Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-03-28
TARIFF IMBROGLIO.
SOME EFFECTS OF RUSSIAN RE-
TALlATlON.
Free Traders Greatly Embolde ned,
While Tmid Trotectionists Exhibit
Alarm at Secretary Cages Action
Regarding countervailing Duties

In the vast quantity Of comment
called forth by the decision of Secre-
tary Gage regarding the enforcement OF
the Dingley law relating to counter
vailing duties and the retaliatory ac-
ton Of the Russian government in con-
nection with that decision, it is graft
flying to encounter the cool common
sense, the level-headed logic, with
which this question Is treated editorial
ly by the Cincinnati Times-Star. This
is all the more refreshing in view of
the contrast which 1t presents to the at
titude of considerable portion of the
newspaper press of the United States
on the same subject. With one accord
and actuated by the common impulse
of discrediting the protection policy,
the free trade Democratic journals
have sprung to the front with impera
tive demands for the repeal of the
Dingley, tariff. Nothing short of wip-
ing this law from the federal statute
books will satisfy them. To these SUI
perior minds it does not matter that
the decision of Secretary Gage was
rendered in obedience to a mandatory
provision which left him no discretion
or option; it is of no consequence that
the decision serves and was intended
as the shortest possible route to judi
cial determination of the question
whether Russia has been eyading the
sugar bounty provision of our laws by
roundabout methods; not Of the least
Importance is, in their judgment, the
plain fact that the neglect of our gov
eminent to enforce countervailing du-
ties on Russian bounty-fed sugars
would have been construed and resent
ed by other bounty paying countries
as discrimination against them and I'M
due fayoritism toward Russia.
None of these considerations affect
the free trade Democratic newspapers.
They denounce the Secretary's decis-
ion as provocatOry of Continental
combine for the purpose of shutting
out all imports of American products,
and they demand the repeal of the
Dingley law and the abandonment of
the American system of protection as
the only way out Of the difficulty.
Here and there a weakened, half
hearted protectionist newspaper eX
presses a similar alarm and in effect
counsels similar surrender. To the
latter class of shiverers, as well as to
the considerable element of domestic
producers to whom the program of
European retaliation presents itself as
something so terrible in it's conse-
quences as to justify any and all sorts
of concessions for the sake of effecting
a compromise-to all such comes with
peculiar pertinency this pointed inter
rogation of the Times-Star:
Do the manufacturers who are pro-
testing against the present Russian
tariff imbrOglio ever stop to consider
this proposition: eff the American tar
if is to be altered every time some Eu-
ropean nation finds it's provisions OBJ
jectionable, what will ultimately be-
come of the protective policy?''
"Ohow says the free trade Demo
cratic propagandist, 'it is easy enough
to answer that question: So it is,
from that point of view. The answer
is as easy and simple as was that OF
the eminent Tammany Oficeholder
when he disposed of a great issue with
the famous exclamation: 'TO hell with
reformw Substitute protection for re-
form and you have in very brief
phrase the free trade Democratic solu-
ton of the Russian tariff imbrOglio.
But is that the answer to be given by
our industrial captains and by the
doubling Thomases of the half-breed
protectionist press? Says the Times
Star:
'"They must not forget that there is
in existence in this country party
which is wrapped up in the free trade
idea, and which in every speck Ola the
horizon sees tariff war which will
justify them in shouting their disas-
trous doctrine. They must not forget
that this party is desperate for new
issue to present to the people, and that
If it could take UP the tariff issue in
new form would willingly do so, though
their underlying hatred to the protec-
tive principle would be but lily con-
cealed.
1t Is pIOUdUIy IL uc llldL Tie present
situation is disastrous to some indiyid-
ual enterprises; but not in the degree
which it was at first sought to impress
upon the public. Don't let European
nations get the idea that when Russia,
to whom we sell less than one-half Of
me per cent of our total exports, threat-
Ems to cut off that infnitesimal trade,
we are prepared to bow down and al
ter our tariff laws. or other govern
nents Of more moment to us as GUS
toners may decide that it is possible
or them to secure like changes.
Don't forget that all commercial
Europe is alarmed at the aggressive
commercial and industrial growth Of
America, and that the leading econo-
nists of the continent are urging Just
such policy. Don't forget that these
features are not to be overlooked and
hat they involve questions Of more