Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-12-06

his fret communication to the forty
seventh congress. The secretary urges
a new ra-enactment of a statute for the
punishment of crimes committed on
the Indian reservations, and recon-
mends the passage OF a bill now pend
ing in the house of representatives Tor
the purchase of a tract OF 10000 square
miles from the Sioux reservation. Both
of these are worthy OF approval. l
concur with him also in advising the
repeal of the presumption laws, the en-
actment of the statutes resolving the
present legal complications touching
lapsed grants to railroad companies
and the funding of the debt of the sew
eraI Pacific railroads under such
guaranty as shall etfectually ensure its
ultimate payment.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
. The report of the Utah commission
will be read with interest. 1t discloses
the result OF the recent legislation look
ing to the prevention and punlshment
of polygamy in that territory: still
believe thu: if that abominable prac-
tice can be suppressed by law 1t only
can be by the most radical legislation
consistent with the restraints OF the
constitution. 1 car again recommend,
therefore, that congress assume a6so-
lutte political control OF the territory OF
Utah and provide for the appointment
of a commission with such govermen-
tai powers as in its Judgment may
Justly and wisely be put ito their
hands.
FOREIGN TRADE.
In the course of this communication
reference has more than once been
made to the policy of this government
as regards the extension 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 a people rich in mechanical pnr-
suits and fertile in invention. We
! cover q vast extent of territory rich IN
agricultural products and in nearly all
the raw materials necessary for success
full manufacture. We have a system
of productive establishments more than
sufficient to supply even u demands.
The wages of labor are nowhere else so
great. The cost of living ofour artisan
classes is such as tends to secur their
personal comforts and the develop
ment of those high moral and intel
lectual qualities that go to the making
of good citizens. Our system of tax
and tariff legislation is yielding a reve-
nue. which is in excess of the present
needs of the government. Those are
the elements from which it is sought to
devise a scheme by which, without un.
favorably changing the condition OF the
%wofkingmen, our merchant marine
shall be raised from its enteebled con
ditlon, and new markets provided fol
the sale, beyond borders, of the
manifold fruits of our industrial enter.
prises. The problem is complex, and
can be solved by no single measure Of
renovation or reform. The countries
of the western continent, and the
adjacent islands, are tor 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 sufficiency, and
it is to them that the surplus products
of our fields, our mills and our work
shops should flow, under conditions
that will equalize or favor them III
| COulDdCdSOI Wllu IC1Su SOhhpStkSoAS
Four paths of policy seem to point tc
this end: First, a series of reciprocal
commercial treaties with the countries
of America which shall foster between
us and them all unhampered inter
change of trade. The condition O.
these treaties should be the free al
mission of such merchandise as this
country does not produce, in return
for admission free, or under a favora
BILE scheme of duties, OF W pro
ddyystss. JJhhe Renetits Of such exchange t.
flag of the parties to the contract f f FL;
removal on both sides from vessels, 81
privileged, of all tonnage OF
national imports so that theil
vessels may ply unhindered between
our ports and those of other cont act
ing parties, though without infringing
on the reserved home coasting trade
the removal or reduction of burdens OF
the exported products of those coun
tries coming within the benefits of thu
treaties (and the avoidance of thu
techanical restrictions and penalties by
Which our intercourse with those coun
tries is at present hampered.)
Secondly, The establishment of the
consular service of the United State.
on a salaried footing, permitting tn.
REIMBURSEMENT of consular fees, no
only as respects vessels under the ma
tional flag, but also as respects vessels
of the treaty nation CARRYING goods ell
titled to the benefits of treaties.
Thirdly, The enactment of measure!
to favor the construction and main
tenance of a steam quarrying macine
under the flag Of the United States.
Fourthly, The establishment of
uniform commercial treaty for tn
countries of America, so that coinet
products OF our minis may circulate OF
equal terms throughout the whole sys
TEN of commonwealths. This would
require a monetary union of America
whereby the output of the bullion pro
duciDg countries and the circulation @
those which yield neither gold or sill
yer, could he adjusted in conformit,
with the population, wealth and com
mercial needs of each, as many coun
tries furnish no bullion to the common
stock of the surplus production.
; Ii u mines and minis might thu
be utilized, and a step taken toward
the general reconciliation of silve
) to the accomplishment of their ends, S,
} far rs they can be attained by separate
treaties, the negotiations already con
cluded and now i'll progress, have beel
directed and the favor with which thi
enlarged policy has Tins far been re
; celved, warrants the belief that its op
erations will ere long embrace all o
) nearly all.the countries of this hemis
phere. l, is by no meai,s desirable
however, that the policy under consid
GRAFTON should be applied by thes
countries at once.
TIE TARIFF PROBLEM.
i. The healthfnl enlargement of on
trade with Europe, Asia and Africa
} should be sought by reducing the tarii
burdens on such OF their wares a
neither we nor the other American
states are fitted to produce, and thu
I enabling ourselves to obtain in returl
: a better market for our supplies of food
2 of raw materials, and of the manufac,
7 lures in which we excel. 1t seems t
! me that many OF the embarrassing ele
| ments i'll the great national conflict be
: tween protection and free trade ma
thus be turned to good account, that tn
revenue may be reduced so as 10 long
er TO overtaX the people; that pro'ec
tive duties may he retained withou
= becoming ~burdensOme; that our ship
= ping interests may be jadicions'v Ell
, c~ouragcd, the currency fixed on
:, firm basis, and above all such an unit,
Y e