The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-03
NO CUTTING DOWN
Fairbanks Speaking On
the Tariff Issue.
The Protective Principle He Declares,
is Vital. There is to Be No Gen.
eral Reduction at Any
Time.
(By the Associated Press.)

Boston, Mass, Dec. Before an
audience of more than 5000 people
Observation-Disclosures Charles w. Fair
banks, of Indiana. defined the attitude
of the Republican administration on
the tariff question at the annual ban
quet of the home market club in Me-
chanics Hall tonight. Among the
other guests were Governor John l..
Bates. of Massachusetts former Secre-
tary of Navy, John d. Long, DR.. w. H.
Montague, of Toronto, q privy coun-
cillor of the Dominion of Canada:
Governor-elect John McLane. of New
Hampshire. ana Governor-elect Henry
Roberts. of Connecticut.
The speakers were Senator Fair
banks, Governor Bates. Secretary
Long and DR.. Montague.
Senator Fairbanks said in part:
I'VE look forward with confidence
and satisfaction to the early compile
ton Of the iSthmian canal, which VIII
Increase in large measure the COM
merce of the United States The At
lantic and the Pacific seaboards wifi
feel in an especial degree the impetus
given to their trade by the conStruc-
ton of this great thoroughfare be-
tween two oceans. Every section of
the republic will share in some meas
ure the benefits to accrue from the
will stand forever as tribute to the
genius. the constructive craftsmanship
and the courage of the Republican
party.
''All of the powers of. American
diplomacy have been invoked to en-
large the opportunity for trade in the
distant Orient. We find there a vast
theatre of commercial enterprise and
if we are but true to our opportunities,
our commerce in and bevond the Pa
cific is destined to attain proportions
beyond our most optimistic dreams.
while the tariff question is an old
one, it is of continual and vital inter-
est 1t must not be overthrown or
surrendered; by intelligent discussion.
The tariff issue was sharply presented
in the platforms of the Republican
and Democratic parties in the recent
campaign. The Republican party
denounced protection as robbery.
The Republican party insisted that
rates of duty should be readuSted only
when conditions have SO changed that
the public interest demands their al
teration; while the Democratic party
favored a revision and a gradual re-
duction of the tariff Republican al
terations are to be made, when neces-
sary, along protective lines. while
Democratic revision means the elimi-
nation of the protective principles.
1.-The Republican party has revised
ariff schedules in the past when re-
Vision was essential and it will no,
hesitate in the future to subject them
TO careful scrutiny and alteration SO
that our protective system may be
Just in it's operation. Whenever change
of schedules is essential in the public
interest the alteration will be made:
it will be made advisedly: it will be
made with full knowledge. not in re-
Spouse to mere sentiment. but agree
ably to sound economic necessity.
Any other policv is obviously unwise
and disturbing in its tendency.
1.-THE Republican party adneres to
the doctrine of commercial reciprocity.
that reciprocity which tends to expand
our commerce and to develop Ameri-
can industry in the interest of Ameri-
can labor and American capital 1t
holds to that reciprocity which is the
'handmaiden' of protection but not 10
that which is but another form of free
trade and which is hostile to the pro-
tective system
DR.. w. II. Montague, of Toronto.
said that the Dominion had tried all
forms of trade relations from recip-
rocity to free trade. All these have
been dropped in favor of protection.
Since the time when protection was
firmly established the country has sec q
more prosperity than ever before. DIR,
Montague said there was desire in
Canada for reciprocity.
Ex-Secretary Long favored the adj
justment, "of the tariff to the needs OF
the time