The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-04
CircnIation stateInent.
The Thrift Issue.

The Tariff Issue.
Readers of The Times VIII remember
that when the guns of Dewey at Ma
Mia and of Schley at Santiago had SHAT
tered the sea power Of Spain, we re
marked that the same guns had shat
tered the Mckinley and Dingley Chi
nese tariff wall for good and all. So 1t
has eventuated The structure is still
maintained nominally, is still intact in
spots for temporary purposes; but the
acquisition of Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines and the progress Of our infant
industries 10 a point where they can
defy competition at home and engage
in it successfully abroad have conjoined
to dig the ground from under the wall
OF commercial prohibition. 1t is use
less survival Of an unworthy past, and
the chief prophet of the protection cult
talks as if he were on the verge of
new confession Of faith.
When the President tells the people Of
Memphis that it is markets and not
maxims'' we are after. he says thing
calculated to send a cold chill down the
spines of the New England tobacco and
the rest of the country, Mr.. OXnaTd 5
Bavemeyer beet sugar monopoly per
haps excepted. Mr. Mckinley from the
start was too shrewd not 10 know that
when he reluctantly took over the Phil
ippines he was signing the death war
rant Of protection. Its execution might
be deferred, but the hanging was bound
to come before long. When he pro-
claimed "our plain duty" to Porto Rico
he recognized the fact that the Consti-
tuition made it illegal TO exact customs
taxes on the domestic trade between
States and Territories Of the United
States. The opening UP Of the great
cane and tobacco fields Of our Asiatic
empire to American enterprise without
tariff restrictions upon their products
would simply knock the underpinnings
from the mainland organization for the
monopolization Of the sugar and tobac-
co industries by two Of our greatest and
most oppressive trusts. Other interests
tending TO monopoly would be similarly
affected
Since Mr.. Mckinley heard Of the de-
cision Of the Supreme Court. practical
ly. that Porto Ricans are citizens Of the
United States, he has adopted the
market as against the maxim
theory IN his public utterances. PToba-
bly, this action of our highest tribunal
has appealed to him much as it has to
US, as foreshadowing a decision in the
constitutional cases supporting the
Constitution and endorsing the dicta Of
time. explanatory of ii. If such thing
should happen. a new national vista
would at once open, one of constitution
al democracy and approximately free
trade, as opposed TO colonial imperial
iz,,a and colonial oppression for the ben
eft OF the trusts.
The President and the wise men of
his party are not oblivious Of the fact
that the American people for some time
have been growing FESTIVE under the
exactions and eXtortions of the trusts
and monopolies under cover Of the out
rageous Dingley tariff. The masses /
may be pretty dense at times. but they
are not enough so not to realize the sig
nifcance Of q selling price for Ameri- |
can rails OF swenty-four dollars a ton /
In London. as compared with a New |
York price Of thirty five dollars for the |
same commodity. When a fiscal sys-
TEN in such ways bleeds the home mar |
ket in order to cover the cost of wreck !
ing foreign markets. il does not take |
political prophet long to make up his |
mind that a national issue is incubating
which sooner or later viii swamp the |
party defending injustice.
This view Of the matter possibly is Of |
secondary Importance, for we believe |
that the infant industries" which in |
chief control the Republican policy are |
beginning 20 feel that they can do with
out the high tariff. and that it would be |
better 10 keep their agents and attor-
neys in Federal domination indefinitely |
by a reduction Of the tariff TO one for |
revenue only, and thus appeal To popu- |
lar sentiment. than 10 risk being turned |
out ia 1905, with the possibility Of pre-
ventiye and punitive legislation to fol- |
low
The Hon. Joseph ". Babcock. of Wis
consin, who was Chairman of the Re |
publican Congressional Committee dur
was undoubtedly used as a feeler when
IN the late session he introduced a bill
Tor the revision Of the tariff He has
been and is being roundly abused by
the Home Market club. and other Chi
nese reactionaries. but it is fairly wen
understood in Washington that he was !
acting under inspiration. Mr. Mckinley
apparently is working in harmony with
the Babc0ck idea. IN feeling the public
pulse as he swings around the circle,
10 see how much tariff for revenue
only the masses want or viii stand. I
The Wisconsin Representative planted.
or replanted. the issue, and the greatest
OF all Republicans appears 10 be water
Ing it, We are permitted to hope that
God VIII give the increase
The silence of SIR. RockhIiI.
a . !