The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-09-09

pearl buttons. Few articles coming to us from
abroad were 80 distinctly the product of starv-
alton wages. But without unduly extending
this letter cannot follow in detail the influ-
ences of the tariff law of 1890. 1t has trans-
planted several important industries and es-
tablished them here and has revived or en-
larged all Others The act gives to the miners
prot ectiOn against foreign silver bearing ores,
the free Introduction of which threatened q
great many industries of the Rocky Mountain
states, and to wool growers protection IL their
fleece and disastrous dec inc. The house of
representatives at its last session passed bills
placing the wool upon the free list. People Of
the West will know how
Destructive to Their Prospects
these measures would be. The tariff law has
given employment to many thousand Ameri-
can men and women and will each year give
employment to increasing thousands. Its re-
peal will throw thousands out of employment
and give work to others only at reduc wages.
Shrewedly, but not quite fairly, our adversar-
les sps ak only of the increased duties imposed
on linen, pearl buttons and other articles by
the Mckinley bill, and admit altogether any
reference to the great and beneficial enlarge
ment OF the free list. During the last fiscal
year S45S,OUO,772 worth of merchandise, or $685.
per cent. of our total imports, came in free the
largest percentage in our history, while in 1889
the percentage of importations was only 34.42
per cent. The placing of sugar upon the free
list has saved to the consumer in duties in fif-
teen months, after paying the bounties pro-
vided for, SS7,000.0O0.
The Coinage Question.
The resolution of the convention in favor of
the bimetalism declares, think, the true and
necessary conditions of movement that has
upon these lines my cordial adherence and
support. am thoroughly convinced that the
free coinage of silver at such ratio to gold as
will maintain the equality in the commercial
uses of the two coined dollars would conduct
to the prosperity of all the greet producing
and commercial nations of the world The
only essential condition is that these dollars
Shall have and retain an equal acceptability
and use in all commercial transactions. They
are not only medium of exchange but a
measure of values, and when two unequal
measures are called in law by the same name
commerce is unsettled and confused and the
unwary and ignorant are cheated. Dollars of
unequal commercial value will not induce to
our prosperity. The true interest of all our
people and especially of the farmers and work
ing people who cannot closely observe the
money market is that every dollar, paper Or
coin, issued or authorized by the cover nment
shall at all times aid in all its uses by the ex-
act equivalent. not OILY in debt paying, but in
purchasing powers of any other dollar. l am
quite sure that If we should now act upon this
subject independently of other nations, we
would greatly promote their interests and in
Jure our own.
An Honest Ballot.
The power of the states over the question of
the qualification of electors is ample to protect
them against the dangers of an ignorant or de.
PRAYED suffrage, and the demand that every
man found to be qualified under the law shall
be made secure in the right to cast free ball
lot and to have that ballot honestly counted
cannot be abetted. These new politi-
cal movements in the states and the re-
cent decisions of some of the state courts
against unfair apportionment laws encourage
the hope that the arbitrary partisan election
laws and practices that nave prevailed may be
corrected by the states, the laws made equal
and nom partisan, and the elections free and
honest. The Republican party would rejoice
at such solution.
OF Benefit to Farmers.
The considerable attention of the farmers of
the whole country is invited to the work done
through the state and agricultural depart
ments in the interest of agriculture. Our pork
products had for ten years been nearly ex-
cluded by the great continental nations of
Europe. All previous efforts to secure the re.
moval of these restrictions had failed. But
the wise legislation of the Fifty-frst congress
providing for the inspection and official GER
tificates of our meat, and giving the president
power to forbid the Introduction into the
country of products of such couni ries as
should continue to refuse TO receive our meats
enabled us to open all the markets of Europe
to our pork products. The result has been not
onlyto sustain prices by providing new mar
ketS for our surplus but to add % cents per
lOJ pounds to the market value OF the in
spected meats. Under the reciprocity agree
ments special favors have been secured
For Agricultural Products
of
greatly increased with prospect of further
and rapid increase. The agriculture depart
ment has maintained in Europe an agent
whose duty it is to introduce the various prep
arations of corn as articles of food, and his
work has been very successful. The depart
ment has also sent skilled veterinarians to
Liverpool to examine in connection with the
British veterinarians the live cattle from the
United States landed at that port and the re-
suit in connection with sanitary measures
adopted at home have been that we hear no
more about our cattle being infected with
uro-pneumonia. judicious system of
quarantine lines has also prevented the infec-
ton Of Northern cattle with the Texas fever.
The Nicaragua Canal.
have often expressed my strong conviction
of the value of the Nicaragua ship canal to our
commerce and to our navy. The project is not
one of convenience but of necessity. 1t is quite
possible, believe if the United States will sup
port the enterprise to secure the speedy COM
pletion of the canal without taxing the treas
ury for any direct contribution and at the
same time to secure to the United States that
influence in its management which is i'm
perative.
Foreign Policy.
1t has been the purpose of the administration
to make its foreign policy not matter of par
tisan policy. but of patriotism and national
honor, and l have very great qualification in
being able to state that the Democratic men,
bers of congress of the committees on foreign
affairs respond in a true American spirit.
have not hesitated to consult freely with them
fairs and here frankly confess my obligation
for needed cooperation.
A Healthy Condition.
The general condition of our country Is one
of great prosperity. The blessing of God has
rested upon our fields and upon our people.
The annual value of our foreign commerce
has increased more than 81 )0,00,U0O over the
average for the preceding ten years, and more
than $2l0,00O,000 over 1890, the last year un-
affected by the new tariff Our exports in
1892 exceeded those of 1890 by more than S172,-
100000, and the annual average for ten years
bG S165, 100000. No other nation can match
the commercial progress which these figures
disclose. Our compassion NAV well go out to
those whose party necessities and habits COM
pei them to declare that our people are sup
pressed and our trade restricted by a protec-
tive tariff 1t is not possible for me to
refer even in the briefest way to
many of the topics presented in
the resolutions adopted by the convention.