The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-05-23
sTAUNTON. VIRGINIA. MAY %, 1878.
Senator Blaine on Free Trade.

PHILADELPHIA, MAY 10.-Senator Blaine
delivered an address at the opening of the
Permanent Exposition here to-day. The
following were his concluding remarks
s.And now. slowly emerging, rs we hope
we are, from the gloom and depression of
these last four years, let us gather knowl-
edge and counsel and wisdom and courage
for the future. With the wealth OF a con-
tinent surrounding us, let lis not permit
ourselves to doubt or distrust our abun-
dant capacity to provide remunerative labor
and cheerful homes forour ever increasing
population. Let us look at our actual con-
| diIion, and draw thence some instruction,
which may silence partisan strife over ques-
tions of domestic economy. To those who
doubt the development of home industry
under the stimulus OF protection to the
American inventor and the American me
chanic, say stand on this platform and
look around you. Argument may we'll
cease in the face Of a possible demonstration;
clamorous contradiction may we'll be ST.
fenced in the presence OF an irrefutable con-
clusion. To those who think we need the
vigor and independence which free trade
can impart, I say look abroad over the do
main OF the United States nf America. in
habited by Al population that will soon be
sc, 900, 900, with IL, 900 miles of ocean front
the Arctic, with five great interior seas.
each more valuable than those waters for
whose mastery European empires wage
bloody and wasteful war, with rivers flow
ing from the iurthest North to the tropical
South, connecting our States in network
OF Inland navigation greater In extent than
ell the rivers OF Europe combined. with our
railways jolntiiig lake to gulf and ocean TO
ocean and then remember aud reflect
that on all our ocean coast, on all our In
terror seas, Oh all our rivers, over all our
railroads, between all our States.s and with
all our territories trade is absolutely free
70: MI American products and fabrics with
out fctter or duty. or charge or fee. or any
Governmental tax whatever, national, State,
or municipal and remember, too, that the
great orgenic law of the land declares it
shall always rem in so. And | here assert
that, enjoying, as we have, and as / hope we
stislk the full benefit of protection to Amer
iean industry against injurious competition
from abroad, we have also enjoyed and do
enjoy among ourselves the blessings Of alb
s0iute free trade beyond that ever realized
in the world elsewhere, by 50 large a popu
latj0ll, over so vast an extent OF. country.
Aud the aggregate of our domestic COM
merce Is astounding in its figures. The
vast Importance OF our foreign commerce is
now exciting general interest aud enlisting
the attentioll Of the whole country, 1t has
grown SO large that its total for single year
amounts to nearly $l,200.000 600, and its
importance cannot be oyer-estimated> But,
compared with our domestic Commerce, it
is absolutely insignifcantin extent. The
traffic BY railroad alone in this country is
estimated to be 16 times as large as the
whole Of oui foreign commerce, and when
you add to that the commerce of lake and
river and canal, you, have an aggregate OF
domestic exchanges that amount to 25 times
as much IS the foreign commerce, including
the exports and imports. And thus il is,
Mr.. President, that the systems OF absolute
Tree trade among ourselves and OF protec
ton, with respect to- foreign nations have
created aud developed those great indus
tries, whose richest and ripest fruits we see
around US here to-day. Icongratulate sou
ON the auspicious results Of your energy and
your enterprise, and | predict with conf
dence that your iabors will be amply re-
pad by tile Increased trade Of your great
and growing and patriotic city, and repaid
again by the intelligent gratitude Of that
great mass Of American people who know
and who feel chat tie country is always
happiest and most prosperous when labor
is honorably employed ard amply COM
pensated at home ?