The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-11-07

mentS, so tney can carry lOr ieSo' enu "i Ni
are benefited. While the policy OF low toll mas
done 30 much to revive business not only In New
York but all over the country, the Republican
Congressional policy Of making 1t cost more for
an American citizen to buy an ocean steamship
than It costs the citizen Of any other country Is
adhered TO. This State cuts down Its taxes on
commerce; It is increasing the sale OF our pro-
ducts IN foreign markets II helps to turn the pal
ance OF trade in our favor; itstars the wheels Oh
industry, and gives hope to our mechanics ana
aborers do not claim that low tolls have alone
done all this. War, short crops and Other causes
have made foreign demand fol- whatwe make
and raise, But every business man In New YORK,
Democrat or Republican, will say that putting
down taxes on our canal commerce to nominal
sum, together with the competition thus excited
between railroad aud water routes has had much
to do with the turn Of the tide OF business IN
our favor
BLUNDzRING OVER THE STEAMSHIP DUTIES.
Can we keep the markets that we have gained
for our breadstuifs and provlsions2 We can II we
can send to them without too much cost. Nay,
more, we can widen them If the government VIII
not hinder our efforts, for never before could we
raise or make as much and at as low price as at
this time We ought to be able, therefore, to hnd
new customers in all parts OF tine world. we
raise grain and cattle and swine, ana make
cheese at a price so low that we can undersell
many people on their own grounds, ana we excel
in mechanics II we do this we shall In little
time enjoy prosperity greater than that OF any
time In the past, We have cleaned out the chan
nels of commerce In our own State OF taxes and
abuses, and our products go cheaply to the sea-
board. But here they are confronted by the gov
ernment, which has destroyed our ocean com
nerce and which says that no American mer'
chant shall buy asesmship in the markets OF the
world to carry these products where they are
wanted. It is this fact which prevents sending
our dairy products where they could be sold at
proAt-our Consus In different cities and ports
say they are wanted but we have no commercial
intercourse with them Every man OF thought
knows II we held to-day the same relative posi-
ton on the seas that we held 20 years ago that we
should at once have prosperity in every kind OF
INDUSTRY When we see how much we gain by
taking taxes off of one line Of canals 1t is clear If
our merchants were allowed an equal chance
with those of other countries, they would find
markets for all that our farmers raise or that our
mechanics make The class Of men who hope to
make gains by the wrongs OF our naVlgaIion laws
is very small Those who build vessels for our
inland waters or for the Ooasting trade are harm
ed For home commerce is less when our foreign
trade is crippled Il does not help the matter to
give subsidies to few lines. These only grant to
small numbers monopolies OF the best routes at
the public cost. Subsidies will never cover the
ocean with competing ships, looking for new
markets aud carrying at the lowest prices they
can afford. History shows that the nations which
lead in the commerce of the seas control the
wealth of the world. European nations try to
bnild up their trade by encouraging their mer'
chants while ours hinders those who seek to sell
our products abroad wherever they can find buy.
ers. Can it be that the farmers, the merchants,
the manufacturers the mechanics OF our State
will not help the Democratic party to correct this
great wrong? They know and feel that their
troubles are mainly due to this cause. They
know that if we had competing American lines
of steamships running to all parts of the ocean our
business troubles would disappear, They know
that If they send Republican TO Congress, while
his views may be right on this point, he can do
but little for he must oppose hmsslf to the body
of his friends They know that until by some de.
cided action they teach the Republicans that this
abuse will no longer be tolerated that the laws
will stand unchanged
REVISE THE NAVIGATION LAWS
There is no other question involved in this elee
tion which SO deeply concerns all as the correction
of Our navigation laws 1t is just reproach to
the Republican merchants and business men of
New York and elsewhere that they have allowed |
their party in power without protest TO trample |
upon the laws of trade and upon the rights of our
commercial metropolis and upon the intere IS of
our farmers and mechanics 1t was well found |
ed complaint when men in the country, and the |
forwarders aud commission men IN the city were |
struggling to get tolls on our canals cut down that
the body of the merchants and bankers and real |
estate owners showed no interest. The meetings |
called by the produce men were attended by few |
outside Of those engaged In the pursuits immedi-
ately connected with the canal business. They
excited less interest and were not as fully or as
generally reported as events of little comparati 5e
And yet the revival of trade and
the welfare Of ali classes are largely due to the aid
to commerce by reduction Of tolls This lack Of
spirit is not shown in the other great cities Of the
world. 1t was not so In Venice or Genoa when
they played such grand parts in history. Does 1t
not show a want of decent self-respect when
bankers ard merchants boast that they know
and care nothing about their political dutes2 Is
1t not boast which shows an ignorance of what
affects their own business, as well as the welfare
Of the country2 There isno reason, entitled to re-
spect to be given for our navigation laws so far
as they forb d our merchants to buy ships else
where for the purpose of foreign trade. The gov
tTnments Of Europe, more wise, do what they can
TO build up their commerce, and their flags are
seen in our harbor waving over vessels bought by
their merchants where they can get them upon
the best terms, Every such flag seems to reprOach
the Jolly of laws which practically forbid Ameri
can citizens to carry American produce across the
ocean, to share In the great profits of the worlds
There is an alarm about COmmunistic
principles. What are they2 Some wild theorists
claim that 1t is the duty Of government to give la
Dor 10 wOrkmen and TO take care that property
shall be SO held In common that what one earns
may be given TO another. We frown upon these
men and denOunce their purposes. But what dc
they claim more than few builders of steamships
get under our navigation laws? These demand
that all such vessels for foreign trade must be
made by them; that the buyers, besides paying
for what they are worth must divide some Of his
with the builders by giving them more
than they are worth in the markets of the world.
It will be found In the end that the Communism
which turks in laws which force men to buy of
certain classes, and to pay more for what they |
want than they can be bought for elsewhere, and |
which also divide mems estate under cover of tax
alton, which indirectly go to favored individuals
Is more hurtful aud dangerous than the Commun
ism which says what it means, aud which destroys
itself by an open declaration Of its purposes.
lam truly yours etc.
HoRATIo SEYMOUR.