Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-08

AUG US STA.
TUESDAY MORNING, Dec. 8, 1874.
DEMOCRACY AND FREE TRADE.

DE III " M 1 d-ND THEE 1"-1">>'
The announcement of the New York
World in a leading article that the result
| Of the elections this year in New England
| is evidence that this section of the Union
| has become converted t. democracy and
free trade is not justified by the facts, par
| tcularly so far as Maine is concerned.
That free trade and reciprocity were made
prominent issues in our State election is
| true. The democrats had a free trade
plank in their platform, the adsurdity OF
| which NJ. Blaine exposed in his letter OF
acceptance, and in the same made en-
phatic objection to the proposed rcciprocl-
| ty treaty with Canada. But with the ex
| cepton that free trade was in issue in this
State, all that the World asserts concern
ing New England is contrary to the facts.
| In no State but Maine was free trade in
issue, and so far from the result of the
election ic this State showing that the is
sue told in favor of the democracy, point
cd exactly the other way-against them.
The World forgcts that the republicans
not only carried Maine this year, but in
creased their majority over that of last
year about twenty per cent. Considering
| then that Maine was the only New Eng
land State where the free trade issue was
squarely made and met and that the re-
| suit was an increase of the republican ma
jority, the claim of the World that New
Il
on free trade as shown by the elections is
gross misrepresentation.
The strange illusion under which the
World is laboring in relation to Maine
causes it to commit other plumbers than
| the above. 1t speaks about the grass
grown shipyards of Maine" not knowing
probably that the last two years have
been unusually active seasons in our ship
yards. the last being the better ofthe two
| This is quite rs near the truth however as
| to attribute the decay of shlpbuilding and
commerce to the tariff and the republican
| policy, and as sensible rs to recommend q
reciprocity treaty with Canada to improve
| them. Here in Maine it is understood by
| shipbuilders that the war was the prime
| cause in reducing our tonnage, both
| through the destruction Of vessels by the
| rebels and the transfer of others under
foreign flags, also that the burdens and
disabilities consequent upon the war debt
operated untavorably to restoration of
shipbuilding. But Congress was appealed
to and such relief afforded that the bust
ness revived and has been largely and
successfully prosecuted for the past two
years, and we are steadily and surely re-
gaining the carrying trade lost by the re-
belion. Reciprocity with Canada is what
no sensible shipbuldcr in Maine desires.
1t would destroy their business entirely,
rendering their shpyards rs silent as
grave yards, surendering to British policy
just what it struggled for through the re-
bellicn-the control of the maritime affairs
of this country. While the Shipowners'
Association OF New York did at one time
clamor for free trade in ships. so that they
might buy wooden vessels in New Brun-
| swick and Nova Scotia, and iron vessels
| on the Clyde, the shipbuilders from Maine
to Virginia, whether engaged in building
| wooden or iron vessels, steadily opposed
! their free trade designs. urging that such
| policy would transfer the business OF
| our shipyards into the hands of foreigners
and enable them to acquire control Of our
coasting rs we'll as foreign trade. The
result is showing that it was wise for
| them and best for our commercial inter-
ests. If the World desires to push reel
procity as a party issue in this section,
the republicans are ready to meet it. not
only as it may affect shipbuilders, but as
it may affect our farming, numbering,
manufacturing and other industrial inter
| cStS.
| And we venture to add that lift dare make
| the same issue in the other New England
States-makc it the leading issue between
| the parties lift peases-the democracy will
be routed in every State at the next cleo
tons as decisively rs they were last Sep
| TENDER in Maine The republicans in
Massachusetts, will doubtless be surprised
| at the announcement of the World that the
| gains Of the democracy in that State are
| the result of conversions to free trade
| principles, when in fact all that was need
| ed to insure an old fashioned republican
majority was the declaration OF such an
issue. The unmasking of the democracy
on that point would have given the repub-
leans something of Importance to keep
their columns steady. Side issues and
| personal matters would have had no pow
err to distract and divide their force and
| allow the enemy to claim victory.
| Although the claim that IA free trade vic
tory was won is prepostcrous. the demo-
Gratis will turn it to account in that direc-
ton as much rs they are able, but where
the facts are known it will profit them lit