River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-12-04
FOREIGN TRADE.

In the course of this communication refer
ence has more than once been made to the
policy of this government as regards the ex
tension of our foreign trade 1t seems
proper to declare the general principles Gllat
should in my opinion, underlie our national
efforts in this direction. The main conditions
of the problem may be thus stated We are
a 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 manufacture We have system
of productive establishments more than
sufficient to supply our demands Inc
wages of labor are nowhere so great
The scale of living OF our
artisan classes is snch as tends TO secure
their personal comfort and the development
of those higher moral and intellectual quail
tiles that go to the making of good citizens
Our system of tax and tariff Legislation is
Welding a revenue which is in excess OF the
present needs of the government THESE
are elements from which 1t is sought TO de-
wise scheme by which, without unfavora-
bly, changing the condition of worklngmen,
our merchant marine shall be raised from us
enfeebIed condition and new markets pro
vided for the SALE beyond our borders OF the
manifold fruits of our industrial enterprise
The problem is complex and can be solved
by 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 sufficiency, and it is to them that
surplus productions of our fields, our mllls-
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 TINS
end First series of reciprocal commercial
treaties with the countries of America which
shall foster between the United States 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 Tor
the admission free or under favored scheme
of duties of our own products, the benents
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 so privileged of all tonnage dues
and national imports, so that thelr vessels
NAV ply unhindered between our ports ana
those of the other contracting partles,
though without infringing on the reserved
home coasting trade. The removal or
reduction of burdens on the exported
products of those countries coming with
in the benefits of the treaties, and the
avoidance of the technicalities, restrictions,
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 salarled
1OOIing, permitting TIC 4CAtftIhiStAtAChS "
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 a steam
carving marine under the flag of the United
States Fourthly. the. establishment OF am
uniform currency basis for the countries OF
America, so that the coined products OF our
mines may circulate on equal terms through
This would require monetary union OF
America, whereby the output OF the bullion
producing countries and the circulation OF
those which WELD neither gold nor silver,
could be adjusted in conformity with the pop
ulation, wealth and commercial needs OF eacn.
As many of the countries furnish no bullion
to the common stock, the surplus production
if our mines and minis might thus be utilized
and a step taken toward the general remone-
tization of silver To the accomplishment or
these ends, so far as they can be attained by
separate treaties, the negotiations already
concluded and now in progress nave been
directed, and the favor with which TINS
enlarged policy has thus far been received
warrants the belief that its operations WILL
ere long, embrace all or nearly all the couL-
tries of this hemisphere. 1t is by no means
desirable, however that the policy under
consideration should be applied to these
countries alone. The healthful enhancement
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,
ana 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 be1wee en-
protection and free trade may thus be turned
TO good account; that the revenue may e
reduced so as no longer to overtax the pee
pie; the protective duties may be retained
without becoming burdensome; that our
shinpinp interests may be iudiciously en-
conraged. the currency liked on firm basis,
ard above all such a unity of interests estab-
lished among the states of the American sys-
tenn as viii be of great and ever increasing
advantage to them all All treaties in the
! line of this policy which have been nego-
fiaued, or are in pl ocess of being negotiated,
| contain a provision deemed TO pe requisite
I undsr the clause of the constitution limiting
I TO the house of representatives the authority
| to originate bills for raising revenue.