The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-01-02
FOREIGN TRADE.
HOW TO EXTEND IT.


In the course of this communication refer
ence has more than once been made to the
policy of this government rs regards the ex-
tension OF our foreign trade. 1t 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 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 The
wages Of labor are nowhere 80 great
The scale Of living OF our
artisan classes is such as tends to secure
their personal comfort and the development
of those higher moral and intellectual quail
titles that go to the making OF good citizens
Our system Of tax and tariff Legislation is
yielding a revenue which is in excess OF the
present needs of the government These
are elements from which II Is sought TO de-
wise scheme by which, without unfavora-
bly, changing the condition of workingmen,
our merchant marine shall be raised from its
enfeebled condition and new markets pro
yided 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 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 sutticiency, and IL il 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, n series of reciprocal commercial
fro wit a. nnnntrinl AmnriEn which
shall foster between the United States and
them an unhampered movement of trade.
The conditions of these treaties should b.
the free admission OF such merchandise as
this country does not produce, III return for
the admission free or under favored scheme
| of duties of our own products, the benefits
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 their vessels
may ply unhindered between our ports and
those OF the other contracting parties,
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 spccialties by which our intercourse
| with those countries is ut present hampered.
Secondly, the establishment OF the consular
service of the United States on q salaried
| footing, permitting the REIMBURSEMENT of
consular fees for not only as respects vessels
under the national flag but also us 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 u 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 NAV circulate on equal terms through
out the whole system OF commonwealths.
| America, whereby the output of the bullion
| producing countries and the circulation Of
those which yield neither gold nor silver,
! ulation, wealth and commercial needs of each.
| to the common stock, the surplus production
and 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 III progress have been
| directed, and the favor with which this
| enlarged policy has thus far been received
warrants the belief that its operations will,
! ere long, embrace all or nearly all the coun-
| tries of this hemisphere. 1t IL by no means
| desirable. however. TINT the policy under
consideration should be applied to these
| countries alone The hcalthful enlargement
| 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,