The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-11-18

distress in any section, or in any leading inter-
est. Labor is very generally employed and re-
warded. The credit of the country is good.
Money, in abundance, is obtainable at home
and abroad, for all the great enterprises of the
day, and commerce has been in the highest de-
gree ilourishing and profitable. Under such q
state of things it WAS obviously impossible to
fasten public attention upon theories of politi-
cal economy or 10 create any apprehension Of
impending evils So far as existing palpable
facts 90, the business interests of the country
seem to be well enough off as they stood and
no great degree of public interest could be
awakened in the clouds which clearer fore
sight might discern in the rising future. 1t is
only in the midst of pressing distress, such as
involved the country in 1910, that public at
tention can be thoroughly aroused and fasten-
ed upon financial and economical issues. The
question of internal improvements is at best
one of local concern, and never takes very
strong hold upon the general feeling of the
country, or upon the contests political parties
The issues of lS4S, moreover. have all been
removed from the field of strife, by the legisla-
ton which admitted California and gave ter
ritorisl Governments to New Mexico and Utah:
and the platforms of the two National COnven-
tons swept away, especially in the Northern
States. whatever points Of political difference
connected with Slavery that legislation might
have left behind it,
Everything thus tended to divest the Pres-
dental contest Of all special interest and I'M
portance. 1t became, in the general spprchen-
sion. merely struggle between men and as
such, it lacked the essential elements Of enthu-
sasm and energy Of the struggles Of 1914
and 1913.
The policy of the Democratic party is TO
strengthen our commercial alliance with Eng,
land by making each country more dependent
upon the other for needed supplies, even to the
neglec. of our domestic interests and resources
Free Trade is of very little consequence 10 any
other nation. except England and the United
States. The commercial interests of those two
great nations are daily acquiring greater nhu-
ence on the politics Of both continents and their
consolidation. by means Of Free Trade, is like
" 10 lead 10 results of which the advocates of
that policy are not fully aware. England has
no SINGLE political or social necessity more i'm
perstive than that Of close commercial rela-
tons with the United States and of free access
TO American markets. and to that necessity
everything else will be made 20 bend
Nothing has contributed more TO the strength |
of the Democratic party in this canvass than a |
feeling that in It's foreign relations our Govern
ment has not taken the stand required by its |
position as the great Republic among the ma
tons OF the earth; and We anticipate in this |
direction, therefore, some decisive advantages
from it's ascendency We shall certainly be
glad to welcome at the hands of any Admins
tration, Democratic or Wing a more energetic
vindication of American rights, a more cordial
of American principles, and a
warmer regard for Repubiicanism abroad. than
have been witnessed for few years past. And
unless it should prove utterly blind TO the ind-
cations of public sentiment, a Democratic Ad-
coming into power at the present
crisis. could not fail to make some advance
upon existing practices in this respect
We are not among those who consider the
welfare OF the country for all coming time. as
rretrevably bound up in the result OF any one
election While we think its best interests
would have been promoted by the election of
Gen. Scott, we readily concede that all the ad-
Vantagcs are not upon one side, and that the
country, ten years hence, may possibly be bet
Ter off tor the election of Gen Pierce In the
Ong run, we believe the substantial interests
)t the country will vindicate themselves that
I protection to our industry be indispensable
20 our prosperity, it will force itself in due time
upon the Government and that it is not in the
power OF any Administration greatly to check
)ur advancement IN that high career of social
and OF national greatness upon
which We have entered. And in all our iudg-
nents OF parties and of men--of admnistra-
ions and OF othcers-we shall look to the per-
nanent good OF the country, rather than to the
considerations of temporary and party advan-
age.