Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-03-07

wealth has not only been created by her
manufactures but also and to much greater
extent by the millions of millions of acres
of wild lands which have been converted into
productive farms and fourshing towns. The
United States has not only grown in popula-
ton by natural increase, but also by the
throwing open of her ports and inviting the
people of all countries to become citizens of
the great republic. The real cause for won
der is, not that the United States has become
so rich and populous, but that Great Britain
has gained so much in the same direction.
The argument in favor of protective Duties
based upon such comparison, is totally I'M
founded, and am surprised that so able
man as Mr.. Blaine should have presented it,
nor would he if he had not become so welded
to the policy of protection that he sees no
evidences of national prosperity that are not
based upon it, and foresees no i'll that will
not be the result of its abandonment. That
the United States has been largely enriched
by her manufacturers is admitted but has
not her enrichment been largely at the ex-
pense of the great body of the people? She
has rapidly increased in population, but this
increase has been largely the result of the de-
mands of her manufacturers for cheap labor.
How expensive this cheap labor may prove
to be, in the character of the laborers, is a
question which is yet to be solved. The pre-
monitions that come from our large cities
on this head are very far from being COM
forting.
If Mr. Blaine had seen the west as l saw it
in 1888, when more than three-quarters of
such states as Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and
Missouri were untouched by the pillow, and
all beyond was magnificent but well nigh
trackless wilderness, and should see it as it
now is, he would not attribute the growth of
the United States to protection, nor would
he undertake to sustain his favorite theory
by comparing that growth to the slower
growth of the United Kingdom.
No one can tell what would have been the
condition Of the country if the tariff had
been radically changed at the close of the
civil war, but this we do know, that it's
present condition is not healthy. 1t is the
greatest producing country in the world,
and therefore needs the widest markets for
its productions. With all needed markets
open to it, it has no well defined and mu-
tually profitable trade even with South
America. Its manufactures as well as its
agricultural productions exceed not only the
home demand, but what is left to it of the for
eign demand and as its productions are in
creasiag more rapidly than the demand for
them, it is impossible for me to see where
relief is to come from except from increase
of our foreign trade, which can only be
brought about by reform of the tariff.
AS J. have said, we do not know what
would have happened if the policy of the
government in regard to import duties had
been changed twenty years ago, but it is
clear to my mind that if the nation of the
greatest producing power does not hold the
keys of the worlds commerce, if she does not
the fault must be her own. Precious time
has been lost and immense sacrifices have
been made to build up and sustain one great
branch of national industry, but such are the
resources of the country and the energy of
the people that, with wiser legislation, which
cannot be long delayed, all damages can be
repaired and general prosperity secured
This legislation will be found in removing
from the tariff everything that stands in the
way of international trade and the adoption
Of the needful means for the restoration of
our merchant marine
With what Mr.. Blaine says about the ship
ping interest of the United States I am in
hearty accord. Mr.. Blaine says:
The failure of the United States to encourage
and establish commercial lines of American ships
is in strange contrast with the jealous efforts
made to extend lines of railway inside the coun-
try, even to the point of anticipating the real
needs of many sections. If all the advances to
railway companies, together with the outright
gifts by towns, cities, countless states and nation,
be added together the money value would not
fall short of thousand millions of dollars. No
effort seems too great for people when the in
terror of the country is to be connected with the
Seaboard; but when the suggestion is made to
connect our Seaboard with commercial cities of
other countries by lines of steamships the public
mind is at once disturbed by the cry of ''sub-
sidy.'' We really feel much afraid of protec-
ton at sea Mr.. Gladstone is of protection on
land. The positions of the American congress
and the English parliament this subject are
precisely reversed England has never been af-
frighted by the word subsidy, and while have
stood still in impotent fear she has taken posses
sion of the seas by the judcious and even lavish
interposition of pecuniary aid. l have already
said that the interest on the amount which Eng
land has paid for this object since she began it
with great energy fifty years ago would give all
the stimulus needed for the rapid expansion of
our commerce. Let it be added that if the gov
eminent of the United States will for twenty years
to come give merely the interest upon the inter
est, at the rate of per cent, on the amount
which has been a free gift to railroads. every
steamship line needed on the Atlantic, the Pacific
and the Gulf will spring into existence within two
years from the passage of the act 1t is buta few
years since congress twice refused to give even
S125, 900 per annum to secure admirable line of
steamers from New York to the four largest ports
of Brazil; and the of S125 COO is but the inter
est upon the interest, at per cent, Of the gross
amount freely given to the construction of rail
roads within the Union Is it any wonder that we
have lost all prestige on the sea?
THE SHIPPING INTEREST
This failure has been the result of a want
of comprehensive craftsmanship in congress
Fifty years ago the United States was second
only to Great Britain as maritime nation;
now she Is outstripped by nations that were
then quite unknown as maritime powers. The
deadliest blow to the shipping of the United
States was in the substitution of iron for
wood in the construction of ships What was
left Of her foreign shipping was destroyed in
the last civil war. Now, as no nation can be
really great that is dependent upon other ma
lions for the ships to carry on it's foreign
trade, one would suppose that the restoration
of our foreign shipping which had been thus
destroyed would long since have received the
earnest attention of congress- But session
after session has passed away, and nothing
has been accomplished in this direction. while
the difficulties to be overcome have been
steadily increasing. It is true that subsidies
| We're q few years ago granted to American
! lines which failed to accomplish the expected
| results, but this should only make it certain
| that what may be done hereafter shall be
done with more circumspeQtion. The United
| States can certainly do what other nations
| have successfully accomplished in matter of
| great national Importance.
The Indifference with which western con-
gressmen and western journals regard our
| foreign shipping interest may not be surpris-
| ing, as they are mainly interested in the de-
! velopment of their own section; but it is sur
| hat To-. f.14 1.
| representatives from the seahoard states, and
| by the journals which are published in our
commercial cities, The New York Evening
| Post is journal of large circulation and in
| fuence. No man knows better than it's lead
| ing editor that the carrying trade between
this country and Europe is in the hands of
foreigners who are enriched by it. No one
| knows better than he ought to know that
capitalists in the United States will not put
their money into ships to compete with long
established and Subsidized steamship lines by
which that trade is controlled without govern
! ment aid.
!