Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-02-09
NATIONS CAPITAL.
4 Maine Mans View Of EYent.
inl Legislation.
The Senate Decides to Hold Hight Ses.
SionS.
DSath OF CopsTessman Phslan An.
uouncsd. corsssss Adjaurns.
Especial to the KEsxxsKc JOURNAL. !

SPeC1Al 10 toe hEShkBkc JOURNAL.
WAsHISeroS, Feb. S-The past fort
| night has been in some respects one of the
| most even.ful Of many years as to national
occurrences. First. the virtual defext OF
| the election bill then following the death Of
| the Secretary Of the treasury, the decision
of the supreme court that il has jurisdic-
| tlcn in the Behring sea case, the virtual de-
| feat Of ffre coinage in the House, the pre-
cipitstion of the Canadian reciprocity ques-
ton by the action of Canadas governor
general and last but by no means the least,
the reciprocity agreement with Brazil. All
these hspperiaas Of SO much importance to
national interests crowding upon each other
make up an important though short era, one
that will however, make lasting impress
sion upon coming history.
1t is unnecessary at this time to make
extended comments upon these incidents,
(some Of which are quite foreign in their
relations to each other) as the press gener-
ally hiss already done 40.
One cannot help, however, feeling graft
fed tba. the free coinage craze has been
nipped in the bud, or at least prevented
from blooming out for this year at least :
and it is to be hoped that. by another year.
the pe,ncious results of such an act may
be perceived and sober second thought re-
suit in similar action or st least great mol
Grafton. Fortunately this is not wholly a
party question as may be seen by the vote
sustaining the Speaker. Secretary Win
dom's last remarkable speech, followed so
quickly by his death, evidently had much
weight with some Of the members of Cor
gress. Ii can be read and re-read with
, ats ,sb
est though. and method the true and the
false in this matter.
As TO the decision of the Supreme Court,
no citizen need feel at all alarmed. 1t mere
ly assumes that il has jurisdiction of the Alas
kan court, and can rule on his its decisions
but it is easy to see that this highest tribu-
nal in our land will not arrogate to itself
the leading political questions involved be-
tween this and foreign countries. That
point can, and undoubtedly will be, eva
ded, IS such action would invade the rig hts
of negotiation aud treaty making and inter.
national agreement.
The universal rejoicing over the success
Of reciprocity negotiation with Brazil at
tests the intrinsic value and popularity of
the measure. Party lines are broken in
the general praise awarded to Secretary
Blaine. Certain 1t is, however, that this
entering wedge is going to open other
methods Of agreement. One CT the first,
evidently, will be negotiations looking to
the entry of certain staple Cuban produc.
lions after the same manner. Spain must
soon see that bar on her part means q
rapid development of the sugar industry in
Brazil and consequent loss Of the United
States market to Cuban sugar.
1t means an increased market for our
products where they are needed. and the
beauty Of the principle j, that it does not
interfere with our protected industries.
Those nations which manufacture and pro-
duce what ,we maApfietpse OF, produce will
have the laat. and iesst show III shis busi.
mesa unless the free trade crszs should get
the best of US.
Now pass the shipping bill, and with
decently subsidisized merchant marine we
can carry the increased exports in domes-
tic instesd Of foreign bottoms. This means
a great revival Of shipbuilding and increased
prosperity for Maine. Let our citizens,
without regard to party in this matter, do
all they can to hurry this bill through the
present Congress. 1t means money in their
purses and comfort and happiness in very
many of the homes of the working classes
of our State.