Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1904-03-23
A FETCH OF FREE TRADE.
Absurd Chorus That Is BEING Set Up
by Democrats About Frotec-
ton and War.


! Affects Tree traders whenever they touch
upon their HOBBY is observable in the
| discussion OF the various questions
growing out OF the RuSso-Japanesc
war. Some of them go so far says the
Toy On. W Times. as To trace a con-
necuon between protection and that I'M
fortunate and lamentable conflict. Tbs
Kansas City Journal. for instance, dis
covers that the war had its inception in
The efforts of Russia to shut out Man
| churia, which il controls from the trade
or other nations, and IL reasons itself TO
the conclusion that there would be no
disputes TO go to war about were tho
principle of free trade universally rec
| ogniZed.
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 rung on the danger q
protection as a menace to the peace or
the world. Some newspapers that GEL
tainly should and which perhaps in re-
atty do know better are joining in tho
absurd chorus. Here is what the Phil
adelphia Record, which sees everything
through free trade spectacles has TO say:
What is most remarkable In connec-
/ ton with this subject Is the fact that the
1 government OF this country or rather
! the party exercising its control. jealousy
maintains a narrow and hostile protec-
! tive system while making ostentatious pa
\ rade OF all means (saVe the effective
/ one OF free trade TO extend the country's
| foreign commerce The administration
/ insists that there shall! be AN open door
| IN China 10 the trade OF all nations. and
! throws every diplomatic obstacle nclud-
! ing threats, in the way OF Russia's policy
/ OF exclusion in ManChuria
! 'WhiIe pledged To the strictest neutral
! ity by the principles and traditions OF
/ the government the doctrine Is open
/ !N preached in all circles OF the party
/ OF protection from the administration
! outward, that should Russia prove vic
4 torious In this war with Japan We
/ would not consent TO the application
/ OF a protective system to Manchuria
and Korea by The government at ST
Petersburg. Although the administration
Is not likely 10 20 to war in beaulf OF the
open door'-tor the American people would
not permit it's there not something sa-
liently ludicrous in this attitude while We
| maintain high tariff wall against the rest
| of the world? Is there not In this a half
| faced homage on the part or the champions
| OF protection TO the genius OF free trade
The truth is that free trade Eng
land Is the only great nation that can with
consistency insist upon the open door 10
! commerce; and the English apparently
have no notion of going TO war with Rus
STA on this issue"
IT is difficult to regard such arguments
as these with patience. To even init
mate that protection is the cause OF
wars such as that now raging in the far
east and that if free trade were univer-
sal there would be no strife among ma
lions is to show a mental perVcrsity
that is more pitiable than rcprchensiblc.
AS TO the hostilities between Russia ana
Japan, the statement; by Mr. Takahira,
the Japanese minister al Washington in
a magazine article by him which has
just appeared, makes the situation very
clear, at least as far as Mr.. Takahira's
government is concerned. Japan is
fighting to resist entertainments which
involve the gravest danger to that coun-
try, for the absorption OF Manchuria b.
Russia means inevitably the absorp-
ton of Korea. and that in turn would in
evitably threaten the integrity and safe
~ OF Japan. There is not word in all
this about trade or tariffs or open ports.
! However, Japan has TO a large extent
forestalled criticism by promising that
Korea shall remain independent and
that its trade shall be open Ito the
| world
But this does not mean free trade or
anything like il. When the United
States favors the open door" policy IL
in no way stultifies itself as these
critics would make it appear II does.
II simply stands for the policy of all
nations being treated alike, just as It
treats all alike who deal with this
country. except in an especial case such
as that of Cuba. which is allowed tariff
privileges in recognition OF its youth
and weakness. But the open door"
does not imply that the nations Of the
world shall abolish duties and adopt
free trade. AS a matter OF fact. every
government OF any standing levies du-
ties on imports-and even so-caIled free
trade England gets n considerable share
OF its revenue from that source The
United States could not be guilty OF the
improperly Of asking the natiuns to
abandon their tariffs. II would be quick
ly and properly rCbuked If 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
panaoea for war. once more let free
trade England" be cited as an exam
pie. Has her relinquishment OF nro-
lection prevented her from serious en-
Droilment with other powers or Ied-to
her disargament in the assured faith
that fighting shall he no morp - ~
C Mr.. Bryan has cotton 10 "A point
where he believes that a declaration OF
beliefs In free silver suflces. without fur
ther explanations.-Wa Washington Star.
tI"Opportunity." writes Mr.. Cleve.
land. may be only distan1y related 10
actual accomplishment" The demo