The Dickinson press., 1884-12-06
FOREIGN TRADE.
O TO EXTEND IT.

Az GAAG&NE -
In the course of this communication refer
policy Of this government as regards the ex-
tension of our foreign trade. It 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
q people rich in mechanical pursuits and
fertile in invention; we cover a vastextent Of
territory, rich in agricultural products and in
successful manufacture We nave a system
Of productive establishments more than
sufficient to supply our demands The
wages of labor are, nowhere 80 great.
b scale of living of our
artisan classes is such as tends to isecure
Of those higher moral and intellectual quail
tiles that go to the making Of good citizens.
Our system of tax and tariff legislation Ia
yielding o revenue which is in excess of the
present needs of the government These
are elements from which it is sought to de-
wise o scheme by which, without u%nfavora-
bly, changing the condition of workingmen,
our merchant marine shall be raised from It's
condition and new markets pro.
vided for the sale, beyond our borders, of the
fruits of our Industrial enterprise.
The problem is complex and can be solved
~ 0S SA6AS SIS "a w" Va Az
form. The countries OF the American CONT
nent and the adjacent islands are for 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 sufieiency, and it is to them that
surplus productions OF our fields, our mills,
and our workshops should flow, under
conditions that will equalize or favor them
In comparison with foreign. competition.
four paths of policy seem to point to this.
end. First, a series Of reciprocal commercial
treaties with the countries of America which
shall foster between the United States and
them al unhampered movement of trade.
The conditions of these treaties should be
the free admission of such merchandise as
this country docs not produce, in return for
Of dutiesiof our own products, the, benefits
OF such exchange to apply. on those goods
carried under the flag of tho parties to the
contract; the removal on both sides from
vessels so privileged of all tonnage dues
and national imports. SO that their vessels
those Of the other contracting parties,
though without infringing on the reserved
coasting trade. The REMOVAL or
reduction Of burdens on. the exported
products of those countries coming with
In the benefits of the t~reaties, and the
avoidance Of the rechnicalities, restrictions,
md specialties by which our intercourse
withtthose countries is at present hampered.
Secondly, the establishment of the consular
service of the United States on a salaried
footing, permitting the REIMBURSEMENT of
consular fees for not only as respects vessels
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, q steam
carrying marine under the flag of the United
States Fourthly, the establishment OF an
uniform currency basis for the countries of
America, SO that the coined products of our
mines may circulate on equal terms through
out h whole system Of commonwealth.
This would require q monetary union of
producing countries and the circulation of
those which, yield neither gold nor silver,
could be adjusted d. in conformity with the pop.
%ulation, wealth m commercial needsofeach.
As lar of the countries furnish no bullion
TO the common stock, the surplus production
and a step taken toward the general remone-
~tization Of silver. To 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 this
warrants the belief that its operations will,
ere long, embrace all or nearly all the
tries Of ibis hemisphere. 1t Is bysno means
ls%ever. that the policy under
c~OnsioeratlOA 6nOuid % appl1e0s to these
countries alone. The healthful enlargement
OF our trade with Europe. Asia and Africa
should be sought by reducing tariff burdens
on sneh Of their wares as neither we nor the
other American statest 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
manufactures in which we excel. 1t seems
to me that many of the embarrassing ele.
ments in the great national conflict between
protection and freetrade maythus be turned
to good account; that the revenue may be
reduced SO as no longer to- overtax the peo-
pie; the protective duties may be retained
without becoming burdensome; that our
shipping interests may be judiciously4 h-
couraged, the currency fixed IN a firm basis,
and above all such a unity Of interests estSb-
lished among the states of the American sys-
tenn as will be of great and ever increasing:
advantage to them all. All treaties / n the
line of this policy which have been nego-:
tiated, or are in process of being negotiated,
contain q provision deemed to ba requisite
under the clause of the constitution limiting
to the house of representatives the authority
to originate bills for raising revenue.
--
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
WORK IF LAwA AM COMMISSION.
~ N-txh. 0asL "a -N----Ar..r ~ rreS .E -