-
lures have taken the initiative in form
ing European Customs union for the
purpose of resisting American competi-
ton. According to Vienna reports, 1t
is proposed that the Continental ma
tons unite in the adoption of counter
acting measures, with view to exact
sweeping reciprocity concessions from
the United States. The approaching
expiration of the European CONNER
cial treaties in 1908 Is fixed on as an
opportune time to bring about an anti
Yankee combination.
The existence of Great Britain does
not figure in the alliance. 1t is recog-
nized not only that British fiscal tradi-
| tons are at variance with such pro-
pOsal, but also that her leading bust
ness men are opposed to it for practical
present-day reasons. They hold that
offensive, not protective, measures are
Britain's surest means of beating back
foreign trade rivals.
| The Daily Mail of London, England,
In the course of an extended article on
the Steel Trust, says 1t can see no es-
cape for the United States from the op-
preston Of trusts, except in free trade,
and declares that Mr.. j. Pierpont Nor
gan has appropriated $2OO,OOO,OOO to
crush independent concerns. The op.
erations of the trusts, says the Daily
Mail, may induce general legislation by
Europe, and will certainly consolidate
the British iron and steel trades, which
will give the trust a hard fight here.
The London Spectator also had lately
an article of similar import.
The Republican policy of protection
is bound to result i1f retaliation by
those countries who find that the com
petition of our goods is injuring their
own manufacturing. In fact, our pro.
tectionists see this fact staring them in
the face, and are preaching reciprocity
to Offset the trouble, but they will find
that If general scheme of reciprocity
Is adopted that it must amount TO the
same thing as revision of the tariff
declares for Municipal Owenrst,iu.
The victories of Tom johnson II
cleveland, Jones in Toledo and the
three-cent fare ticket in Columbu.
have aroused the Ohio Republicans t.
the fact that the people favor munich
pal ownership. Charles w. Dick
chairman of the Republican State con
yention Of Ohio. who is the chic,
henchman Of Hanna and the President
made a speech at Columbus before tn.
Presidential Postmasters' Association
inowhich he marked out some startling
departures from usual Republican cam
paign issues and indicated what to ex
pect in the next Republican State plat.
form. Dick said he favored govern
ment ownership of all means of com
munication and that he fully indorset
the postal savings system.
"Sooner or later" he said, 1.-The tele
graph and telephone lines of the coun
try will be owned and operated by thu
| government. and 1t Is" proper the.
should be, for if the government cal
send message by wire for cents 1
has no right to permit n private cor
poration to extort 25 cents for the SAM
service"
| Dick betrayed no sign that this wa
the first time he ever spoke on the mu
nicipal ownership side of the question
and the postmasters, recognizing 1t n
a new slogan, applauded the sentimen
vigorously.
1t is also stated that an importan
conference of Ohio Republican leader
was held, at which 1t was decided t
get into the field first with the dcclara
ton for municipal ownership.
This sudden change of mind of Re
publicans on the issue they have al
ways been fighting brings to mind tn
declaration against trusts in the Obi
Republican platform of two years ag
and the turning down of Attorney Gen
eral Monet, the only man In their PAL
ty who had shown any effort to curl
the trusts. That Hanna, Mckinley o
Dick really favor municipal ownership
is too absurd to even be swallowed b,
an Ohio Granger from the back coun
ties. for they have for three or fou
years been ardent supporters of Publ
Policy. Chicago publication that /
published in the interests of corpora
lions that own municipal franchises.
The perfection of the Republican ma
chine in Ohio is brought to the light b,
this meeting of Republican postmas
tiers, who are owned and entirely I'm
der the control of Hanna. McKinle
and Dick and of course are expecte
to applaud any program that may ali
in keeping them in office. They woul
applaud free trade, anti-imperialism
free Cuba, or free anything. They ar
patriots who only wait to be told wha
the people want and they espouse tn
cause. The old flag and an appropria
tion is their idea of patriotism.
Living Issues and Their Treatment
If the millions of American Democ
racy shall not spontaneously and in
stinctively adhere in defence of the
party principles and in recognition Of
the practical men who are qualified fol
political leadership no scheme of reor
ganization on this or that basis vii
serve any good purpose. There will bt
no need of inventing issues. The issue.