, 1860-11-12
AN AnrRRICAN POLICY.

Although the Republican party goes into
office with minority in each branch Of
Congress, i: il nevertheless not improbable
t:::t, through the aid Of q portion Of Tie
South American and the Anti-Lecomptca
votes, it will he able to inauguratc several
of its distinctive measures At IN carly day.
Among the measures which we may fcs:-
sonably calculate on thus securing we
think it safe 10 include the following: The
Homestead Law; biil for the constTuc-
ton Of a rallsoad and u line of telegraph to
the Pacific; such modification Of tho tar
if law as will insure constant home mar
ket for large portion Of OUT surplus agri-
cultural products, and a reasonable protec-
ton against competition with the cheap
paupcr .la.,or Of Europe. There are other
measures the adoption ofwlich may be Oh
tained in the same manner, hut which will
doubtless require greater effort and more
lalorious discussion. Of this class, that
which is most likely to command the sup
port Of men outside Of the Republican Or
Eaniza,ion, is reciprocal free trade with :s}l
the countries Of tho Western Hemisphere.
II is only within the last twelve months
that this question Inns been made the SUBJ
jcct of thought and discussion. The treaty
of reciprocity with Canada was found 10
work SO well ,l.tt, here and there, thoughts
full observers raised the inquiry, "Why
not enlarge the free list, as respects Canada,
aud then apply the principle 10 all tic
countries Of North and South America?
Investigation followed, and many fhcts
have bccn brought TO light having favor
able bearing upon such policy. Still it Is
4 new question, and even by. those who
llarc given it some attention it is as yet but
impcrfecuy understood. Let us glance
briefly at some Of the results likely TO flow
from such policy:
j: It would put final iuictus upon the
1illibuster spirit which has grown so RAM
pant Of late years in the Southern States 4
treaty OF reciprocity with the Central
American States, tor example, would en-
join such obligations upon our government
as wou!d render the raids ofanother Walker
into Nicaragua and Honduras an impossi-
bility, We should he bound by self inter-
est rs well as by national comfy 10 nip all
such schemes in the bud, and VIC would
do it.
II. The Inauguration Of such policy
would he fatal also TO the gigantic scheme
for p.uadcr1ng tho national treasury Of two
hundred millions or more Of dollars, for the
purchase Of Cuta, and we should hear no
more OF tic alternative Of purcllase-the
iorciblc seizure Of tho Island. Reciprocal
free trade with Cuba would girc us all the
benefits Tint would accrue from purchase,
and relieve us from Ill the dangers and diffl-
cultics That would inevitably result from the
annexation Of an additional slave State, aud
the incorporation into our system Of @ pco-
pie differing from us in race. in traditions;
and III ideas. The point is none the less
applicable to Mexico and to Central Amer.
ica. Cur national greed, stimulated by tho
desire Of extending the area Of slavery and
preserving the equilibrium Of free. and
slave States, has already led us into one
war with Mexico Unless prevented by
some such measure as the ono proposed
We know not Low soon the nation may be
precipitated into another II it I've OH dec.
1iny to absorb these countries, this policy
will restrnin the forcing PROGRESS. Thu
fruit will br left to thoroughly ripen and
fall naturally axay from the parent stem
III. It would give greater stability to The
governments south Of US, and thereby IN
crease the prosperity Of those who ~ouldbe
come our most profitable customers Were
our commercial relations with Mexico, fol
example placed upon reciprocity basis il
would he 10 The interest Of this government
t. use its influence in preserving the inter
1lni peace Of the former-an office which
could always be performed by diplomacy
md by the moral power Of the n1n9ioodd with;
out any waste Of blood or treasure. The
same interest which would prompt inter-
vention for the preservation Of Internal
peace, would also induce our government
1oemploy its influence in maintaining har.
monious relations between al the Ameri.
can governments -~' '''- t'*"-''~ -~"-~-'-