Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-12-08

forts in this direction. The main condi-
tions of the problem may be thus stated:
We are a people active in mechanical pur-
suits and fertile in invention. We cover
vast extent of territory, rich in agricul-
tural products and in nearly all the raw
materials necessary for successful manu-
facture. We have system of productive
establishment more than sufficient to sup
ply our own demands. The wages of
labor are no where else so great. The
scale of living of our artisan classes is
such rs tends to secure their personal
comfort and the development of those
higher moral and intellectual qualities
that go to the making up of good citizens.
Orr system Of tax and tariff legislation is
yielding revenue which is in excess of
the present needs of the government.
These are elements from which it is
sought to devise scheme by which,
without unfavorably changing the condi-
ton of our workingman, our merchant
marine shall be raised from it's enfeebled
condition and new markets provided for
the sale beyond our borders of the mani
fold fruits of our industrial enterprises.
The problem is complex, and can be
solved by no single measure Of innova-
ton or reform. The countries of the
American continent and the adjacent is
lands are for the United States the natr-
raj marts of supply AMI demand. 1t is
from them we should obtain what we do
not produce, or do not produce
in sufficiency, 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 favor them in comparison with for
eign competition.
Four paths of policy seem to point to
this end:
First, series of reciprocal commercial
treaties with the countries of America
which shall foster between us 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 produce in return
| for the admission free or under favored
| scheme of duties Of our own products,
| the benefits of such exchange to apply
only to goods carried under the flag of
the parties to the contract, the removal
| on both sides from the vessels so privi-
! legged of all tonnage dues and national
imports so that their vessels may ply I'M
| hot -
the other contracting parties, though
without infringing on the reserved home
| coasting trade; the removal or the re-
duction of burdens on the exported prod
ucts of those countries coming within the
benefits of the treaties, and the avoid
| ance OF the technical restrictions and
penalties by which our intercourse with
those countries is at present hampered.
Secondly, The establishment of the
consular service of the United States on
a salaried footing, thus permitting the
relinquishment of consular fees, not only
as respects vessels under the national
nations, carrying goods entitled to the
benefit of the treaties.
Thirdly, The enactment of measures to
favor the construction and maintenance
of steam-carrying marine under the flag
of the United States.
Fourthly, The establishment of an uni
form currency basis for the countries OF
America, so that the coined products OF
our mines may circulate ON equal terms
throughout the whole system of common
wealths. This would require monetary
union of America whereby the outputs OF
the bullion-producing countries and the
circulation of those which yield neither
gold nor silver could be adjusted in con-
formity with the population, wealth and
commercial needs of each. AS many oil
the countries furnish no bullion to the
; common stock the surplus production OF
our mines and minis might thus be util.
lied and a step taken toward the general
reconciliation of silver. To the accom-
plishment 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 be
lief that it's operations will ere long en-
brace all, or nearly all, the countries o.
this hemisphere. 1t is by no means desir
able, however, that the policy under con
sideration should be applied to these
countries alone Tho haaIthf,l aDIaru
; ment of our trade with Europe, Asia anC
, Africa should be sought by reducing
tariff burdens on such OF their wares a:
we nor other American states are fittet
to produce, and thus enabling ourselve.
; to obtain in return n better market TO
r. supplies of food of raw materials and o
the manufactures in which we excel.
, seems to me that many of the embar
I RAISING elements in the great nationa
! conflict between protection and free trad
may thus be turned to good account
That the revenue may be reduced, so a
no longer to overtaX the people, that pro
q | tective duties may be retained withou
. becoming burdensome, that the shippin:
, interests may be judiciously encouraged
, the currency fixed on u firm basis an,
f above all such unity of interest estab
lished among the states of the American
p system as will be of great and increasin.
: advantage to them all. All treaties il
n the line of this policy which have bee
= negotiated or are in process of negotia
ton contain Il provision, deemed to b
i requisite under the clause Of the consti
n tuition, limiting to the house of represent
y atives the authority to originate bills 70
: raising revenue.
:. On the Goth of February last | trans
mtted to the congress the first aunua
report of the civil service commission
together with communications from til
n heads of the several executive depart
y ments of the government. Respectin
the practical workings of the law unde
= which the commission had been acting
:, the good results therein foreShadowe
:, have been more than realized. The SyS
= TEN has answered the expectations of it
friends in securing competent and faitI
; iul public servants and in protecting til
- appointed officers of the government froI
the pressure OF personal Importantly, an
from the labor of examining the claim