The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-02
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America. Centennial ofcommsrcini Lib
mty.

ON the 18th OF this month in New York
under the auspices OF the Chamber OF
Commerce OF that city, 1t will be In
the form OF u banquet at Delmonlco's.
II is probable that the day will be OBJ
served In a similar manner In other
commercial centres, The occasion,
which is TO be known us Commercial
Day. will complete the first century
OF the commercial history of this coun-
try. which began with the signing OF
the treaty made with Great Britain by
John jay, to whom had been entrusted
the task by President Washington.
The history OF this treaty is one of
absorbing interest and throws a strong
light on the politics OF that day, 1t is a
remarkable fact that, notwIthstand-
ing the treaty gave American COM
merce its first impulse and lifted the
then struggling young republic out OF
bankruptcy, gave us the first acknowl-
edgement from England of American
commercial liberty, and stimulated
American growth In every direction. 1t
met with violent opposition in this
country-so violent, In fact, that Jay
was burned in ettlgy in some places, and
in others. even in so important a COM
mercial centre as Boston, he was de-
nounced by public mass meetings. In
New York alone was the benefit OF the
treaty realized and appreciated. and
the metropolis was the only city in the
country which welcomed Jay home
with open arms and endorsed the result
OF his labor. Washington himself was
not free from the almost general de-
nunciatlon by the people. whose hatred
of England was such as to blind them
10 the necessity of treating with that
country for commercial or any other
sort of an advantage.
This hatred amounted almost to an
insahity. The people of America were
in frenzy Of sympathy for France and
the French revolution, and another war
with Great Britain was imminent in
consequence. One writer, in speaking
OF the situation, says: ut is not dlfl-
cult at this day 10 form Judgment as
to what would have been the result OF
such a struggle. France could have
rendered US no assistance, and England
would have either hopelessly crippled
or conquered the country"
In addition to this, says the same
writer, we were in an impoverished
condition, the republic having been ex-
hausted by the revolution. We had no
foreign commerce Whatever md our
internal trade was yet In Its infancy.
while Great Britain controlled the sens.
we were confronted by bankruptcy on
every hand. 1t was at this crisis that
Washington won for the second time
the title Of Father Of his country" but
ne did so at the peril Of his popularity.
He was obliged to face the French feel
ing and public clamor, knowing full
well that the only thing which would
establish an American commerce on the
high seas and save the republic from
failure would be. strange as II may
seem, an unpopular move. with n
courage Characteristic OF him. he ig-
nored the dcnunclation OF almost the
entire country and selected John Jay
ns envoy to England with full power to
negotiate u commercial treaty What
jay accomplished brought about what
We to-day cnjoy-commercInl freedom.
True. as we have said, It wns abused
and condemned by the leading men OF
the time, but thousands Of them lived
TO blcss the day that It was ratified and
10 nay eloquent tribute to the far-see-
ing atntcsmanBhlp Of George Washing.
ton, In Drawing public clamor, and to
the diplomatic skill OF the man he hnd
chosen for the work.
Hon. Chauncoy Dcpew, In an article
reviewing the history Of the trcaty and
It's results. HnyB; "From the year Of
It's ratification began American COM
inercc. New ship ynrds were construc.
ted ana fleet OF American merchant
men was seen upon the seas. In the
hnrborB Of Great britain ana all the
continental nntlon6 OF Europe and the
ports OF the Orient, appeared this
strange nng. under which tho mcr-
chants and the traders Of the world be-
ran TO discover that there sailed now,
most ontcrprlsIng and most ndyentur-
ouB recruit 10 the ranks Of the trade
md the commerce Of the world.
Through the gatcwny, but purity open
I'd by the Jay trcnty came n volume Of
trade which llbornllzod the laws mud
broke down the tlmc-hUnOrcd rcBtrlc-
tlonB OF tho centuries. Dhc ilE.
urca Of American commerce from l7pi
10 1895 nrc romance aud reality fiction
and fact They rnnkc mathematics
pootIcai, aud they mike poetry innthc-
matlca"
Ana II ia the inaugural anniversary
" this wonderful hlntory-thc net that
gnvcd thn now republic from dcnth IN
ita Infancy TINT IN Ia hc celebrated on
tho 18th of this month, md, na Mr.. po.
pew rays. that data should h. Com.
morclnl Dny' with every commercial
body Of tho United states. In rryorcuI
recognition Of the ORIGIN Of American
commerce. aud the creation u the con.
dltlnna un1ur which every bunrd uI
trade aud ovcty chnmbrr NJ commerce
49,. A.. ..It.y 4 Yt,.tI.