Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-06-19


relations and their defense, allowing us
to help ourselves to coaling stations on
their coast, and recognizing our right
to Intervene in their affairs for the
maintenance of order.
After all that the President cannot
show the Cubans the door when they
ask for trade privileges here. He is
morally bound to offer them some re-
turn for the concessions they grant us.
Just now our government is framing
a new Cuban tariff and American busL
ness men are swarming to Washington
demanding such arrangements as will
promote their interests. At the same
time they are said to be unwilling to
grant the Cubans any favors whatever.
This selfish greed cannot be made an
American national policy. We must
give Cuba half way decent treatment,
We deprived her of the advantages in
European markets that she enjoyed
under Spanish rule, and we must not
make liberation another name for
starvation.
The fanatical protection,sts here are
already announcing that Cuba shall
have no favors here-that reciprocity
arrangement with her cannot even be
discussed. They talked the same way
about Porto Rico, but they were beaten
there and they can be beaten now.
But the President must have little
more courage than he displayed when
he weakened in the matter of our
plain duty."-Chicago American.
Fnlsc Hope, of Reform.
The Washington Post agrees with
the Constitution that circumstances
are paramounting the tariff question
in way to benefit the party which
stands for reform, but processes to see
Indications that the Republican party
will steal Democratic campaign thun-
der by itself entering upon a career of
tariff cutting.
1.-THE Presidential campaign is three
years ahead" argues the Post. "There
is new Republican Congress, elected
last year, that will have two sessions
at least between December, 1901, and
March. 1908. And long before this Con-
gress ends another one will have been
elected: What If the Republican ma-
jority in this Congress, n majority rep
resenting the party and principle Of
protection, should decide to cut the
ground under the opposition? Hereto
fore" continues the Post, "the Repub-
lican party has been able to agree as
to revlsions Of tariff and to put Its
plans into execution"
AS against this record, the Post
holds up the tariff bill made by the
Democrats in 1892, and asks:
Looking at the tariff records of both
parties, does 1t seem probable that the
Republican party will decide to cele-
brate tile complete and overwhelming
victory of protection and condemna-
ton of free trade-a victory and con-
demnation alike unparalleled in the
history of American politically re-
fusing to make the reforms which the
interests of the country and logical
fidelity to protection imperatively de-
mand?
1t is not only possible. but probable
that the Republican party in Con-
gress will refuse to make the reforms
which the interests of the country im-
peratively demand" and for reasons
which we have already pointed out.
The Posts predictions sound well, but
he who sees any indications of Retub-
lican action either on the lines set
forth by Representative Babcock or as
outlined by Senator Beveridge in his
Grant day speech, must be verdant In
deed. If the Post will take Its cue
from Senator Hanna, who pictures tho
Dingley law as the most perfect work
of human Ingenuity" or the New
York Sun, which declares that Mr..
Babcock "must be spanked" for his
agitation of the tariff question, It will
be in better position to predict con-
corning the future policy Of the party
now in power.
1t is to be expected, of course, that
the Republican managers Will permit
some sort of bluff to be put up, for
something must be done to fool
the country, and something must
be done, IL possible, to kill of
tariff agitation, which Is sure to hurt
the Republican party. But the Post
cannot believe that the interests
which control the Republican party nre
going to allow any material changes
from the prohibitive rates of the Ding
ley law. which has enabled them to
grow from infant industries to trusts
Of Unreasonable magnitude. These in
terests are safely intrenched in the
Senate, and they will make the tariff
bills SO long as the Republican party
retains control of the government.
The only possibility of reform lies in
Democratic egislation.-Atlanta Con
stitution.
G. q. p. Doomed.
Republicans are becoming dimly
aware that the supremacy Of their par
ty is endangered, and their party or
gans and leaders are giving all sorts
of reasons for it, except the right one.
Many of them attempt to belittle the
danger by saying it will not be strange
If they lose control of the lower house
Of Congress at the next election, be-
cause 1t will be an Off year, and on off
years the disaffected element of the
party in power is In the habit of exer-
cising its right Of freedom of opinion
and action, by voting against the party
nominees or not voting at all. This
is true to some extent, and does very
well to prepare the loyal element for a
shock next year.
Others go further and say that all the
great cities of the country, except Phil
adelphia, IRE Democratic. and that the
increase in population. according to the