The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-11-25
An Amcricaa Political and CONNER
ctal System Wantcd-Tho Policy To
He Puraued.

An American Political and CONNER
ciaI System Wantcd-The Policy To
BE Pursued.
Every great civilized nation has some defined
political and commercial system in connection
with its relations to the rest of the world, and
one that is believed to be adapted to its own
interests, development and future, except the
great American Republic. England has had
her colonial policy-that Of tho conquest of
India and the accession Of territory in all parts
| of the globe-with o view to enlarge her COM
merce to find markets for her manufactures,
to increase her power and dignity and to en-
rich her people at home. She had formerly,
too, Continental European policy for main
tanning the so-called balance of power and up
holding her commercial supremacy. She had
her period of tariff protection to foster manu-
featuring industry and the land-holding in
terest. And now, when she is able to produce
SO chcaply and abundantly as to compete sue
cessfully with other nations, or to sell more
cheaply in the markets of the world, she advo-
/ Gates the principle of free trade. The policy
| of England changes with varying circum-
| stances, both politically and CONNER
cially, but is always adapted to her
own interests and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, re-
CARELESS of abstract principles or the
welfare of other countries. The same re-
marks would apply to the national aggrandiz-
ing ambition Of France under different gov
ernments, and particularly under the Napo-
Icons, until Frustrated and shorn Of her glory
by the late war. Even the protective tariff
policy of M. Theirs, whether right or wrong,
according to the principles of political econo-
N.Y. is based upon q system in which the in
terests of France are only considered. Ger
many is thinking solely of her own grandeur
and destiny in the consolidation Of the EN-
pire, in the acquisition of territory, and in
laws made to regulate commerce and inter-
course. Russia gives no heed to the opinions
of other nations beyond what suits her own
convenience or safety, in extending her en-
pire or fostering her industry and commerce.
| Spain clings to her remaining American
colonies and rules them with q rod Of iron,
against the will Of the people, and upholds
slavery in them, in defiance of the sentiment
| of the civilized world, because they are
deemed profitable and because Spanish pride
would be wounded at the loss of them. In
the same way we might mention other nations
which have some defined system of policy in
| their external and commercial relations, as
we'll as in their territorial ambition, bearing
exclusively upon their own interests and ag-
grandizement
But, as was said, this great Republic has no
determined policy or system, commercial or
international, within the particular sphere of
its influence. It is the overshadowing power
of the American Continent yet is hemmed in
and partly surrounded by European possess
sions, restricting trade, imposing injurious
tariffs and giving continual annoyance We
have had prolonged trouble about Cuba on
one side and the British possessions on the
other, both with the mother countries and the
colonists With regard to the British Ameri-
can colonies we are compelled to keep little
army of custom house officials on the border,
and even then cannot prevent extensive SNUG
Cling and frauds on the revenue; and as to
Cuba, we are called upon to maintain naval
force to prevent the slave trade with that ISL
and, to protect our citizens from Spanish
aggression and to carry out treaty obligations
with Spain. Nor have we that freedom or
amount of trade we ought to have with such
neighboring countries The policy of the
European home governments has been to
draw as much Of that trade as possible
from us and to prevent free intercourse. The
local or geographical advantages we possess
have been set aside to some extent
by the restrictions imposed upon our COM
merce and the greater freedom given to the
trade between the colonies and the mother
countries. Nor have we that extended trade
and political influence with the Spanish
American Republics we ought to have as the
great and dominant Power in this hemisphere.
England and other nations have taken away
large portion of the business that lies at our
door. In fact, we have had no comprehensive
American policy to attach the different
nations of this Continent to our country and
to encourage commerce with them.
The extension of our republican empire
has been the result Of accidents and the
liberal impulses of the people, and did not
come from any defined policy. Even the
Monroe doctrine, protesting against the re-
conquest of American territory and extension
of European monarchical institutions on this
Continent by the governments of Europe,
which England for selfish purposes induced
our government to proclaim, has been practi-
cally almost dead letter. We have territory
enough, and care not to annex more, unless the
people inhabiting adjacent countries should
adopt our institutions and voluntarily ask to
be admitted to the Union. But we do want to
see the whole of America republican and to
have the most free commercial intercourse
with these United States. So long as Eng
land and Spain have colonies here there
will be injurious tariffs, jealousies and
complications, leading US sometimes