Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-12
AN ILLUSTRATIVE CASE.

Just now we of the Republican party are
asking for the election Of Mr. Blaine to the
Presidency of the United States at the
hands of the American people, on the
ground that our candidate will inaugurate
a broader American foreign policy. If this
means anything, it means the adoption of
that policy which will 50 far protect the
rights of American citizens abroad; the
rights and interests of American COM
merce in every port of the world which
will encourage, foster and build. up the
foreign commerce of this nation 1t also
means the protection of American COM
mercial interests wherever located. This
imports that the Government will put itself
in position to be able to afford this pro-
lection. Even beyond this, it means proper
coast dctenSes-the protection of American
territory wherever that territory may be
located; the protection of the rights Of the
people residing in that territory, however
remote from the centers of commercial,
financial and political influence Now at
q time when everybody is declaring that
the governmental policy of this country,
We call attention to a specific illustrative
case. We recently mentioned the fact that
the Alaska Commercial Company was adj
Vertising the speech made by Senator
Miller, the President of that company.
in the United States Senate, in favor
of an increase of the American navy.
Senator Miller and his associates, as they
had an uudouhted right to do engaged in
an American undertaking on American
territory 1t is largely beneficial enter
prise, alike to the individuals engaged and
TO the people of the United States. 1t was
precisely the kind of thing which the new
American policy of Mr. Bla;ncis expected to
inaugurate and intended TO encourage. II
is precisely the kind of undertaking in
which our people should be engaged. It's
exactly the species Of enterprise which has
expanded England over the world. 1t is
precisely the kind Of enterprise in which
we are notably deficient 1t is altogether
4 wealth-producing undertaking. 1t is
essentially a commendablc and worthy
commercial enterprise. 1t is under
the protection of the American FLAG
That protection is worth something or
nothing, in proportion to the ability of the
Government TO extend it. The protection
of the American flag is theveriest rot unless
there are warships, cannon. and bayoncts
behind the bunting. \ piece of buntins,
however striped or starred at the peak of
the ship or al the head of the mast on
shore viii afford protection against the
entertainments of commercial enterprise on
the part OF foreign nations, only if the
power is joined to the willingness to en-
force that protection.
To show how little these new and higher
elements of National politics are under
stood. even in places where one has right
to expect some CLEAN of intelligence. we
quote from 4 Republican contemporary |
criticism upon the REcoRD-U UNIONS propo- |
sition that an increase Of thc navy of the |
United States was necos sary and desirable |
from the standpoint of the Alaska Com
mercial Company, because such an increase
is necessary for the protection of American
commercial interests. Referring to this, |
our contemporary said: This is of piece !
with another solemn declaration of our
contemporaries an increase of the
naval force of the United States is neces-
1ary, in order that the Alaska Company's |
interests may be properly protected. This !
is about the thinnest argument for an in
crease in the navy that has yet been brought
to light"
We reafirm the right of the Alaska Com
mercial Company to have protection, and
tle duty OF the American Government not
only to afford protection to that company,
but to adopt foreign policy which will