Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-12-09

the enactment of statutes resolving
the present legal complications touch
ing lapsed grants 10 railroad compan-
les and the funding of the debt of the
several Pacific railroads under such
guaranty as shall effectually insure
its ultimate payment.
UTAH COMMISSION.
The reports of the Utah Commits
sion will be read with much in
terest. 1t discloses the results of the
recent Legislature looking to the pre-
vention and punishment of polygamy
in that Territory. l still believe that
if that abomnable practice can be
suppressed by law it can only be by
the most radical legislation consistent
with the restraints of the Constitu-
ton. Iagain recommend, therefore,
that Congress assume absolute politi
cal control of the Territory of Utah
and provide for the appointment of Il
commission with such government
powers as in its judgment may just
ly and wisely be put into their hands.
Our Foreign Trade.
THE PROBLEM FULLY con sIDERED,
AND SUGGESTIONS OFFERED.
In the course of this communica-
ton reference has more than once
been made to the policy of this Gov
ernment as regards the eXtention 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
engaged in mechanical u;suits and
fertile invention. We cover vast
extent of territory rich in agri, ul-
tural products and in nearly all the
raw materials necessary for success
ful manufacture. We have a system
of productive establishment more
than sufficient to supply our own de-
mands. .eThe wages of labor are no.
where so great. The scale ofliving
of our artisan classes is such as tends
to secure their personal comfort and
the development of those higher NOR
ais and intellectual qualities that so
to the making of good citizens. Our
system of tax and tariff legislation is
yielding a revenue which is in excess
OF the present needs of the Govern.
ment. These are the elements from
which it is sought to devise scheme
by which, without unfavorably
changing the condition of the work
ingmen, our merchant marine shall
be raised from its enfeebled cOndi-
Ton, and new markets provided for
the sale beyond our borders of the
manifold fruits of our industrial ELI
terpriSes. The problem is complex,
and can not be solved by single
measure of reform. The countries
of the American continent and the
adjacent islands are for the United
StaIes, the natural market of supply
and demand-it is from them that
we should obtain what we do not pro-
duce in efficiency, and it is to them
that the surplus productions Of our
fields, our mills and our workshops
should flow-under conditions that
will equalize or cover them in CON-
parson with foreign competition.
Four paths of policy seem TO point TO
this end.
, First-A series of reciprocal com
| mercial treaties with the countries of
[ America which shall foster between
us and them an unhampered move
= ment of trade. The conditions OF
these treaties should be free. admis-
: sion of such merchandise as this
country does not produce in return
: for the admission free, or under {
V favored scheme of duties, of our owl
Il products, the benefits of such ex
IS change to apply on these goods car
It ried under the flag of the parties Il
II the contract; the removal on boil
# sides from vessels to be so privileged
t of all tonnage dues and natural i'm
Il ports, so that their vessels may pl!
l. unhimdered between our ports, ant
those of other contracting parties
If though without infringing on tn
it reserved home coasting trade; the re
IS moval or reduction of burdens ol
d the exported products of those coun
II tries coming within the benefits q
le the treaties, and the avertance O
d technical restrictions and penaltie
in by which our intercourse with thos
ID countries, is at present hampered
he Second-The establishment of til
re Consular service OF the United State
p on a salaried footing, permitting til
n REIMBURSEMENT of consular fees, ne
in only as respects vessels under Il
v National flag, but also as respec
It's vessels of the treaty Nations carryir
is goods entitled to the benefits of Il
he treaties.
al Third-The enactment of measur
IL TO favor the construction and mai
he tenance of steam carrying mari
fly under the flag Of the United States,
lat Fourth-The establishment of
de uniform. currency basis of the cou
ch tries of America so that the coin
w. products of our mines may circula
~ on equal terms througho
his the whole sytem ofcommonwealtl
by This would require monetary uni
up, of America, whereby the output
lte the bullion producing countries al
ce. the circulation of those which vie
ate neither gold nor silver could be a
en justed in conformity with the pop
ar lalion, wealth and commercial nee
lpt of each. AS many of the countri
ILL furnish no bullion 10 the collm
he stock, the surplus of our mines a
las minis might thus be utilized and
rn- step taken toward the general rel
,es, onetization of silver.
icy To the accomplishment Of the en-
the so far as they can be attained by Sc
lail arate treaties, the negotiations alrea
its concluded and now in progress Ina
led been directed, and the favor W
Or which this enlarged policy has I'll
da- far been received warrants the bel
last that its operations will ere long c
ises brace all, or nearly all, the countr
cal of this hemisphere-it is by no mes
ion desirable, however, that the pol
md under consideration should be apl
uld ed TO these countries alone. I
les, healLhful enlargement of our trs
ent with Europe, Asia and Africa shol
emf be sought by reducing the tariff b,
va den on such of their wares as neitl
in we or the other American States
fitted to produce, and thus enabli
ent ourselves to obtain in return bet