The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-03-05

yelous and IN great part happy contrasts
between our country Ms II steps over the
threshold into It's second century of organ
iZed existence under the constitution, and
that weak but wisely ordered young nation
that looked undauntedly down the first
century, when all It's years stretched out
before H. Our people will not fail at this
time 10 recall the Incidents which accom-
panied the institution OF the government
under the constitution, or 10 find an lnsplr-
alton and guidance In the teachings and
example Of Washington and bis great asso-
ciAtes, and the hope and courage In con-
trast which thirty eight populous and pros
weak In everything except courage and
love OF liberty, that then fringed our ATTAIN
tic seaboard. The territory OF Dakota has
now population greater than
any OF the original states,
except Virginia, and greater than the az.
eregate of five OF the smaller states In 1890.
The center Of population, when our nation
al capital was located, was east Of Balti-
more, and IL was argued by many we'll
informed persons that the world would
move eastward rather than westward.
Yet In 1870, II was found 10 be near
Cincinnati, and new census, about
10 be taken. will show another stride
10 the westward. That which was the
body has come 10 be only the rich fringe OF
been limited TO territory, population and
aggregate wealth, marvellous as II has been
In each OF those directions. The masses OF
our people are better fed, clothed and
housed than their fathers were; the facili-
lies Of popular education have been vastly
enlarged and more generally difiused: the
virtues OF courage and patriotism have
given recent proof Of their continued pres
ence and increasing power In the hearts
and over the lives OF our people; the In
iiuences OF religion have been multiplied and
strengthened; the sweet Offices OF charity
have greatly Increased and the virtue Of
temperance Is held In higher. estimation.
We have not attained an ideal condition; I;
moi. all OF our people are happy
them da are yirtaous and iaw-abIdins;
but, on the whole, the opportunities offered
" the individual % secure the comforts OF
life are better here than found elsewhere,
and largely better than they were here one
hundred years ago.
The surrender Of large measure Of SOW
ereignty TO the general government, effect
ed by the adoption OF the constitution, was
not accomplished until the suggestions OF
reason were strongly reinforced by the
more imperative voice Of experience. Tho
| divergent interests OF peace speedily de-
maDded "a more perfect union" The
merchant. shipmaster and manufacturer
discovered and disclosed 10 our statesmen
and TO the people that commercial emRnci-
| patton must be added to the political free
dom which had been 80 bravely won. The
commercial policy OF the mother country
| wns not relaxed In any OF lis hard and OPP
pressive features, 10 hold In check the de-
4 velopment OF our commercial marine, and
to prevent or ratard tue establishment and
growth OF manufactures In the states. and 90
10 secure an American market for their
4 All nd n lrud fnr th..ir ah luu
was the policy OF European statesmen; and
II was pursued with the most selfish vigor.
| Petitions poured In upon congress urging
the imposition of discriminating duties that
should encourage the production OF the
needed things at home The patriotism Of
/ the people, which no longer found field
OF exercise In war, was energetically d.
rected TO the duty OF equipping the young
republic for defense of It's Independence
by making Its people self dependent. So
cieties for the promotion OF home manufac.
lures and for encouraging the use OF do
mestics In the dress OF the people were or
ganized In many states. The revival at the
end OF the century OF the same patriotic
interest In the preservation and develop
ment of domestic Industries and the de-
fense OF our working people, injured BY
foreign competition, Is an Incident worthy
OF attention. IL Ia not departure, but
return, that we have witnessed. The pro
| tective policy had then It's opponents. argu-
ment was made m now that Its benefits
Injured 10 particular classes or sections.
IL the ques Ion became In any sense OF at
| my time sectional, 10 was only because
slavery existed In some OF the states. But
for this, there was no reason why the cot
ton producing states should not have led
or walked abreast with the New England
states In the production OF cotton fabrics.
| There was this reason only why the states
that divide with Pennsylvania the mineral
treasures OF the great southeastern and
central mountain ranges should have
been 80 tardy In bringing 10 the smelling
| furnance and 10 the mill the coal and Iron
| from their near opposing hillaides. The
mill fires were lighted at the funeral pile OF
slavery. The emancipation proclamation
was heard In the depths OF the earth as well
as In the sky. Then all men were made
| free and material things became our better
servants. This sectional element has hap
| PLY been eliminated from the tariff dis
cussloD. We have no longer states that
are necessarily only planting states; none
are excluded from achieving that diyersih-
| cation of pursuit among the people which
brings wealth and contentment. Cotton
plantations will not be less valuable when
| the product IL spun In the country town by
operatives whose necessaries call for diver
| sified crops and create home demand for
garden and agricultural products. Every
| new mine, furnace and factory ia an ex-
| tension of the productive capacity OF the
state more real and valuable than added
| territory, Shall the preiudIces and par-
alysis OF slavery continue 10 hang up0n the
| .ktxt. - ,,a.,...o TIa... Ia.... ..lh a.