The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1884-10-25
AN HISTORICAL INQUIRY.
How is IL that the Laboring Man is Not
Included in the Republican Theory
of Protection?

~ Jiie carry history ol liliS SnferHihchb ~
was foreseen that certain measures would be
imperative looking towards certain
phase Of commercial legislation giving such
drift, or, imparting to it, such a tendency
that fair opportunity might be afforded
the young republic, eventually, TO success
fully compete in the markets of the world,
on equal footing, with other mercantile
communities The politico-commercial
legislation of that era, of VIII 'ch the protec-
tion theory was an outcome, bears evidence
to ind cate that it was considered and can
temporary character. Reading between the
fines it will appear to a candid mind that
our early Legislators contemplated at some
date in the future that the American Repub-
lie would ultimately arrive a. that position
among the industrial communities of the
world when it would be enabled to stand
without the aid of leg slative props, the com
peer of any.
Om fathers, whose wonderful foresight
and mental acumen in planning the under
structure of our political existence, has COM
PEELED the reiterated admiration of the
greatest statesmen of Europe, clearly fore
saw, as their patriotic eyes stretched across
+5,o ,,ot ,,noto;,,ad NTise;ee;nni Uallav tha
immense forest of the E1rth-wes tern prov
inces, and coyly pictured their sanguine
fancy with vaguer dreams of trans-conti-
mental domain; quickly argued that with
such resources, such terrtory-whose pros
pectve natural advantages far out-stripped
those of the mother county, bringing yis-
ions that collapsed the proud historic
supremacy Of the Dutch Republic, or its
still earlier prototype of Spain, and seeing
no parallel, bat perhaps the Greco-Ph9nie-
| ian era of commercial colonization and pros
| perity chat in auc, ,ent times dotted the Med.
iterraneau with its innumerable colonies
| from Sdonia and Seleucis on the East to
Massa!a an! the Gates of Hercules on the
West, whose gallays garnered the riches oi
Guierat andGo,conda in the Indies, and of the
Red Sea ports-and whose hardy miners 30C
centuries ago delved in the thu mines oI
Cornwall and the Scilly Isles almost Che
Ultima Thule of those days Our sanguiliC
fore-fathers saw REPETITION of those Ph@n
ioian glogies in the cinditions before them
The Anglo Saxons, a|n industrial race, pos
sessed Of the MARTINI vigor of the PhGnic
lans, the physique IF the Spartan, and th'
intellect OF the Greek, these, combined Will
natural resources to an extent never befnr,
confded to any nation, revealed to then
possibilities Of heritage whose future, thu
most exiravagant representations dare'
not attempt to picture.
Ancient history affords no exact informa
tion by which we might adduce the fac
that the early commercial efforts of tn
Phenicians were opposed, OF that they ha,
to contend, to any extent with any grea
maritime rival The Dutch Republic, whicl
was almost purely commercial power, ros
upon the ashes of enervated Spain. At
later date English maritime dominatio
eclipsed and to great extent monopolize
that of the Lower Countries. During tn
) Protectorate of Cromwell, England wage
uuaeas:ng war with Holland until the tim
when Admiral Penn, the father of til
founder of Pennsylvania aided in annihia
ing tue fleet of the Dutch Admiral Va
Trump, who had boldly sailed up I'll
Thames, a broom tied to the forc-mast of h
flagship vowing that he twould sweep I'll
) seas of the English" Little was heard I
Dutch supremacy after the occurrence I
: these incidents.
The last three nationalites mentioned ha
i to overcome political rather than commcrci
" antagonism
= The opposition to be combatted by til
% country is fourd along the peaceful avenu
= of commercial rivalry and competition whe
I the palm is gained, not by the ruder reso
2 to arms, but in enterprise, activity, diligen
u and integrity.
= The American merchant has alrea,
\ acquired among the nations of the world
p credit of sharp intelligence and foresgl
- The manufactured products Of his count
have attained a standard in the markets
the world. In some instances their hi
grade OF excellence has custed the fabrics
/. other counties, compelling European man
I, facturers to produce a better class of M
chandise than heretofore. The march
:, industrial progress in the United States
illustrated by the fact that Chief Of Statist
=, Nimmo, in his annual report, just handed
: the secretary OF the Treasury, states Il
the value of the exports of tile United Sta
is equal twice to the total value of 1
!, exports of Europe.
1t is not questioned that the dream Of
Revolutionary fathers, as to the possibilit
,ir :.
of this country is in a fir way of reali
tion-or may the assertion be hazarded t
~ the conditions o! development have crys
| ;gnl fBn fat Ia G.,