The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-24

established and constantly expanded the home
market. They that even In the case of wheat,
which is chief cereal export they have sold, IN
the average of the years since the close OF the war;
three bushels at home to one they have sold abroad,
and that i'm the of corn, the only other cereal
which we export to extent 100 bushels have been
used al home TO three and half bushels exported.
In some years the disparity has been great that
for every peck Of corn exported 100 bushels have
been consumed in the home market The farmers
see that in the increasing competition from the
grain fields of Russia and from the distant plains OF
India, the growth of the home market becomes
daily of greater concern to them, and that its i'm
pairment would deprecate the value of every acre
of tillablc land in the Union.
Such facts rs these touching the growth and con-
sumption of cereals at home give some slight
conception of the vastness of the internal commerce
of the United States. They suggest also that, in
addition TO the advantages which the American
people enjoy from protection against foreign COM
petition, they enjoy the advantages OF absolute iree
trade over larger and with greater popula-
ton than any other Nation The internal COM
of 81 States and nine Territories isearried
without let hindrance, without tax, de-
tention, OF Governmental interference of any
kind whatever Ii spreads freely over an area
of three and half million square miles
almost equal in extent To the whole continent OF
Europe. Its profits enjoyed to-day by 56,0V,-
0o0 of American freemen, and from this enjoy
Inent no monopoly rs created. According to Alex
ander Hamilton. when he discussed the same SUBJ
ject in 1850 1.-The internal composition which takes
place does away with everything like monopoly,
and by degrees reduces the prices OF articles 10 the
minimum of a reasonable profit on the capital en-
poyed.'' 1t is impossible TO point to a single mo-
i
or fostered by the industrial system which is up
held by the Republican party.
OUR HOME MARKET
Compared with foreign commerce these do
mestic exchanges are inconceivahly great IN
Misunderstanding merely instrumentality
as large mileage of railway exists to-day in all
4 the ether nations of the world combined. These
internal exchanges are estimated by the Statistical
Bureau of the Treasury Department to be annually
4 20 times great in amount as our foreign COM
meroe 1t is into this vast field of home trade-at
the creation and the heritage of the American
people-that foreign nations are striving by every
device TO enter il Is into this field that the oppo-
nents Of our present revenue system would freely
admit the countries of Europe countries into
whose internal trade we could not reel erocally
enter; countries TO which should be surrender
ing every advantage Of trade; from which we
should be gaining nothing in return.
A policy of this kind would be disastrous to the
mechanics and workingmen of the United States.
Wages unjustiy reduced when industrious
is not able by his earnings 10 live in comfort,
educate his children and lay by sufficient amount
for the necessities OF age. The reduction OF wages
inevitably consequent upon throwing our home
market open TO The world, would deprive them of
/ the power 10 do this. 1t would prove great ca
! lanty to our country. II would produce conflict
between the poor and the rich, and in the sorrow
fui degradation of labor would plant the seeds OF
public danger.
The Republican party has steadily ainedto main
4 tain just relations between labor and capital
guarding with care the rights of each. conflict
between the two has always led in the past and
Will always lead in the future to the injury of both.
Labor is indispensable TO the creation and profita-
BILE OF capital and capital increases the effici
ency and value of labor. Whoever arrays the one
against the other is enemy of both That policy
4 Is wisest and best which harInonizes the two on
the basis Of absolute Justice. The Republican party
has protected the free labor of America so that lis
compensation IL larger than Is realized IN any other
country Ii has guarded our country against the
unfair competition of contract labor from China,
and may he called upon to prohibit the growth OF
similar evil from Europe.
CONTRACT LABOR.
IL obviously unfair to permit capitalists TO make
contracts for cheap labor foreign countries TO the
hurt and disparagement Of the labor Of American
citizens. Such policy like that which would
leave the time and other conditions of home labor
exclusively in the control of the employerl is inju
Tious to ali parfies-ot the least 10 the unhappy
persons who made the objects of the contract
The institutions of the United States rest upon the
intelligence and virtue of ali the people. Suffrage
4 j. made universal as just weapon of selfprotec-
tion every citizen. 1t is the interest Of the
Republic that any economic system should be
adopted which involves the reduction of wages to
! the hard standard prevailing elsewhere The Re-
publican party aims to elevate and dignity labor
not to degrade ii.
