Evening journal., 1904-09-26
EPARKER INLETTER
ASSAILS PROTECTION

both manufacturer and consumer"
With equal truth II can be said that
the benefits Of reciprocal trade trea.
ties would enure 10 both. That the
consumer would be helped is unQues
tionable. That the manufacturer would
receive great benefit by extending his
markets abroad hardly needs demon
stration. His productive capacity has
outgrown the home market The very
term "home market has changed in
its significance Once. from the manu-.
facturers point of view. It meant ex
pansion: today the marvellous growth
OF our manufacturing industries has
far exceeded the consumptive capacity
OF our domestic markets. and the term
"home market" implies contraction
rather than expansion. II we would
run our mills to their full capacity.
thus giving steady employment to our
workmen and securing TO them and 20
the manufacturer the profits accruine
from increased production, other mar
kets must be found. Furthermore
when our manufacturers are depend /
| ent on raw materials in whole or part /
! imported, II Is vital to the extension /
OF their markets abroad that they Sc
cure their materials on the most IA.
vorable terms.
Our martyred president, William Nc
! Kinley. appreciated this situason. He |
pointed out In his last address to the
people that we must make sensible
trade arrangements If 1--WE shall ex-
tend the outlets for our increasing sur /
\ plus" He said: "a system which pro
vides a mutual exchange Of commodi-
ties is manifestly essential to the con
tinued and healthful growth Of our ex-
port trade The period Of exclu-
siveness is past. The expansion OF our
trade and commerce is the pressing
problem. Commercial warsAre unprof
liable. A policy OF good will and
friendly relations will prevent repris-
ais. Reciprocity treaties are in har-
mony with the spirit Of the times;
measures OF retaliation are not"
This argument was made In the IN
terest Of our manufacturers, whose
products, he urged. have so multi
piled that the problem OF more markets
requires our urgent and immediate at
tention." He had come TO realize that
the so called stand pat policy must
give way; that there must be a reduc-
ton Of duties 10 enable our manufac-
turers to cultivate foreign markets.
The last words Of this president, who
had won the affection Of his country
, men, ought to be studied by every man
who has any doubt OF the necessity OF
a reduction in tariif rates in the inter
est OF the manufacturer. They present
with clearness a situation and a pro
posed remedy that prompted the provi-
sion in our platform which declares
that eve favor liberal trade arrange
ments with Canada and with peoples
OF other countries where they can be
$ entered into with beneht to American
{ agriculture. manufactures, mining OF
I, commerce"
The persistent refusal OF the Repub
% lican majority in the federal senate L
-e ratify the reciprocity treaties nego
< tlated in pursuance Of the policy ad
p vOcated alike by Mr.. Blaine and Mr.
70 Mckinley, and expressly sanctioned IN
the Dingley act itself, is a discourag
, ing exhibition OF bad faith. As already
/ ANtUNlNntA " lnt EAOIUllAnA uMtl
2 imposed on many an imported article
Il by the Dingley tariff was avowedly in
{ tended by its author not 10 be perma-
\ nent. but TO serve temporarily as a
l maximum, from which the federal gov.
ernment was empowered TO offer a re
duction in return for an equivalent
concession on the part OF a foreign
country. President Mckinley under
I took honestly TO carry out the purpose
l. of the act. A number Of reciprocity
> agreements were negotiated. which. II
ratified. would have had the twofold
o result Of cheapening many imported
e products for American consumers and
J. Of opening and enlarging foreign mar
kets TO American producers. Not one
e Of those agreements has met with the
D approval OF the Republican masters OF
{ the senate. Indeed they did not even
IL permit their consideration. In view
of the attitude OF the present execu
u tive no new agreement need be ex
~ pected from him. Nor does the Re
" publican platform contain favorable
'e reference TO one OF the suspended
treaties. The reciprocity clauses Of
L the Dingley act seem destined TO re
D. main a monument Of legislative cozen
'g age and political bad faith unless the
v people take the matter in their owl
?; hands at tile ballot box and command
Is a reduction OF duties y return FOL
o. reciprocal concessions.
70 Independence For the Filipinos.
~ In some quarters it has been assum
q ed that in the discussion Of the Philip
te pine question in my response th'
mr. phrase "self government was intend
n ed to mean something less than indie
pendence. II was not intended that
should be understood 10 mean nor d.
sc rnInK as iIsen n noes mean less rrai
IT, independence. However. to eliminate
st all possibility for conjecture ] nov
as state that l am in hearty accord will
n that plank In our platform that favor
W, doing for the Filipinos what we hav'
x already done for the Cubans, and
Is favor making the promise TO them nov
MS that we shall take such action as sool
be as they are reasonably prepared for IL
II independence such as the Cuban
w enjoy cannot be prudently granted +
by the Filipinos at this time, the promis
IN that il shall come the moment the
re are capable OF receiving IL will tend I
stimulate rather than hinder their df