Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-12-11

OF trade with other lands already inad>-
Quate to their necessities. -
There Is no dispCe::iS,n among afny of our
people TO promO<e prohibitory or eetaliatorS
legislation Our policies are adoptea not to
the hurS of o4hero, but t0secure for ouRselveo
those advantages that fairly grow out of oue
favored position as Nation. Our form %
Government, which is incident of universal
suffrage, makes it Imperative that we should
save our working people from the agitationo
and distresses which scant york and wages
that have no margin for comfort always DE
get, but after all this 10 done it viii be found
THAT our markets are open 60 friendly COM
merciaI exchange OF enormous value to the
other great powerA From tbe time
OF my induction into Office the duty
OF using every power and influence
given by the law to the Executive Depart.
meHs for the development OF larger markets
Tor oar products, especially our farm pro-
ducts, has been kept constantly in mind and
no effort has been made or will be spared 60
promote that end We are under no disad-
vantage in any foreign market except thas
We pay our WorkHoen and wofkNomen beeseI
wages than are paid Observation-Disclosures abb
stractly-better relatively to the cost of the
necesSaries Of life. do not doubt that n
very largely increased foreign trade 10 acces-
sible to US without baEtering for either our
home market for such products OF the farm
and shop as our Own people can supply or
the wages of eur working people.
I'm many of the products of wood and ifon
and in meats and breadstuffs We have ad-
vantages that only need better facilities OF
intercourse and transportation 60 secure for
them large foreign markets.
The reciprocity clause OF the tariff act
wisely ana effectively opens the way 60 Sc
the free admission to our ports OF certain
products. The right Of Independent nations
to make special reciprocal trade concessions
is well established, and does not impair
ft1<ar-k 1,fa
what is known the favored nation
clause" SO generally found in commercial
treaties. What is given 20 one for an
adequate agreed consideration can not be
claimed by another freely. The state of the
revenue was such that we could dispense
any import duties upon coffee, tea, hides and
the lower grades OF sugar and molasSes, that
the large advantage resulting 20 the country
producing and exporting these articles by
placing them on the free list entitled Us to
fair return in the way of customs. Conces-
SfOnS upon articles exported by us to them
was so obvious that to have gratuitously
abandoned the opportunity TO enlarge our
trade would have been an urpardonabIe er.
TOR. There were but two methods of obtain
ing control of this question open to Congress
TO place all of these articles upon the dutia-
Bile list subject to such treaty agreements as
could be secured, or to place them all pres
emily upon the free list, subject TO the
feimpOsition of specified duties il
the countries from which we re-
CSlNCo tucIn SuOulu EeIuSo Co give 20
US suitable reciprocal benefits. This latter
method, think, possesses great advantages.
u expresses in advance the consent of Con-
gress to reciprocity arrangements affecting
these products which must otherwise have
been delayed and unascertained until each
treaty was ratified by the Senate and the
necessary legislation enacted by Congress.
Experience has shown that some treaties
looking to reciprocal trade have failed to SEE
secure . two-thirds vote in the Senate for
ratification, and others having passed that
stage have for years awaited the concurrence
of the House and Senate in such modifica-
lions of our revenue laws as were necessary
TO give effect to their provisions. We
now have the concurrence OF both
houses in advance in distinct and
definite offer of free entry TO our ports of
specific articles. The Executive is not
quixed 70 deal in conjecture as to what Con
gress will accept. Indeed this reciprocity
provision is more than offer. Our part Of
the bargain is complete, delivery has been
made, and when the countries from which
we receive sugar, coffee, tea and hides have
placed on their free lists such Of our pro.
ducts as shall be agreed upon an equiva-
lent for our concession, proclamation of
that fact completes the transaction, and in
the meantime our people have free sugar,
tea, coffee and hides.
The indications thus far given are very
hopeful of early and favorable action by the
countries from which we receive our large
imports Of coffee and sugar, and il is conf.
IDENTIFY believed that if steam communication
with these countries can be promptly i'm
proved and enlarged the next year will show
a most gratifying increase in our exports OF
breadstuffs and provisions, as well as OF
some important lines of manufactured
goods.
The Elections Istll.
If any Intelligent and loyal company Of
American citizens were required TO catalogue
the essential humane conditions OF National
life, do not doubt that with absolute unan-
unity they would begin with ''free and hon
est elections" And it is gratifying to know
general desire was growing and non pafti-
san demand for better election laws But
against this sign of hope and progress must
be set the depressing and undeniable fact
that election laws and methods are some
ity control while violence completes the
shortcomings OF fraud. I'm my last annual
message I suggested that the Developments
of the existing law providing Federal
pervision of Congressional elections Offered
effective method OF reforming these
abuses. The need OF such q law has mani
tested itself in many parts OF the country,
and it's wholesome restraints and penalties
will be useful in all. The constitutionalitY
of such legislation has been affirmed by the
Supreme Court.
It's probable effectiveness 10 evidenced by
the character OF the opposition that 10 made
to it. 1t has been denounced as il it were
new exercise OF Federal power and an inva-
sion OF the rights OF the States. Nothing
could be further from the truth. Congress
has already fixed the time for the election OF
members of Congress. It has declared that
votes for members OF Congress must be by
written or printed ballot. Il has
provided for che appointments by the
circuit courts in certain cases, and upon the
petition of a certain number of citizens OF
election supervisors aud made it their duty
to supervise the registration of votes con
Quoted by the State officers to challenge per
sons offering to register; to personally in
spect and scrutinize the registry lists and to
affix their names to the lists for the purpose
of identification and the prevention OF
frauds to attend elections and remain with
the boxes till the votes are counted; to at
tach to the registry lists and election returns
any statement touching the accuracy and
fairness of the registry and elections, and
to take and transmit to the clerk of the
House of Representatives any evidence
of fraudulent practices which may be pre-
scented to them. The same law provides for
the appointment OF deputy United States
marshals to attend to the polls, support the
supervisors in the discharge of their duties
and arrest persons violating the election
laws. The provisions of this familiar title Of
the revised statutes have been put into exer
else by both the great political parties, and
in the North, we'll as in the South, by the
filing with the court petitions required by
law. 1t is not, therefore, a question whether
how Eoda oil fir-, 1axx for