Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-02-22
Stauutotl Speftator.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. %. 1888.
W. Sbould widen Our Commerce.


the area of our country it is idle to think
that the soil products and the immense
output of the mineral and manufacturing
enterprises to be set in motion can find
profitable reward in home consumption
Let the State and National policies be ever
so fostering in their application to the de-
velopment of our resources, failure will
be written in the history which will
record the future of the country, if the as
ISOLATED agency of power and thrift-exten-
sion of foreign commerce-is not part OF
the plans to be pursued.
Our experience has often proved the fatal
results which have followed the INSULT
cheney of outward trade dwarfng the Ma
tional influence, and circumscribing our
power among the governments of the world.
Not only in weakening the power OF de-
fence, if assailed, but causing that other
deplorable result which confines in narrow
limits, so to speak, the energies and thrift
of our young, resolute, and working popu-
lation. A wide, open commerce secures
through it's results the forces of National
power, which is largely strengthened in the
open competition with the world TO which
it invites the brain and muscles of its ener-
getic men to enter. Financial disturbances
cannot be controlled by one Nation, but
those are the wisest which seek to avert its
evils. In it's normal relations to the coun-
try and in seeking the openings to which
our agriculture is entitled in competition
abroad, it does appeal for more extended
opportunities, and the voice of those en-
gagged in the other industries of our land
should not cease in its mandatory utteran-
ces for their safety. The fathers of the
Republic declared that agriculture, COM
merce, and manufacturing were the pillars
of the Nation, but latter. day political
economists have attempted to support the
grand structure of their predecessors with
out the central column SO essential to its
growth and prosperity. The policy which
binds in letters the powers which would
secure our commercial supremacy, should
be discarded as unworthy of association
with that which by it's beacon lights invites
men of every land to our shores, secure IN
the enjoyment of rational liberty and its
benefits.
After long cessation of effort, hope be-
gins to discern better things for the future
in the policy of Che present administration
as compared with its predecessors. The
Government can in many legitimate ways
aid aud direct the enterprises of the people,
both by legislation and wise international
policy of administration. The completion
of designs already mapped out will place US
far in the way of a higher national progress,
bringing enlarged opportunities to the peo-
pie to become maritime in a large division
of their energies. There is wide room for
action. About one hundred and thirty mil
lion bushels of wheat and wheathour Of
the crop of 1886 were sent to foreign coun-
tries from ours Of all the steamers en-
gagged in that immense outward with its
natural sequence, inward-trade, but one
was of American registry. During the
year of 1886, the number CT entries o
American vessels engaged in our importing
commerce was 9,357, carrying 1891, 81;
tons, against 81, 094 entries of foreign yes
sells carrying II ,2O4, 043 tons and in on
export trade there were 9,257 clearances o.
American vessels carrying $685. 7S tons
against 81, 216 clearances of foreign vessels
carrying IL, Os4, 900 TONS
10 pH hy
lamentable facts to the proper forward
position that our nation should occupy
Denying to thu producers of a surplus
reaped from field culture the benefit Of
foreign outlets and hedging in the yields
of the loom and shops, and levyipg odiou'
excise taxes upon the tille1s of the soil
were the distinctive features of the Fedora
Administration which SO long ruled The
country, in the effort TO change our national
Interests as promoted by outward trade
with the absurd idea of making home con
sumption equal to home production.
In the cold regions of Europe the mo
narchical governments there assist thei
subjects to larger aspirations in trade enter
prise than has been the experience Of the
people along the coasts of the United
States, who live under the most liberal ap(
most powerful government of the western
hemisphere. In the renewed effort of thu
Gallego and other milling companies O
Richmond to restore the outward trade O
Richmond in flour, and the inward in cot
fee with Brazil, how often do we see that {
Norwegian vessel takes out the flour; but
the master Of the ship has no special Interest
in soliciting the landing of his return cargo
of coffee at the port of our capital city anc
chief seat of Virginia commerce. That was
not the case thirty years ago, and before
we were reduced in our circumstances by
causes we could not control. Richmond
with her thirty ocean vessels, increasing
too as trade demanded, took out her flou,
and landed the return cargo of coffee OF
our hospitable shores, and if there had
been no disturbing causes as referred to,
that fair city to-day would be the first cof-
fee market in the United States; but now
she is partly dependent on Norway for IA
cilities to conduct her outward and inward
foreign trade. If our government had
pursued the policy of that government in
this particular, it would long since have
secured for its people higher rank in
commercial enterprise. Speaking of Nor
way shipping interests, unpretending as
the government of that country is among
the powers OF the world, its vessels carried
one thirty-ninth of our inward and outward
commerce as it is conducted by foreign
vessels.
The proper way for our people 10 study
over these and similar facts which could be
adduced on the same line is to learn how
their interests are affected by them. II
our country had merch mt marine, and
the government navy to protect it, the
surplus produced in the United States
from both the soil ard manufactured
fabrics would be commanding much better
prices The wheat which the Augusta
farmer sells to-day for 80 cents, would
be yielding $1.25 under the changed stu
alton which would give his surplus an op-