The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-12-04
F8RtsiGN TKiADE.

INV ~ EAAcNOiAI' nl
In the coilSse Of this communication refer
ence has more than once been made to the
policy of this government as regards the ex-
tension Of our foreign trade. }. 1t seems
proper to declare 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 rich in mechanical Pursuits and
fertile in invention; we cover vastextent of
territory, rich in agricultural products and in
nearly all the raw materials necessary for
successful manufacturing, We have SYSTEM
Of .produetive establishments more than
SUFFICIENT t.. SUPPLY: orr. ;dendahaa 81 Che
W2ges o. Ell; labor = nS%here Sd great
artisan classes is such, as tends to secure
their personal comfort and the development
of those higher moral and intellectual quail
tiles that so to The making of good citizens.
Our system Of tax and tariff legislation is
yielding reyenue which is in excess q 2f, the
are elements from which it is sought to de-
wise scheme by which, without unfavora-
bly, changing the condition Of workingmen,
our merchant marine shall be raised from its
enfeebled condition and new markets pro-
vided for the sale, beyond Our borders, Of the
manifold fruits Of our industrial enterprise.
The problem 10 complex and can be solved
by 10 singla, ttiensure of inhokati6n,, or re-
form. ,,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 them that we should
OBTAIN what we do. not produce, or do not
produce in sutficiency, 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
four paths Of policy seem to point to this
end First, a series of reciprocal commercial
treaties with the countries of America which
shall foster between the United States and
them an unhampered movement OF trade.
The conditions of these treaties should be
the free admission Of such merchandise as
this country does not pfodttce, il RETURN for
tile admission free or under favored scheme
of duties of our own products, the benefits
OF. such exchange to apply on those goods
carried under the flag Of the parties to. the
contract; the removal on both sides from
and national imports so that their vessels
MAY plY unhindered between our ports and
those of the other contracting parties,
though without infringing on the reserved
home coasting, trade. The removal or
reduction OF burdens on the exported
products of those countries coming with
III the benefits of the treaties, and the
avoidance Of the technicalities, restrictions,
and specialties by which our intercourse
with those countries is at present hampered
v.
service of the United States on a salaried
footing, permitting the REIMBURSEMENT OF
consular fees for not only as respects vessels
under the national flag, but also as respects
vessels of the treaty nations carrying goods
entitled to the benefits, OF the treaties.
Thirdly the enactment of measures to favor
the construction and maintenance of q steam
carrying marine under the flag of the United
States Fourthly, the establishment of an
uniform currency basis for the countries of
America, so that the coined products of our
mines may circulate on equal terms through
out the Whole system Of commonwealth.
This would require monetary union OF
America, whereby the output of the bullion
producing countries and the circulation OF
those which yield neither gold nor silver,
ulation, wealth and commercial needs of each.
AS many of the countries furnish no bullion
to the common stock, the surplus production
if our mines and minis might thus be utilized
and a step taken toward the general remone-
tization 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 1t is by no means
desirable. however, that the policy under
consideration should be applied to these
countries alone. The healthful enlargement
of our trade with Europe. Asia and Africa
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 he
reduced SO as no longer to overtax the peo,;
pie; the protective duties may be retained
without becoming burdensome; that our
shipping interests may be judiciously en-
couraged, the currency fixed on a firm basis,
and above all such a unity of interests estab-
lished among the states Of the American sys-
tenn as will be of great and ever increasing
advantage to them all. All treaties in the
line of Ibis policy which have been nego-
tiated, IKE in process Of being negotiated,
conta epvision deemed to be requisite
UNI = II ne of the constitution limiting
a representatives the authority
~ Tor raising revenue