The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-12-12
FOREIGN TRADE.
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III Gu0 course OF CulB communication IeIeE.
ence has more than once been made to the
policy of this government as regards the ex-
tension of our foreign trade. It seems
proper to declare the general principles that
should in my opinion, undcrlie our national
efforts in this direction. The main conditions
Of the problem may he thus stated: We are
q people rich in mechanical pursuits and
fertile In invention; we cover d vastextent Of
territory, rich In agricultural products and in
nearly all the raw materials necessary foI
successful manufacture We have system
Of d! a. productive establishments more than @
wages OF labor are nowhere 30 great
artisan classes is such as tends to secure
their personal comfort and the development
Of those higher moral and intellectual quail.
tiles that go to the making Of good citizens
Yielding revenue which ia in excess of the
present needs of the government These
are clements from which 1t Is sought to de-
wise scheme by which, without unfavora-
bly, changing the condition Of w0rkingmen,
our merchant marine shall be raised from its
enfeeblcd condition and new markets pro.
vided for the sale. beyond our borders, of the
niahifOld fruits of our industrial enterprise
The problem is complex and can be solved
BY no single measure of innovation or re-
form The countries Of the American CONT.
nent and tho adjacent islands are for the
snd demand It is from them TINT we should
obtain what we do not produce, or do not
produce in sufiiciency, and it is to them that
surplus productions of our fields, our mills,
and our workshops should flow, under
conditions that will equalize or favor them
in comparison with foreign competition.
Tour paths of policy seem to point to this
end. First, o series Of reciprocal commercial
Ereatics with the countries of America which
shall foster between the United States and
them an unhampercd movement Of trade.
The conditions of these treaties should he
the free admission of such merchandise %
this country does not produce. in return fol
the admission free or under q favored scheme
Of duties of our own products, the benefits
VI such exchange to apply on those goods
carried under the flag Of tho parties to the
contract; the removal on both sides from
vessels so privileged of all tonnage dues
nav NV anhindeped Ietween a our SG norris and
those of the other contracting parties,
though without infringing on the reserved
home coasting trade. The removal OF
reduction of burdens on the exported
products of those countries coming with
In the benefits of the treaties, and the
md specialties by which our intercourse
with those countries is at present hampered
Secondly, the establishment of the consular
service of the United States on q salaried
footing, permitting the relinqushment Of
consular fees for not only a. respects vessels
vessels of the treaty nations carrying goods
entitled to tho benefits OF the treaties
Thirdly, the enactment Of measnres to favor
the reconstruction and maintenance of q steam
carrying marine under the flag of the United
states Fourthly. the establishment of ar
fE<Hww
America, 20 that the coined products Of our
mines may circulate on equal terms through
out the whole system of cOmmonwealths.
This would require monetary union of
Ainerica, whereby the output of the bullion
producing countries and the circulation Of
those which yield neither gold nor silver,
could be adjusted in conformity with the pop
ulation, wealth and commercial needs of each.
As many of the countries furnish no bullion
to the common stock, the surplus production
II our mines and mints might thus be utilized
and step taken toward the general remone-
ization OF silver. To the accomplishment Of
these ends, so far as they can be attained by
separate treaties, the negotiations already
concluded and now in progress have been
directed, and the favor with which this
enlarged policy has thus far been received
warrants the belief that its operations will,
ere long, embrace all or nearly all the coun-
tries Of this hemisphere. It is by no means
desirable. u ycver. that the policy under
should be applied to these
countries alone. The healthful enlargement
of our trade with Europe. Asia and Africs
should be sought by reducing tariff burdens
on such OF their wares as neither we nor the
other American states are fitted to produce,
and thus enabling ourselves to obtain in re-
turn better market for our supplies OF
food, OF raw material and OF the
manufactures in which We excel. It seems
to me that many of the embarrassing ele-
ments in the great national conflict between
protection and free trade may thus be turned
to good account; that the revenue may be
reduced SO aR no longer to overtax the peo-
without becoming burdensome; that our
shipping. interests may be judiciously en-
couraged, the currency liked on firm basis,
and above all such unity of interests estab-
lished among the states OF the American sys-
TEN as will be of great and ever increasing
advantage to them ALL All treaties in tho
line Of this policy which have been nego-
tiatcS or are in p, ocees Of being negotiated,
contdsa provision deemed to be requisite
under the clause Of the constitution limiting
to the house Of representatives the authority
to originate bills for raising revenue