AS a substitute for the industrial system which
under Republican administration has developed
1 such extraordinary prosperity. opponents offer
I policy which is but series Of experiments upon
/ our system Of reyenue-a policy whose end must
4 be harm 10 our manufacturers and greater harm to
our labor Experiments IN the industrial and fnan-
cal system is the countFy's greatest dread, sta
bllity is the greatest boon. Even the uncertainty
/ resulting from the recent tariff agitation in Con-
ress has hurtnily affected the business of the
tire country. Who can measure the harm TO our
shops and our bones 20 our farms and
merce ii the uncertainty Of perpetual tariff agit-
ton j. 60 be inflicted upon the country We in
4 the midst OF an abundant harvest: we are on the
eve of q revival of general prosperity. Nothing
stands IN way but the dread Of "A change In the
( industrial system which has wrought such wonders
"a the last 20 years. and which with the power of
increased capital viii work still greater marvels OF
I prosperity in the 20 years 10 come.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our foreign relations favor our domestic develop
| rnent. We are at peace with the world-at peace
1 upon q sound basis with unsettled questions of
sufficient magnitude TO enlbarrass distract us.
| Happily removed by geographical position
from participation interest in those questions of
1 dynasty boundary which so frequently disturb
the peace of Europe left to cultivate friendly
relations with all and are free from possible en-
Engagements ia the quaIrels Of any. The United
States has no cause and no desire 10 engage In con-
flict with any power earth, and may rest in
assured confidence that no power desires to attack
the United States.
With the Nations of the Western Hemisphere we
should cultivate closer relations aud for COM
mon prosperity and advancement we should invite
them all to JOIN with ia agreement that, for
the future al international troubles in North Oh
South America shall be adjusted by impartial arbi-
traiion ana pot by arms This project was part Of
the fixed policy OF President Garfeds adninstra-
ton and il should, IN NY judgment be renewed. Its
accomplishment this continent would Gyoraby
affect the nations beyond the sea- and thus power
fully contribute al distant day to the universal
acceptance Of the pillantbropc and Christian prn
cpe Of arbitration. The effect Of even suggesting
happy and has increased the confidence of those
people IL our friendly disposition.
1t fell TO lot as Secretary OF State In June, 1881
TO quiet apprehension in the Republic Of Mexico by
/ giving the assurance in official dispatch tina
there i net faintest desire n the United States
for territorial extension south of the Rio GTande
; The boundaries of the two Republics have beer
established in conformity with the best jurisdie
tioHal interests Of both. The line Of deDarcation il
not merely conventional. 1t is more Ii separates
q Spanish american people from Saxon Ameri
can people Itcivideso one great nation from another
with distinct and natural Gnality."
We seek the conquests Of peace. We desire Il
extend our commerce, aud in especial degre,
. with friends and neighbors this continent
We have not improved our relations with Spanish
America wisely and as peTsistently we nigh
have done. For more than a generation the sym
pathy Of those countries has been allowed to drif
) away frorn us. Ne should now make every effoT
to gain their friendship. Our trade with them
8 already large. During the last year exchange
in tie Western Hemisphere amounted to $3.50 600,
0O0-uearly one-fourth of our entire foreign com
nlerce-
SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE.
To those who may be disposed to underrate th
value Of our trade with the countries OF North ant
South America, ii may be well 20 state that tbei
I population is nearly quite 50,U00,0DO-and that
4 sn proportion 10 their aggregate numbers, we i'm
! port nearly double much from them d.
a from Europe. But the result Of the whole Ameri
! can trade is IN high degree unsatisfactory. TIL
imports during the past year exceeded SZ25 coo 00
while the exports were less than Si25 600 000show
4 ing balance against OF than 100000 00(
4 ! But the money does not go 10 Spanish Americs
We send large sums TO Europe in coin, or its equiv
q alent 10 pay European manufacturers for the good
7 which they send TO Spanish America. We are bu
payGnasters for this enormous amount annually {
. / European factors-an amount which Is a seriou
a