Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1892-11-03
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party came Into existence han boon Of Re.
latest and most popular policy which the
genius of Secretary Blaine invented. ard
which to-day commands the admiration of
nine hundred and ninetyrnine ont ofeverY
thousand of the population. The Repub-
lican party stan ds to-day for nothing more
strongly than for reciprocity. and its char
acter as . progressive, contemporaneous
adoption OF Secretary Blaine's suggestion.
Republican statesmsn were quick
to perceive that there was .
large aud growing element ofths people
who, while entirely unwilling to abandon
the protective policy, weres neverthsleas,
an xious to see our foreign trade extended
In every possible direction lhsir demand
was fully met when the policy Of remit-
ting all duties ON non.compstlnR foreign
products in return for the remission of du.
ties on our staple exports was incorporated
into law.
The Republican congress, in addition to
its successful labors for promoting the in
dustrial prosperity of the country, also un-
dertook work which has been neglected
for generation. This was tho restoration
Of the merchant marine. The founders Of
the American republic, as soon Is the con-
stitution was adopted, legislated at once in
both directions. They levied duties in the
interest Of domestic manufactures, and es-
tablished discriminating imposts and ton
mage dues in favor of American shipping.
They recognized the fact that merchant
marine could not be built up by tariff,
but required special measures of protection.
Under this legislation American shipping
made apid progress and rivaIed the English
hipping merchant feet on the high
seas. From 1916 to 1850 there was re-
vsrsal of policy by which protection was
gradually withdrawn from American bot
toms. The discriminating imposts and
tonnage dues were repealed, and rec trade
in ireighting was established as the rule OF
the high seas. With the equalization of
the flags the American merchant marine
was brought into mpetition with foreign
ships manned by cheaper labor. The de-
cline in the American carrying trade on the
ocean, which was most noticeable Under the
low tariff preceding the civil war, was &C
CELEBRATED by the substitution ct steam for
sail, by the introduction ofironship build
ing, by the piratical raids OF English. built
Confederate cruisers, and, above all, by the
generous assistance given by every mari
time state in Europe to its own shipping.
The fleets In the coasting trade
and in internal waters prospsred be
cause they were protected by law.
languish ed from sheer lack of protection.
The great work OF the Republican con-
gress in its second session was the passage
Of shipping bill by which the prosperity
OF this neglected interest might be restored
by agencies similar to those enjoyed by
maritime Europe. The Democratic party
offered strenuous resistance; only one OF
tho proposed protection measures was en-
acted, and even that was seriously weak
ened by amendment; but enough has been
done to secure the establishment OF direct
mail service in steamships OF the highest
speed between New York and French,
Belgian and English ports, and to offer as
surances Of . substantial addition of l50. 600
tons to the merchant marine. While Re
publican policy il content with nothing
less than an Amsrican-built feet, which
can be converted in an emergency Of
foreign war into an auxiliary navy Of high
power, the Democratic party wants Tree
trade in ships as we'll as in ocean freight
ing. Its shipping policy is embodied in
the Fithian bill, which will enable any
purchaser of q foreign ship to put 1t under
tho American flag, Such policy involves
q characteristic lack of patriotic feeling.
The Democratic party is asked to do some
thing to rescue and build up our merchant
marine. Straightway it looks about for
some time-honored and useful statute that
can be repealed, and then by opening the
the destruction of American shipbuilding.
The Republican party stands to-day for
the protection of home industries and the
restoration of the flag to the seas, because
it Is national rather than sectional in the
tendencies OF its legislation. The tariff
and shipping bills affected the welfare and
tho honor OF all the states, and were enact
ed as measures Of high national policy.
Nevertheless, one Of the chief attacks upon
the majority of the Fifty-frst consress was
that they were sectional. That has always
been favorite Democratic criticism; but
it was especially bitter in consequence
the Republican majority to secure an
honest election of members of congress.
The election bill was denounced as an in
vasion Of Southern rights and liberties. II
honest elections are sectional, so much the
worse or that portion OF the country which
opposes reasonable measure for the pro-
lection Of the ballot and the vindication OF
majority rights. The Republican party
has no cause to be ashamed of tho stand
made in the Fifty-frst congress against law
lessuess and minority usurpatiOn in ma
tional elections. It was . courageous pro-
test against fragrant wrsngdoing. and it
counted fox the right.
The same political influences which en-
forced the principle of minority domino
ton in federal elections deliberately sought
to establish min ority rule in the Eifty-frst
congress. They repeated the attempt
in the Fitty-second congress when the
minority faction, after being defeated on
the appropriation for the worlds fair, sue
ceeded after . desperate struggle by . resort
to the most obnoxious Of the old rules in
debating to the majority their own condi-
tons OF surrender. In the Ntty-frst con-
grsss the minority fight against majority
rule va .nppkesssd: and the .s.ult va the