Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-10-30
HORATIO SEYMOUR.
Voice of New York's Great Ex.
Governor.


mour to S. M. Shaw, editor Of
the Freenaa1s's journal, Cooperstown,
N. Y:
DEAR STR:- l regret 1 cannot take ar
active part in the pending political con
test. am unable to do so on account
of my health | feel deep interest il
the result. The present time is favor.
able to the discussion of questions
which concern the welfare Of our coun-
try. The passions excited by the events
OF the past twenty years have in good
degree subslded. The great interests of
our country should now be considered
in way which will promote its welfare.
Its progress has been rapid beyond pre-
cedent. From feeble nationality it has
grown within the lifetime of many OF
our citizens to great power. Even il
the rate of our increase shall be less than
heretofore, in about twenty years it
will have population OF one hundred
millions. Many who are now living
will be active citizens when it has
gained this position among the nations
OF the earth We are now onthe eve of
great events, upon which the results of
the present political canvass will have a
bearing. We can form no idea of the
changes which few years will make in the
population Of our cities and States and in
the social aspect of our country. Political
power has passed over the Alleghanies
and is held in the regions watered by the
Mississippi and its continents. The
States which formed our union are now
on the margin Of our country, and they
are now controlled by those in the inte-
rior, which owe their existence to the
policy and legislation Of the original
States. We cannot forecast the future.
but it is our duty to so conduct public
affairs that those who will conduct them
In coming years shall receive them from
our hands in the best condition.
While there is much to animate us
with regard to its future, we must bear
in mind that its growth and prosperity
will also cause many difficulties and dan
gers. They will involve us in new rela-
tionships with the nations of the world.
They will attract attention to our affairs
and may excite unfriendly feelings The
increaGe of population and its diffusion
over new and distant territories add to
the danger of sectional prejudices. We
must not fall into the error of supposing
the results of the late civil war have put
an end to sectional passions. The past
teaches us that we cannot foresee when
and where these may be excited. Many
instances of changes Of opinion and feel
ing could be given, and they warn US
that there is always danger that they
may be excited in unlocked for quarters,
and that the future will demand thought
full conduct of public affairs to prevent
sectional passions, for with the increase
of population and ofvaried interests they
will be more dangerous and more easily
excited.
UNFORTUNATE PERSONALITIES.
UnfortunatelE the canvass has been
marked by personalities, which have
turned away attention from more impor-
tant subjects. 1t is our duty TO learn
how we can promote the interests of all
pursuits, and not to devote our attention
to one, at the expense of others. AT
this time our laws and the declarations
of the parties in our country attract the
attention of the world, for they relate to
subjects which affect their interests.
The speakers and the press of the Re
publican party are causing great injury
and danger to our agricultural and other
interests, by declaring that it is the duty
Of every good government to impose such
taxes on imports as will exclude the pro-
ducts of other lands. Now there is but
one Of our pursuits that needs such pro
lection. Our farmers, our mechanics.
with few exceptions), our commerce,
our carrying interests ask for no taxes to
help them. Our manufacturers do not
need aid from the government. All par
ties have agreed that large share Of
our revenue should be raised by taxes
upon imports.
The late National Republican conven-
tion artfully put forth the same doctrine;
but their press and speakers claim that
the term e Protection 2 means that taxes
may be imposed for the sole purpose Of
aiding certain pursuits, and they do this
in terms which practically make war
upon our agricultural and other interests.
They say it is a duty of our government
to fence out the importation Of foreign
products which conflict with our own.
If this broad proposition is true, then the
governments Of Europe are APP
because they do not i'm
pose duties upon our agricultural
products which are sent to their
shores in such great quantities A light
duty upon our grain, provisions and
dairy products would be destructive to
the prosperity Of all parts of our Union
and all industrial pursuits. The i'm
mense sums of money we get for our farm
products are diffused over our whole
land and make general prosperity. In
every season we know how anxiously
business men ask about our farm pro-
ducts, and they base the plans for their
pursuits upon the answers they get.
None are more benefited by favorable
than our manufacturers, and
none are more liable to be injured by the
speeches and articles put forth by the
press and speakers; for if
duties are put upon our products in Eu-
ropean markets, the disasters to all our
industries will be charged upon those
who claim to be the peculiar friends Of
the manufacturers, and who are supposed
TO speak for them and to express theii
wishes. 1t would be an easy thing for the
Of Europe to retaliate upon
US. 1t would need but light duties to
shut our products from their ports.
THE FREE CANALS.
We have striking proof Of this in the
effect Of our own taxes upon the carrying
trade. In 1868, the tolls as taxes upon
100 pounds of wheat carried from Buf
falo to New York on our canals were ten
cents. In 1870, efforts were made by
men of all parties to reduce them; these
did not show their influence
until 1876. In the ten years priorto that
time the balance of trade against oui
country was $sl7, 420, 674. This State
continued its policy Of reducing canal
taxes, and at length abolished all tolls
upon commerce on its canals by ronsti-
tntional amendment passed by great
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