The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-26


selves to it chain themselves, and to which alone
they can elevate their readers; whether these evils
inherent In the system or whether the Improve
ment Indicated may be possible; whether II the
press be the greatest power on eartny our neIest,
TT hs Hgr amy ng WheRer the political
paper press the natural enemy OF all talsehoous ana
wrongs o1 % tne PAST yer oyes bSber aims and
clearer, more accurate, more inteligent ana more
dispassionate thinking.
''The Relations of Business Men to National
LeRisIation," by Hamilton Az HUI, Esq.s
The second essay by Hamilton A. Hill, Esq, of
Boston, on the subject OF rhe Relations Of Busne
Men of the United States to the National LegIsla-
tion" was presented. This was to have been read
first but the reading deferred on account Of the
absence of Mr. Hill. AS he failed to appear at ALL
the essay read at this point by President Eliot.
The following is o full ABSTRACT
For the purposes of the present discussion the
people of the United States may be divided into four
classes, the professional, the agricultural, the me-
chanical, and the commercial. We have no nom
industrial class among us-we are all workers,
man may be appropriately assigned to one or an
other of the groups mentioned In the professional
class we should include all those who study prac-
tise, or teach in the departments OF divinity, med-
cine or law, or in the arts and sciences,
also all other literary men and educators, aud all who
belong to the army navy in the agricultural class,
those who devote themselves to the cultivation OF
Il soil in the mechanical class, all artisans and
artincers; and in the commercial class, all VINO
engaged in the manufacture, transportation or dis
trbution Of commodities, or in the regulation and
control Of money aud credit, which lie at the foam
datOn of all commercial exchange. 1t is to the last
OF these that we propose to invite attention IN this
paper, and an inquiry will be raised as to the rel-
tons which the mercantile class sustain to the
munity as whole the extent of the dependence
under which 1t rests on national legislation, aud the
degree to which IL ought to participate, first III it's
own interest, but secondly and especially in the n-
terest Of the nation, in framing thus legislation.
Let us inquire more particularly concerning the
commercial class as we have designated it lt en-
braces all manufacturers, miners, importers, whole
sale and retail dealers, ship owners, managers of
transportation lines by lanu or by water, railroad
proprietors and officials, capitalists, bankers and
tmDOrtanCe
population Of the United States is about forty
millions OF souls; it is estimated that Of this
number thirty-t1ree per cent, or upwards
Of thirteen Millions, are in receipt Of
add directly 10y their labor to the wealth of the
country These eleven millions may b5 suoiivldod
with approximate accuracy as f0liows:-Agricul-
turists six and half millions; mechanics, one uu-
lion laborers, one million au1 a half, and the COM
eighteen per cent OF the whole Bat this statement
falls far short of illustrating the relative Importance
see if we glance at the nature aud scope
of its operations 1t keeps ahoat four mil
lions Of tons OF shipping under the American 1tg
employed the inland waters OF lhe country. along
the coasts and upon the ocean. 1t has built fifty
millions OF tons of merchandise pass annually. not
including coal. 1t controls the export and import
of merchandise valued for the last year at nine hun
dred millions of dollars 1t produces from the spin
dies, looms, forges, and benches of our num5eress
manufacturing establishments the vaiqe OF
| from five to six hundred millions of dol.
| lars year. 1t directs the operations of
sixteen hundred banks scattered all over
the country, the paid-up capital of which is four
| hundred millions OF dollars and the resources of
which amount to billion and a half. But this is
not all. The industry OF the mechanic aud lab )r-
ing classes relies largely, If not mainly,
! chants manufacturers, and capitalists, White the
entire product of national agriculture valued at
| more than three billions of dollars enters the
! domain of commerce almost Immediately aztec Its
| in gathering, and is altogether dependent the
| commercial class for the money which enables 1t to
be brought TO the home market or shipped abroad, no
less than for the vessels or railways by wach it Is
|
which it is stored. In word the total product OF
mated for last year at six billions, eghI hundred aud
| twenty five millions OF dollars, does no more than
measure the scope and extent of the influence eX-
| eTted by business men, in one way another, di-
rectly or remotely sooner or later on tue material
prosperity and development of the nation.
| We need hardly stop to explain how closely de-
| pendent these commercial and other related in5e-
rests upon the national legislation for their well
| fare and security Who can estimate the extent to
| which our domestic exchanges are influenced by
the action of Congress in reference to the currency
The eXchangeable value OF the billions Of annual
products may be determined in one direction or the
| other by the adoption OF some peculiar policy The
consequences of a serious error in finance at Wash
ington will in the process OF time be felt in every
bank, every warehouse and every village store aud
on every farm in the United States; AMI this being
| SO, how many OF our population Will escape from
| them?
Congress to devote its time and thought chiefly to
material questions Free from foreign cOmplica-
tons and from internal dssensions, we may now
diligently set ourselves to the development OF the
national resources, and the pressing duty of Con-
| gress seems now TO lie in that direction What,
then, is the adaptation OF Congress as now consti-
| tuted for meeting such responsibility? When the
| Federal Constitution was adopted, it was antiGi'
| pated that the representative body would be CON-
| posed OF "landholders, merchants, aud men
Of the learned professions" 1t was not
| then foreseen that one OF the learned
professions would attain so large a prepOnderance
| as it has done. SiXty-one per cent OF the members
| of both houses of Congress are members OF the
| bar, while only twelve and half per cent are
nected with trade, transportation, finance. Aud
yet it would be liberal estimate OF the number of
1 IN
One-tenth Of one per cent of the population. We
have disposition to question the peculiar tness
Of able and experienced practitioners at the bar, in
view OF the special training received by them during
preparation for and in the practice OF their profess
sion for participation in legislative duties but how
| ever we'll qualified TO deal with general principles
| they must often lack that practical knowledge of
| affairs which is essential to the right aud opp9r
tune application OF principles, ana to the working
| out of details in commercial legislation,
| They are obliged, therefore, 70 rely upon others
| for much of the Information which they require nj
| IL they have go for this beyond their owa body,
| they obtain their knowledge under many disadyan-
| tages. There is another aspect in which TO regard
Congress, namely the extent to which 1t is constl-
tuted OF party politicians. 1t would be better for
Congress to be filled with lawyers men of high per-
Sona character aud OF repute in their profession,
more thoughtful OF their country than of them
selves or their party, than with business mel
chosen not such, but TO promote party interests
and party supremacy. 1t is greatly to he feared th 1T
the chief reason why there is much difficulty in
securing legislation in behalf OF interests vital
to the country is because IL does not appear TO be
demanded by party considerations. These ntere Is,
important as they are, suggest no popular watch
words or party cries, and they laid aside hur-
red over for subjects out OF which mere political
capital may be made, and upon which more exciting
harangues may be delivered. How then
shall Congress be brought to spmpathize
with and act upon the wishes of the commercial
class? Our merchants cannot explain all their
views by correspondence, and if they visit Wash