Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-03-14

Til Eastern Port co of the Capitol.
creased The virtue of temperance is held in
higher estimation. We have not attained an
ideal condition. Not all Of our people are happy
and prosperous: not all OF them are virtuous
and law-abiding. But on the whole. the oppor-
tunities offered the individual to secure the
comforts OF life are better than are found else
where and largely better than they were here
1uO years ago.
The surrender of q large measure Of sovereign
ity to the General Government Effected by the
adoption OF the Constitution was not accom-
plished until the suggestions OF reason were
strongly reinforced by the more imperative
voice OF experience.
The divergent interests OF peace speedily de-
manded - more perfect union" The mer-
chant the shipmaster and the manufacturer
discovered and disclosed to our statesmen and
to the people that commercial emancipation
must be added to the political freedom which
had been 20 bravely won. The commercial pol
icy of the mother country had not relaxed any
OF its ard and oppressive features. To hold in
check the development of our commercial ma
rine, to prevent or retard the establishment and
growth OF manufactures In the States, ard SO
to secure the American market for their ships,
and the carrying trade for their ships, was the
policy of European statesmen, and WAS pur-
sued with the most selfish vigor.
Petitions poured In upon Congress urging the
imposition Of discriminating duties that should
encourage the production OF needed things at
home. The patriotism of the people which no
longer found field of exercise in war was en-
ergetically directed to the duty of equipping the
young Republic for the defense Of its independ-
ence by making its people self dependent. So
cieties for the promotion of home manufactures
and for encouraging the use OF dome tics In the
dress OF the people were organized in many OF
the States. Many Of the REVEALS at the end Of
a centuryo Of the patriotic interest In the de-
velopment Of domestic industries and the de-
tense of the working people against injurious
foreign competition, is an incident worthy OF at
tention It is not departure but return
what we have witnessed The protective pol
icy had then its opponents. The argument was
made as now that its benefits Injured to particu-
lar classes or sections.
If the question became in any sense or at any
time sectional 1t was only because slavery ex-
listed 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 production of co ton
fabrics. There was this reason only why the
States that divide with Pennsylvania the min
eral treasures of the great southeastern and
central mountain ranges should have been so
tardy in bringing to the smelling furnace and to
the mill the coal and iron from their opposing
hill SIDES
Mill fires were lighted at the funereal pile OF
slavery. The emancipation proclamation was
heard in the depths Of the earth as well as in
the sky. men were made free and material
thin s became our better servants.
The sectional element has happily been elm
mated from the tariff discussion. We have no
longer States that are necessarily only planti, 2
States None are excluded from achieving that
diversi6cation OF pursuit among the people
which brings wealth and contentment The
cotton plantation " II not be less valuable when
the produ is spun in the country town by
operatives whose necessities call for diversified
crops and create a home demand for
garden and agricultural products. Every
new mine, furnace and factory is an extension
Of the productive capacity OF State more real
and valuable than added territory.
Shall the prejudices and paralysis of slavery
continue to hang upon the skirts of progresss
How long will those, who rejoice that slavery