The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-03-07

opment of our commercial marine, /
prevent or retard the establishment an
growth of manufactures in the States
and so 10 secure the American marke
for their shops and the carrying trad
for their ships, was the policy of Euro
pean statesmen, and was pursued wit
the most selfish vigor. Petitions poure,
in upon Congress urging the imposition
of discriminating duties that should en-
courage the production of needed thing
at home. The patriotism of the people
which no longer found field of exer
else in war, was theoretically directed
to the duty of equipping the young re
public fol the defense of its indepen
dence by making its people self-depend
ent. Societies for the p emotion o
home manufactures and for encouraging
the use of domestics in the dress of the
people were organized in many OF the
States. The revival at the end of the
century of the same patriotic interest in
the preservation and development ofdo'
mest'c industries, and the defense of oul
working people against injurious foreign
competition, is an incident worthy Of
attention. 1t is not departure, but q
return that we have Witnessed. The
protective policy had then its opponents
The argument was made as now that its
benefits Injured to particular classes OF
sections. If the question became in any
sense or at any time sectional, it was
only because slavery existed in some OF
the States. But for this there was no
reason why the cotton-producing States
should not have led or walked abreast
with the New England States in the pro-
duction of cotton fabrics. There was
this reason only why the States that d.
vide with Pennsylvania the mineral
treasures of the great southeastern and
central mountain ranges should have
been SO tardy in bringing to the smelt-
ing furnace and the mill the coal and
iron from their near opposing hillsides.
Mill fires were lighted al the funeral pile
of slavery. The Emancipation Procla-
nation was heard in the depths of the
earth as wei! as in the sky-men were
made free and material things became
our better servants. The sectional ele-
ment has happily been eliminated from
the tariff discussion. We have no lon
ger States that are necessarily only
planting States. None are excluded
from achieving that Investigation of
pursuit among the people which brings
wealth and cOntentment. The cotton
plantation will not be less valuable
when the product is spun in the country
town by operatives whose necessities
call for diversified crops, and create a
home demand for garden and agricul-
tural products.
Every new mine, furnace and factory
is an extension of the productive capac-
ity of the State more real and valuable
than added territory.
No A THOUSAND TIMES, NO
Shall the prejudices and paralysis of
slavery continue to hang upon he skirts
of progress How long will those who
rejoice that slavery no longer exists
cherish or tolerate the incapacities it
puts upon their communities. look
to the continuance of our pro-
tective system and to the consequent de-
in the States hitherto wholly
given to agriculture as potent influence
in the perfect unification of our people.
The men who have invested their CAPT
tai in these enterprises, the farmers who
have felt the benefit of their neighbour
hood and the men who work in shop or
field, will not fail to find and defend a
of interest. Is it not quite
possible that the farmers and the pro-
moters of the great mining and manu-
enterprises which have re-
gently been established in the South may
yet find that the free ballot of the work
ngman, without distinction of race, is
needed for their defense as well as for
MS own ? / do not doubt that if these
men in the Sou'h who now accept the
.ariff views of Clay and the constitution
al eXpositions of Webster, would cour-
lgeously avow and defend their real
they would not find it diff
cult, by friendly instruction and cooper
alton, to make the black man their effic-
ent and safe alley, not only in establish
ing correct principles in our national
but in preserving, for |
their local communities, the benefits of
social order and economical and honest |
government At least until the good
1flic of kindness and education have
Deen fairly tried, the contrary conclusion |
,annot be plausibly urged.
l have altogether rejected the sugges-
ion Of special executive pol cy for any
section of our country. 1t is the duty OF
he Executive to administer and enforce,
n the methods and by the instrumental
ties pointed out and provided by the
all the laws enacted by
Congress. These laws are general, and !
heir administration should be uniform !
md equal. AS citizen may not elect
what laws he will obey. neither may the
Executive elect which he will enforce.
The duty to obey and execute embraces
he Constitution in its entirety, and the
whole code of laws enacted under it.
The evil of permitting individuals, cor
)orations or communities TO nullify the
avs, because they cross some selfish or
ocal interests or prejudices, is full of
LANCER, not only to the nation at large,
)ut much more to those who use this
'ernicious eXpedient to escape their just
or to obtain an unjust adj
,antage over others. They will present
y themselves be compelled to appeal to
he law for protection, and those who
would use the law as defense must not
leny that use of it to others. If our
ously observe their legal obligations
md duties, they would have less cause
o complain of the unlawful limitations
If their rights or Of violent interference
With their operations. The community
hat by concert, open or secret. among
Is citizens, denies to portion of its
their plain rights under the
aw has severed the only safe bond of
ocial order and prosperity. The evil
works from a bad center, both ways. 1t
those who practice it, and
destroys the faith of those who suffer by
I in the efficiency of the law as q safe
ro'ectOr. The man in whose breast
hat faith has been darkened is naturally
he subject of dangerous and uncanny
suggestions. Those who use unlawful
if moved by no higher motive
han the selfishness that prompts them,
nay well stop and inquire what is to lie
he end Of this. An unlawful eXpedlent
'annot become a permanent condition of
government. If the educated and in
1uenIial classes in community either
practice or connive at the systematic vi
)latiOn of laws that seem to cross their
what can they expect when
he Lesson that convenience or a sup
POSED mass interest is sufficient cause
or lawlessness has been well learned
~ the ignorant classes A community
where the law is the rule of conduct
md where courts, not mobs. execute its
penalties, is the only attractive field for
business investment and honest labor.
Our naturalization laws should
De so amended as to make the in
JURY into the character and good
/ spOsitlcn OF persons apply irg for ,i'i-
ssnship more careful and searching.
Dur existing laws have been in their ad-
an unimprts4ive and often
al unintelliglble form. We accept the
man as ci " without any knowledge
Df his fitness, and he assumes the duties
Of citizenship without any knowledge as
10 what they are.