The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-07-25
What Of Our Blockade.

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before the American people, it truly
becomes the duty of that people tc
consider the same from an American
standpoint. Not alone in war may
we hope to SEQ patriotism developed
but in times of peace as well. We
must admit that in times of peace, to
nurture and develop our industries as
a nation, is the highest obligation aud
duty we as patriotic citizens can engage
in, to do this is true patriotism, to do
otherwise is evidence of national
weakness; this, we believe to be the
duty of the American citizen to day
as much as it was his duty to enter
the Army in order to suppress the
Rebellion, and just as firmly rs we
did believe in the above, So Go we
now believe that the six hundred mil.
lions of money we send abroad each
year for manufactured goods, &c, all
of which we can produce at home on
our own soil, should be kept at home,
and paid out to our own farmers, me.
chanics and workingmen, If employ.
ment is to be given by US as a people,
or money made from US to or by any.
bod y, we want it to be our own people /;
this we admire as true patriotism in
civil life.
During our late national struggle it
became necessary to shut out foreign
powers from the southern ports by
means of blockade; this was very
essential in the interest of the Uuion,
but it may be argued that the act was
a military necessity only. Be this as
it may, all will agree that the result
was good and right, and it would have
been treason upon the part of any set
of men to attempt the raising of that
blockade and thus lay bare and sub.
ject our national interests to spoilation
at the hands of foreign enemies dur.
ing that critical period of war.
Now leaving behind what appears
to have been only military necessity
in the estimation Of some, let US look
little after what appears to be
civil necessity. We we're fully salts.
fled as to the right and justice of the
act defending our rights and national
honor by the Inauguration of our
blockading squadrons in time of war,
and we are just as fully satisfied as TO
the right and justice of the act de.
Tending our national honor aud repu-
tation, our industries, our farmers,
mechanics and laborers by the inau.
guration and perpetuation of a sys.
tenn of national Protection against the
impositions of foreign importation,
&c, in times of peace. The prosperity
of our broad land, in all its varied
forms and avocations, is the direct
result Of Protection. Raise this
mighty blockade, planted as it was in
the defense of our national economy
and interests, and you weaken our ma.
tional influence, reduce the industries
of our country and couple the Amer.
ican toiler with the degraded serfs of
foreign lands. Are We as a nation
prepared to thus sleep ourselves away
into the open arms of these enemies
and foreign powers, who would have
delighted in our overthrow in war,
and who are now jealous when they
behold our prosperity in times Of
peace? Let Americans be Americans,
and see to it, that our vast industries
do not become subject to foreign will
and control. Forbid the raising of
our civil blockade, by placing men of
true American principles at the helm,
and our prosperity as a people and
nation will increase as we pass on into
the future, our peace unobstrueted,
our flag honored ard not insulted.
j. A.