The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-12-06
THE INDIANS AGAIN.

AlluSiOn has been made already to
the circumstances that, both Us between
the different Indian tribes and as be-
tween Indians and the whites, the past
year has been one with unbroken peace.
In this circumstances the President is
glad to find justification for the policy
of the Government in dealing with the
Indian question, and confirmation OF
their views which were fully expressed
in his first communication to the Forty
seventh Congress. The Secretary urg-
es the enactment of statute for the
punishment of crime committed on In
dian reservations, and recommends the
passage of the bill, now pending in the
House of Representatives for the pur-
chase of tract of $1,000 square miles
IN the Sioux reservation. Both of
these measN.' re wo!.hyot approval.
conc"r Wan him also in advising
the repeal of the Presumption law; the
enactment of statutes resolving the
present legal complications, touching
and the funding of the debt of the sew
anty rs shall etfectually insure its Ill
innate payment.
MORMONISM AND PoLYGAMY.
The report of the Utah Commission
will be read with interest. 1t discloses
the results of recent legislation looking
to the prevention and punishment Of
pOlygamy in that Territory. | still be-
iieve that if that abominable practice
can be suppressed by law, it can only
be by the most radical legislation con-
siStent with the restraints Of the Con-
stitutlon. again recommend, there
fore, that Congress assume absolute
political control of the Territory of
Utah, and provide for the appointment
of commission with such govern
mental powers as in its Judgment may
justly and wisely be put into their
hands.
MORE ABOUT FOREIGN TRADE.
In the course of this communication
reference has more than once been
made as to the, policy of this Govern
ment as regards the extension of our
foreign trade. 1t seems proper to de-
clare the general principles that should,
in my opinion, underlie our national
efforts in this direction. The main
conditions of the problem may be thus
stated: We are people engaged in
mechanical pursuits, and fertile in in
ventiOn. We cover vast extent of
territory itch in agricultural products
and in nearly all the raw materials
necessary for successful manufacture.
We have u system of productive es-
adjustments more than sufficient to
supply our own demands; the wages
of labor are nowhere else SO great; the
scale OF living of our artisans classes
is such as tends to secure their person.
al comfort and the development OF
those higher morals and the intellect
ual qualities that go to the making of
good citizen; our system OF tax and
tariff legislation is Welding revenue
which is in excess of the present needs
of the Government.
These are elements from which it is
sought to devise Il scheme by which,
without unfavorably changing The con-
dition of the worSingman, our mer-
chant marine shall be raised from its
enfeebled condition and new markets
provided for the sale beyond our Dor
derS of the manifold fruits of our in
duStrial enterprises. The problem is
complex and can be solved 10y no sin
gle measure of innovation or reform.
The countries of the American CONT
nent and the adjacent islands are for
the United States the natural market
of supply and demand. 1t is from that
We should obtain what we do not pro-
duce, or do not produce in sutficiency,
and it is to them that the surplus pro-
auctions of our fields. our mills and
our workshops should flow, under con-
ditions that will equali2e or favor them
in comparison with foreign competi-
ton.
RECIPROCITY TREATIES.
Four paths of policy seem to point to
this end: First, a series OF reciprocal
commercial treaties with the countries
Of Anne rica which shall foster between
Us and them an unhamperrd move
ment of trade. The conditions of these
treaties should be the free admission
of such merchandise as this country
does not produce in return for admiS-
sion free or under favored scheme OF
duties of our produc IS, the benefits of
such exchange 10 apply on these goods |
carried under the tlags OF the parties
to the contract; the removal on both |
sides from vessels 80 privileged OF all |
tonnage dues and national lmpoSts, SO
that their vessels may ply unhndered |
between our ports, and those of other |
contracting parties, though without in /
fringing on the reserved home cOaStng /.
trade; the removal or reduction of bur /
dens on the exported products of those /
countries coming within the-aeue+1t.--
OF the treaties and the avoidance OF |
the technical restrictions and penalties |
by which our intercourse with those .
countries is at present hampered.
secondly, the establishment of the |
consular service Of the United States |
on salaried footing permitting the |
REIMBURSEMENT of consular fees not |
only az respects vessels under the ma
tional dag, but also as respects We Se s ,
OF the treaty nations carrying goods /
entitled to the benefits of the treaties.
Thirdly, the enactment 0. measures |
to favA the construction and malnte-
nance Of a steam-carrying marine I'M
der the dag Of the United States.
FOurthly, the establishment of a |
uniform currency basis for the cOun-
tries of America, SO that the coined |
products of our mines may circulate !
on equal terms throughout the whole !
system Of commonwealth. This would |
revive monetary union OF America |
whereby the OUTPUT OF the bulllOn-pro- !
ducng countries and the circulation OF |
those which yield neither gold nor sill
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