Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-12-05
FOREIGN TRADE.
HOW TO EXTEND

In the course of this communication refer
ance has more than once been made to the
policy of this government as regards the ex~
tension of our foreign trade. It seems
proper to declare the general principles that
should, i'll my opinion, underlie our national
efforts in this direction. The main conditions
of the problem may be thus stated: We are
people rich in mechanical pursuits and
fertile in invention; we cover vastextent Of
territory, rich in agricultural products and in
nearly all the raw materials necessary for
successful .nanufact,lr We have a system
Of productive establishments more than
sufficient to supply our demands Inc
wages of labor are nowhere SO great
The scale OF ilvng OF our
artisan classes is such as tends to secure
their personal comfort and the development
Of those higher moral and Intellectual quail
ties that go to the making Of good citizens.
Oar system Of tax and tariff Legislation is
yielding a revenue which is in excess OF the
present needs of the government: These
Hro elements from which it is sought to de-
wise scheme by which, without unfavora
oily changing the condition Of workingmen,
our merchant marine shall be raised from its
enfeebled condition and new markets pro
viGed for the sale, beyond our borders, OF The
! manifold fruits OF our industrial enterprise:
The problem is complex and can be solved
bv no single measure Of innovation or re-
form. The countries Of the American cont
nent 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 sutficency, and it is to them that
surplus productions OF our fields, OuE mills,
and our workshops should flow, under
conditions that viii equali2e or favor them
in comparison with foreign compNtltlou
four paths of policy seem to point 10 this
| ~
! treaties with the countries OF America Wh'cn
shall foster between the United States and
them an unhanlpered movement OF trade.
The conditions OF these treaties should be
the free admission of such merchandise as
this country does not produce, III return IOl
che admission free or under favored scheme
| of duties OF our own products, the benefits
OF such exchange to apply on those goods
carried under the flag of the parties to the
contract; The removal on both sides from
| vessels privileged OF all tonnage dues
| and national imports, so that their vessels
may ply unhindered between our ports and
| those Of the other contracting parties,
though without infringing ON The reserved
! home coaStng trade The removal OF
! reduction Of burdens on the exported
products of those countries coming with
in the benefits of the treaties, and the
and specialties by which our intercourse
with those countries is at present hampered.
| Secondly, the establishment of the consular
service Of the United States on q salaried
footing, permitting the REIMBURSEMENT Of
consular fees for not only as respects vessels
under the national flag, but also as respects
| vessels Of the treaty nations carrying goods
| entitled to the benefits Of the treaties.
| Thirdly the enactment Of measures to favor
! the construction and maintenance OF stea M
carrying marine under the flag Of the United
| States Tourtilly the esta blish1nent OF an
| uniform currency basis for the countries Oh
| America, so that the coined products OF our
mines may circulate on equal terms through
| out the whole system OF coan1nonwealths.
| This would require q monetary union OF
America, whereby the output of the bullion.
producing countries and the circulation OF
those which yield neither gold nor silver,
| could be adjusted in conformity with the pop
ulation, wealth and commercial needs OF each.
| As many Of the countries fnrn sh NO bullion
| to the common stock, the surplus production
! il our mines and minis might thus be utilized
! and a step taken toward the general renlone-
tizatlon OF silver. 70 the accomplishment 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 thls
enlarged policy has thus far been received
warrants the belief that its operations Will
ere long, embrace all or nearly all the coun-
tries of this hemisphere. 1t is by no means
desirable. IA *ever, that the policy under
consideration should be applied to these
countries alone. The healthfu enlargement
OF our trade with Europe, Asia and Africa
should be sought by reducing tariff burdens
on such of their wares as neither we nor the
other American states are fitted to produce
and thus enabling ourselves to obtain in re,
turn a better market for our supplies OF
food, OF raw material and of the
manufacturers in which we excel. 1t seems
to me that many of the embarrassing Gle
ments in the great national conflict between
protection and free trade may thus be turned
to good account that the revenue may be
reduced so as no longer to overtax the PEG:
pie; the protective duties may be retained
without becoming burdensome; that ou'
shipping interests may be jndiciousiy en-
couraged, the currency tixed on firm basis
and above all such a unity OF interests esta'b
lishtd among the states OF the American sys
tern as will be of great and ever increasing
advantage to them all: All treaties in TIT
line of this policy which have been nego
tiaued or are in p1 ocess of being negotiated
contain provision deemed to be requisite
under the clause OF the constitution Limiting
40 the hoase of representatives the authssJt,
TO originate bills for raising revenue