The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-14
NOW AND HEREAFTER.

The ST. Louis Republic, the ablest Demo-
cratic journal published west of the Missis-
sippi. and not excelled by any exponent of
that faith in any part of the country. in a
recent issue presented a plausible argu-
ment against Secretary Blaine's scheme for
Pan-American reciprocity. It is, in fact,
the strongest plea that has been or can be
made on that side of the question.
Noting the total expectation of American
farm products for the year 1889, and the
countries to which they were destined-ar
Of which was presumably taken from
official sources and accurate-it was shown
that England took more than three-ffths,
and therefore mere than all other countries
combined. with Germany second ON the list
and the other nations of this continent
coming in for but an insignificant fraction.
From this state Of facts, and the ad-
ditional fact that England cannot while
the American countries are or must be-
come competitors of the United States in
the line of agricultural productions, the
Republic argues that to the farmers of this
country England is the most important of
all countries. and the one with which it
viii most benefit them to cultivate liberal
trade relations, while the manufacturing
interests of the Northeast will alone be
benefited by Pan-American reciprocity,
and this to large extent at the expense of
Western farmers by introducing new COM
petitors on equal terms with themselves for
the home market
If craftsmanship dealt only with the
present and had no regard for the future.
this would be almost an unanswerable
argument. But it was not thus that Eng.
land built up her commercial supremacy.
1t was not thus that she acquired control
of one-sixth in point OF numbers and one
fourth in productive energy of the worlds
population. Ii Is not due to any such
short-sighted policy that her possessions
dot every sea and constitute an important
portion OF every continent Not thus did
she become the arbiter of the worlds
finances and the protector of leading enter.
prises in every quarter of the globe.
The distinguishing trait OF English states
manship has been far-seeing foresight. To
this, coupled with Anglo Saxon energy
and persistence. her marvellous achieve
ments have been chiefly done. England
has looked ahead, studied the futures ut
most possibilities, and brought her energies
to bear for the realization of those possibili-
ties. Commerce. manufactures and inf
mite diversity OF industries have been
weighed in the balance against a sole or
main reliance on agriculture. and a long
line OF English statesmen have concurred
in the conclusion that as the surest road to
supremacy, England can afford to draw
from other countries the larger portion OF
her food supplies, while she devotes her.
self to manufactures. takes chief control OF
the worlds commerce, and through these
becomes the money-center and the grea,
moneyed power of Christendon.
Looking beyond mere present conditions.
and broadly At future possibilities. far.
seeing American statesmanship finds
itself confronted by the question whether |,
viii make more for American dominance
that this country shah accept the role of q
competitor with India and the South and
Central American republics in the supply
of England with farm products, or the
competition of England for commercial
manufacturing supremacy and all that fol
lows in the tram of these; highly import
ant factor in which is the creation of an
enlarged and ever growing home marke
for the farm products of which England
by reason of her supremacy, now con
eumes.
The American nations with which Mr.
Blaine recommends reciprocal relations