National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-09-18

Speech OF Senator Edmunds.
y bucOlic once remarked in reference to
afrlcnd whom he considered a flrst-rate
speaker that "whenevcr he opened his
mouth he was sure to say something"
Senator Edmunds does not make many
speeches, but when he does open his mouth
for that purpose he "says something" The
speech at the Vermont fair on Thursday
is an excellent example OF the judgment
and elaborated care with which the senator
places his idcss before the public. There
is rarely any necessity for the verlicatlon
Of reporters notes, or for the rcinvestiga-
tion Of statistical iumblos. The Vermont
senator may I've right or wrong, but he is
always clear. For instance, after the
interminable twisting and turning of free
trade and protection figures, the most ultra
advocate Of the former system will read
this passage with interest;
Undoubtedly foreign markets arc extremely
desirable for the sale of the surplus productions
OF every thing that cannot in the ordinary
course OF things be consumed at home; but for
a country situated as ours is they cannot be
relied upon with any safety as the principal
avenues of reaching paying consumers of our
almost selccvident considerations point as
you can readily see, to the one conclusion
one that is not, and / hope and believe will
not be thought, political in any party sense;
that the policy Of American legislation and
the Efforts Of American lawmakors-who are
really the people-ought to be directed to the
utmost development OF every variety Of Ameri.
can production, and so to the improvement OF
the cond tion OF the American laboror and the
American employer Of labor OF every kind, by
giving that labor full employment aud ade-
quntc reward, and to the employed ready and
steady market This done, while 1t will be a
source of gain and profit to every material In.
terest Of the landowner and the capitalist, there
will be also a larger and nObler Advancement
Of those portions OF society which are now 50
often the victims of discomfort and suffering,
and which so often, in uuwlse AMI misguided
efforts to redress grievances. make progress
backward and find themselves, at the end of
n struggle with those who employ labor, in a
worse condition than before The constantly
employed and well.paid laborer will become
himself Il man Of accommodating capital-the
force Of labor transposed into things. Ho will
become landholder; his wife aud children
ofthc first Ofwhom he ought to have one, aud
ofthe second many-will abide in his own
house, lie will see that the liberty of the la
boring man is not only the liberty / o strike"
as the phrase is, hut that 1t is the equal liberty
not to strike ifhe does not wish to, and the lib
crty to work on in peace and safety If he thinks
II for his interest so to do, while others may
choose, as they have the perfect right to do, not
to work upon the terms proposed. He will
learn that violence against the administration
OF law, or unlawful coercion of any kind ex.
erted toward other worklngmon or toward
employers are crimes of the gravest character
against all labor aud the welfare of laboring
men, upon whom the consequences OF such
things always finally fall more heavily than
any other classes Of society.
When so many conflicting theories are
being propounded about interoceanIc
canals, the following words Of Senator Ed
munds come like refreshing sea breeze to
| people who are In doubt about the relative
merits OF different suggested canals, AMI
who are literally embarrassed by the prof
fered richness Of supply OF such water
roads.
Referring to the necessity of extending
the means Of ocean traffic, Senator Ed
munds said:
In this great ocean communication and trade
| l think the one by far most important point Is
as yet unoccuped and no. utilized by any
country. ! refer to what ! am confident Is the
| only practicable ship waterway between the
| Atlantic and Pacific oceans, aud which crosses
the republic of Nicaragua within 1000 miles OF
our own coast To any intelligent person who
will examine globe or map Of the world, 1t
| will be apparent Uf am right as to the fdct
have just stated that such a ship canal will
prove the key and regulator ofhalfthe long com.
merce. as It may be called, of many nations,
and that for the commerce of the Central and
| South American states with the United States,
| MS well as in respect of our commerce with
| Asia and the islands of the Indian ocean, and
in respect of the domestic shipping trade be-
| tween the eastern and western shores OF the
| republic, 1t will be indispensable. The people
of Nicaragua and her sister states have been,
and believe still are, desrous that this canal
shall be built and managed by the United
| States for the great common ends and benefits
Of commerce and intercourse between nations,
as well as for the more intimate interests Of
the American states, and trust that ere long
our government will feel more deeply and see
more clearly than 1t has yet done the impor-
tance of the matter, and bring 1t to success.
| full issue.
The speaker also called attention to the
injurious effect produced by the railroad
companies in charging "too high rates for
short transportation and too low rates foI
long distances.n "Thls cannot be JUSTICE
said the senator. "Nearness and distance
from the place of sale or consumption are
just as natural ana Interchangeable relations
as are those Of the soil, climate, skill. OF
thrift. As well might the farmer, who with
good land and thorough and industrious
cultivation has raised good crop, be re-
qulred to give part Of it to his neighbor,
who, with poorer land, Incidence, and in.
finite weeds, has raised only half as much
And this, of course, applies as well to all
sorts of things produced as to those OF the
farm"