Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-03-21

and even this would be only one dol
lar per head for the population OF
China alone. Now our only dangerous
competitor is England, but then Great
Britain was a serious competitor when
we entered the arena like a gladiator to
fight for the independence of America.
Again we must cross swords with our
old adversary, and battle for this trade,
our lawful heritage by nature.
If we follow the hand of fortune; ii
we appreciate the gifts OF nature; il
capital will lend hand to courage, in
telligence, and industry, we can manu-
facture every article in which iron is
utilized; We can grow the food re-
quired in less favored countries; we
can build our ships; we can bid de-
fiance to all commercial powers, for the
natural advantages we have in this
State are beyond the effect of Eng
lands competitive powers; for on our
own seaboard we can grow that which
England is forced to ship thousands of
miles. And, in answering a question
propounded to me: Why cannot
England utilize her port at Vancou-
yer, Canada, in competition against
us?' l will say that she will first have to
ship $500 miles across the At
lantic then go to the expense of
railroad transportation $500 miles
to the Pacific, before her goods
stand on an equality with ours.
The great expense OF such trans
portation will put England out of
the competitive markets ii we establish
industries in Washington. Canada
cannot assist the mother country in
this battle; she has few resources to
draw upon; no such teeming hives of
industry as can be found in any nook
in the State of Massachusetts. Even
to-day the balance of trade amounts
to millions of money in favor of the
United States and against Canada.
Our foundation has been we'll laid,
even in the infancy of this great COM
ing power. Its effect is already felt.
Ships are laying the products of Wash
ington in almost every one of the for
eign ports, and We actually exported
to foreign lands last year $3OO,OOO,OO0
OF material. Our domestic exports
were valued at $7,50O,OOO; almost
every conceivable article was enumer-
ated among them. But we must take
steps to make exchange agreeable and
beneficial; we should not lose sight OF
the fact tlfat international commerce
is based upon the wants Of nations, the
desire OF one land to be possessed OF
the products of another. II each ma
ton produced all the necessary COM
modities, there would be no trade
| abroad; but where America, for in
stance, grows more timber and wheat
than she demands, and China has silk
and tea, there should and will be some
equitable adjustment of the tariff
whereby we could make profitable
exchange. In this case, no avenue of
labor could be affected, but more labor
would be required, and farmers, silk
weavers, and dressmakers would find
more occupation; China would feed
her people with our grains and con-
struct her houses and ships of our TIM
ber. We simply need intercourse. As
an illustration. / will say, few years
ago the Northern Pacific Railroad
found that the importation of tea
could be made larger if more ships
could be utilized in the trade; as a
consequence, last year new ships were
put upon the line, and the result was
an increase in the tea shipments of
over three thousand tons. To COM
mand the commerce of Asia and the
Orient, we simply require means OF
communication and equitable laws.
Then you will find thousands of ships
plying between the ports OF Washing
ton and the ports Of the world! Zap
plause. From the enthusiasm of
some Of my audience, it seems that
you are in favor Of free trade-I am
not. At present / can not see the way
to free trade, but 1 must say that l
would like tn see a revision of the
tariff. And it is coming, rs sure as the
rays OF the glorious orb of day will
shine over our land tomorrow. ZAP
plause.l Here is an opportunity for
capital; over twenty per cent. can be
made annually on money invested in
ships, and a steady freight can be in.
sured, and there is no state that can
drive our ships out of the waters.
Parties interested in other States
claim that the competition of the port
of San Francisco will hurt us. San
Francisco will always be a great sea-
port, but it will not injure Puget
Sound. Nature has given us too many
advantages. l will cite one. 1t is
easier to sail ship from New York to
Puget Sound than to San Francisco.
A vessel following the currents of the
Pacific, bound for Frisco, will be / 200
miles west of that port, when she
should be in the harbor, whereas, if the
natural stream is left to its own will,
the ship will almost sail itself into
Puget Sound. To get into San Fran
cisco, pilot has to beat against head
winds for 1000 miles. The day will
come when vessels in transit from
New York to the Northwest will never
stop at our competitors port.
There Is yet another country tribu-
tary to Washington, Territory with
9o,ooo square miles of land, a section
that cost the American Government in
1867 T,sU,OOO, yet has sustained it.
self and has returned to the United
States IN royalties and rentals from its