Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-19

should be surrendering every advantage OF |
trade, from which we should be gaining moth
ing in return, which would be disastrous TO the |
mechanics and workingnen of the United |
States. Wages are undoubtedly reduced |
when an industrious man is not |
able by his earnings TO live in |
comfort, educate his children, and lay by sufi- |
cient for the necessity of age. The reduction of
wages is inevitably consequent upon throwing |
our home market open to the world We would |
deprive them of the power to do this. 1t would |
prove great calamity to our country. It would
produce a conflict between the poor and the
rich, and in the sorrowful degradation of the
laborer would plant the seeds OF public danger
The Republican party has steadily aimed to
maintain just relations between labor
aud capital, guarding with care the
rights of each. A 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 profitable use of capital and capital in
creases the efficiency and value oflabor Who
ever arraigns the one against the other is an
enemy of both. That policy is wisest which
harmonizes the two on the basis of absolute jus
tice. The Republican party has protected the
free labor of America, so that its compensation
is larger than is realized in any other country.
1t has guarded our people against the unfair
competition of contract labor from China,
and may be called upon TO prohibit
the growth of similar evil from Europe. 1t is
obviously unfair to permit capitalists to make
contracts for cheap labor i'll foreign countries
to the hurt and disparagement of the labor of
American citizens. Such Il policy like that,
which would leave the time and other condi-
tons of home labor exclusively in the control
of the employer, is injurious TO all parties, not
the least so the unhappy persons who are made
the subjects of the contract. The institutions of
the United States rest upon the intelligence and
virtue of the people. Suffrage is made uniyer-
sal, as a just weapon OF selfprotection to
every citizen. 1t is not to the interest
of the Republic that any economic system
should be adopted which involves the reduction
of wages to the hard standard prevailing else
where. The Republican party aims to elevate
and dignity labor-uot to degrade it, AS a sub
stitute for the industrial system, which, under
Republican administrations, has developed such
extraordinary prosperity, would the opponents
offer policy which is but series of expert
ments upon our system of revenue?
laborers and greater harm to our labor. Ex-
| pertinent in the industrial and financial system
is the country's greatest dread, as stability
| is its greatest boon. Even the uncertainty
sulting from the recent tariff agitation in Con
| gress has hurtfully affected the business of the
entire country Who can measure the harm TO
our shops and our homes, to our farms and our
| commerce, if the uncertainty of perpetual
tariff agitation is to be inflicted on the country?
| We are in the midst of an abundant harvest.
We are on the eve of the revival of general
prosperity. Nothing stands in our way but the
| dread of a change in the industrial system
which has wrought such wonders in the last
| twenty years, and which, with the power of IL
creased capital, will mark still greater maryels
of prosperity in the twenty years to come.
| OUR FOREIGN POLICY.
Our foreign relations favor our domestic de-
| velopment. We are at peace with the world;
at peace upon q sound basis, with no unsettled
| questions of sufficient magnitude to embarrass
or distract US. Happily removed by our geo
graphical position from participation or interest
in these questions of dynasty or boundary
which so frequently disturb the peace of
| Europe we are left to cultivate friendly
relations with all, and free from pos
| sible ENHANCEMENT in the quarrels of any.
The United States has no cause and no desire to
engage in a quarrel with any power on earth,
and we may rest in confidence thatno power de
sires to attack us With the nations of the
Western Hemisphere we should cultivate closer
relations, and for our common prosperity and
advancement We should induce them all to join
with us, with an agreement that for the future
in, ar,i
South American should be adjusted by
impartial arbitration, and not by arms
This project was part of the fixed policy
of President Garfields administration
and it should, in my judgment, be renewed. Its
accomplishment on this continent would favor
ably affect the nations beyond the sea, ana thu:
powerfully contribute, at no distant day, to thC
universal acceptance of the philanthropic and
Christian principle OF arbitration. The efiec
even of suggesting it for the Spanish-Americar
States has been most happy and has increased
the confidence of those people in our friendly
disposition. 1t fell to my lot, as Secretary o
State, in June, 1881, to quiet apprehensions IL
the Republic of Mexico by giving the assurance
in an official dispatch, that there is not th'
faintes desire in the United States for territorial
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT south of the Rio Grande river
The boundaries of the two republics have beer
established in conformity with the best jurisdic
tional interests of both. The line of demarka
ton is not merely one of convenience. 1t
more. 1t separates a Spanish-American peopl
from a Saxon-Anerican people It divides on
: great nation from another with a distinct anC
natural finelity. We seek the conquest of peace
We desire to extend our commerce il
an especial degree with friend
and neighbors on this continent. w
have not improved our relations witt
Spanish America as we should, and as we nigh
= have done. For more than a generation tn
sympathy of these countries has been Above
: to drift away from US. We should now max
= every effort TO gain their friendship. Our trad
u with them is already large. During the last Ok
cade our exchanges in the western hemispheI
j have amounted to three hundred and fit
: millions of dollars-nearly one-fourth of our eI
. tire foreign commerce. To those who may b
disposed to underrate the value ofour trade wit
the countries of North and South America,
may be well to state that their production
nearly fifty millions, and that, in proportio
d to aggregate numbers, we import nearly doubl
e as much from them as We do from Europe BJ
Il the result of the whole amount of trade is in
{, high degree unsatisfactory. The imports durin
h the past year exceeded sos, 100000, while til
n exports were less than sl25,O0O,0 600, showing
i balance against us of more than sl00,0000oo- "
sr send large sums to Europe in coin, or its equv
" lent to pay European manufacturers for Il
II goods which they send to Spanish America
a are but paymasters for this enormous amour
e. annually to European factors-an amount whit
~ is a serious draft IN every financial depressiC
"a ,,nor o,tr resources of snecie Cannot this col
Il dition of trade in a great part be changed? Ca
i not the market for our products be greatly e
II larged? We have made a beginning in our efio
C. to improve the trade relations with Mexie
~ and we should not be content until simil
n, and mutually advantageous arrangements ha'
le baen snceessfnllv made with every nation