The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1904-03-18
A FETCH OF FREE TRADE.
Absurd Chorus That Is Being Set Up
by Democrats About Protec-
ton and War.

discussion Of the various questions
growing out OF the Russo-Japanese
war. Some Of them go so far. says the
Troy IN. ~ Times. as 10 trace a con-
neotion between protection and that un-
fortunate and lnmentable conflict. The
Kansas City Journal, for instance. dis
covers that the war had It's inception In
the efforts OF Russia to shut out Man.
churIa. which II controls. from the trade
OF other nations, and II reasons itself 10
the conclusion that there would be no
disputes 10 30 TO war about were the
principle OF free trade universally rec
ognlzed.
Other %worshipers OF the free-trade
fetch Of course find this doctrine much
TO their taste. and We may now expect
the changes to be Jung On the danger OF
protection "a a menacc 10 the peace OF
the world. Some newspapers that GER
ialnly should and which perhaps In re-
ality do know better are Joining In the
absurd chorus. Here Is what the phil
adelphia Record. which sees everything
through free trade spectacles. has to say:
what IL most remarkable In connec.
ton with TIT subject T. the fact that the
government OF this country. or rather
the party exercising ~ control, Icalousiy
maintains a narrow and hostile uruteC-
tive system while making ostcntatious pa
fade Of 'all means trnvc the effective
one ~ free trti.i 10 extend the countrN's
for,lsu commerce. Tho administration
Insists hat there shall te an open door
In china 10 the trade OF ul nations and
throw cv'ry diplomatic Obstacle. luc.ui-
I linz HNFIHHH la che an. Nf IGH.HH0u'W tuI|HN
uf Exclusion IN Mnuchuriu
"Nhin pledged tn the s~ttlrt'st neutral
it4 bi tht principles AMI traditions ut
the government tn doctrine Do cptu-
W preached in 40 circles of tho party
NJ protection from The characterization
outward. that should Russia prov. vie.
tor!oua W this war with Japan We
would not conHift 90 TIE application
Of O. protective system 40 MHurhufiu
and Korea hy ilr government nc ~.
r'i'rsbutr A.ihuurh thD administration
IT, mot lhUif 60 go to Wuf U behalf 90 iht
I'Opun door for H. American pe1pi' would
not permit lt-ia tl,fr not aomcttlug Hu-
llUutly ludivr1ua In this attitude while we
maintain 10 high tutin val ugIintt the rosi
Of The woridT T. ih,rr not lu this u half
mrri homag, on a., rrtt ~ a., vlHmulous
Of protection 10 the genius nt free trader
TIL truth IL that free trade Eng.
land T. the only great nation that can WIN
consistency inslst upon thu open door tu
commerce, and the Eng lsh apparently
have no notion OF golng 10 wal with Rus.
sia ON this issue,
II Ii difficult to regard such arguments
as these with patience. To even init.
mate tina, protection Is the cause OF
wars such ~ that now raging In the Tar
east and that II free trade were uniVor-
sal there would be no strife among ma.
lions II to show n mental perycrsity
that Is more pltiable than rcprehenslblc,
As to the hostllitics between Russia n
Japan. the statement by Mr.. Takahira
the Japanese minister ut Washington. IN
a magazine article by him which has
Just appeared. makes the situation very
clear. at least as far AZ Mr.. Takahira's
government Is concerned. Japan Is
nghtlng to resist oncroachments which
involve the gravest danger To that coun.
try, for the absorption OF Manchuria by
Russia means inevitably the absorp'
ton Of Korea, and that In turn would In
cyitably threaten the Integrity aud safe
~ OF Japan. There Is not a word In al
this about trade or tariffs or open ports
However. Japan has TO a large extent
forcstalled criticism by promising that
Korea shall rcmnln independent ant
that it's trade shall be open to Ia,
world
but this does O mean free trade NJ
anything like IT,. when the tinted
States fnvors the open door" policy II
in no way stultinos itself. as these
critics would make 1t appear II does
II simply stands for the policy Of all
nations being treated alike, Just rs II
treats all alike who deal with this
country. except In an especial case such
as that of Cuba. which IL allowed tarin
privileges In recognition Of It's youth
and weakness. But the open door
does not imply that the nations Of the
world shall abolish duties and adopt
free trade, As n natter of fact. every
government Of any standing levies du-
ties on lmports-and even so-called free
trade England gets a considerable share
OF its revenue from that source. The
United States could not he guilty OF the
improperly OF asking the nations 10
abandon their tariffs. II would be quick
ly and properly rebukcd II II did. But
there Is no Improperly In asking that
Americans be allowed to trade in Man.
churia or anywhere else on the same
terms as those accorded to others.
And as to free trade being such a
panacca for war, once more let free
trade England be cited as an exam.
pie. Has her REIMBURSEMENT of pro.
lection prevented her from serious en-.
broilmont with other powers or led t.
her disarmament in the assured faith
that fighting shall be no more?