The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-29
TRUE AMERICANISM.

In his speech in New York city Friday
night Governor Hastings paid special at
tention to the twin subjects of reciprocity
and foreign affairs. Said he: 81 am of
the opinion that one of the important is
sues in next years campaign will be that
OF reciprocity. Although one of the latest,
it is the most important branch that has
been grated upon our system of protec-
tiOn. Through thirty-fVe years of protec-
tion our country has grown so rapidly in
population and developed so marvclously
in all lines of trade, commerce, agrcul-
ture. in fact in every lawful occupation,
that we have been able to supply not only
the American market, but in many in
stances to overstock it. Uncle Sam has
grown to be a great farmer, manufactur-
er and all-round business man. He raises
big crops, more than enough for home con-
sumption. He generally has q surplus to
sell. As a manufacturer he beats the
world, and pays his employees, skilled and
unskiiled, higher and better wages than
are paid in any other country in the
world. His manufacturing business has
grown so steadily and rapidly that he
sometimes has more than he needs for
home demands. These he Is willing to
trade off to his neighbors for some things
that he may be short of. He needs tea,
coffee, sugar and other articles Of house,
hold use, because he can't grow them at
home, and his people must have them
-:l:-
He used to pay gold for these neces-
sities. Now he wants to trade kind for
kind. He looks about and he finds that
among his neighbors on this side of the
Atlantic, Mexico, Central America, Porto
Rico, Brazil and other neighboring coun-
tries, he has been paying annually in
gold about 100000, 900 for what they have
and which he needs. He finds also that
he has a surplus OF almost everything
that his neighbors require, but while he
Is buying from them $1,000 900 in volume
every year. they are not buying much
hnn -fArt trth Nf hat mt
from his surplus stock. He is paying
the balance in gold and at the same time
Is hunting FOR some other neighbor to buy
his surplus products. Some years ago he
came to the conclusion that this was not
good business, and he consulted one of his
leading counselors, and Mr. Blaine in
formed him that it was always good busi-
ness to keep as much gold at home as he
could conveniently, that 1t was always
better each year to trade off his surplus
products to his neighbors in exchange for
for what he needed than 1t was to pay out
gold. Uncle Sam saw the point. He noti-
fled Brazil to bring on her coffee and other
products into our market free provided
she would allow his surplus products to
ride into her harbors with his flag floating
and his cargo free on board for our pro-
ducts which they require to an equal
amount; but, says he, remember this is
privilege for privilege and 1t only lasts
while we are doing business with each
other" The result was that under the
reciprocity enactment our export trade
with Brazil, in two years, increased 100
per cent; with Cuba our export trade in
creased 100 per cent; while Cuba's trade
with France fell off about GO per cent, and
Brazl's trade with Europe fell off an av-
erage of more than 40 per cent.
Before I close l may be permitted to
remark for few moments upon the
relations of our country to Venezuela and
Nicaragua. Notwithstanding the fact that
the st. James Gazette and other British
administration papers are continually ap-
plying the epithet of 'demagogue' to ev
cry American citizen and newspaper that
chooses to give an expression of opinion
from an American standpoint upon the
question, / am constrained to say that
Great Britain was the first foreign power
to coincide with and approve the Monroe
doctrine, and In the same breath am i'm
PEELED to say that with the exception OF
the unsuccessful attempt to establish
Maximillian in Mexico and the present
trouble in Cuba, Great Britain has been
the only nation that has attempted to
ignore and violate the Monroe doctrine.
The Monroe doctrine is as much part
of our American creed as the Declaration
of Independence. The American people
believe in it and regardless of party af-
filiations, are disposed to defend II.
American sentiment, in my judgment,
calls for stronger and more vigorous
policy on the part of the only govern
ment founded upon the equality of man,
nation possessing within herself all the
essential elements of self-existence. The
people of this country demand strong
and comprehensive American policy that
will keep the American flag a1oat in tri-
umph and in honor on every sea and In
every port, that will defend and protect
the American citizen If need be in the
uttermost parts of the earth. that will be
patient and just with every other power.
but that will make and maintain a policy
which will insure the rights, the dignity,
the grandeur and the future of the Ameri-
can republic"