Daily Los Angeles herald., 1880-07-13

obligations to the soldiers Of the
Union and 10 the widows and or
phans of those who fell in its de-
fence. The resumption Of specie
payment, which the Republican
party 90 courageously and success.
fnlly accomplished, has removed
from the field of controversy many
questions that long and seriously
disturbed the credit of the govern.
ment and the business of
the country. Our paper cur
rency Is now as national
as the flag ana resumption has not
only made it everywhere equal to
coin, but has brought into use our
store of gold and silver. The clrcu-
lsting medium is more abundant
than ever before and we need only
to maintain the equality of our
dollars to insure labor and capital a
measure Of value from the use Of
which no one can suffer loss. The
great prosperity which the country
Is now enjoying should not be en-.
dangered by any violent changes
or doubtful financial experiments.
In reference to our custom laws,
policy should be pursued which
will bring revenue to the treasury,
will enable the labor and capital
employed IN our great Industries
to compete fairly In our own mar
kets with the labor and capital of
foreign produce. We legislate for
the people of the United States,
not for the whole world, and 1t is
our glory that the American labor
or Is more intelligent and better
paid than his foreign competitor.
Our country cannot be independent
unless its people, with their abun-
dant natural resources, possess the
requisite status to, at any time,
clothe, arm and equip themselves
for war, and In time of peace to
produce all the necessary nipple.
ments of labor. 1t was the inten-
ton under the government to pro.
vide for the common defence, not
by standing armies alone, but by
raising among the people greater
army of artisans, whose intelli-
gence and skill should powerfully
contribute to the safety and glory
of the Nation. Fortunately for the
interests of commerce there is no
longer any formidable opposition
to appropriations for the improve.
ment of our harbors and great nav.
igable rivers, provided that the ex-
penditures for that purpose are
strictly limited to works of nation.
al Importance. The Mississippi
river, with its great tributaries. is
Of such vital Importance to many
millions of people that the safety
Of Its navigation requires excep.
tional consideration. In order to
secure to the Nation the control of
all its waters, President Jefferson
negotiated the purchase of a
vast territory, extending from
the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific
Ocean. The wisdom of Congress
should be directed to devise some
plan by which that great river
shall cease to be terror to those
who dwell upon its banks and by
which its shipping may safely car.
ry the industrial product of TWEEN.
ty-five millions of people. The in
terests of agriculture, which is the
basis of our material prosperity,
and In which seven-twelfths of our
population are engaged, as we'll as
the interests of manufactures and
commerce, demand that the facili-
ties for cheap transportation shall
be increased by the use of all our
great water courses.
The material interests of this
country, the traditions of its settle.
ment and the sentiments of our
people have led the government to
offer the widest hospitality to i'm
migrants who seek our shores for
new and happier homes. willing to
share the extending burdens as
we'll as the benefits Of our society
and intending that their posterity
shall become au undistinguishable
part of our populace. The recent
movement of the Chinese to. our
Pacific Coast psrtakes but little of
the qualities of such immigration,
either in Its purpose or in Its re-
suit. 1t is too much like importa-
ton to be welcomed without re-
striction, too much like an inva-
sion to be looked upon without
solicitude. We cannot consent to
allow any form of servile labor to
be introduced among us under the
guise of immigration. Recognize.
ing the gravity of this subject the
present administration, supported
by Congress-, has sent to China a
Commission of distinguished citi-
zsns for the purpose of securing
such modification of the existing
treaty as will prevent the evils
likely to arise from the present sit
uation. 1t is confidently believed
that these diplomatic negotiations