The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-10-10
Talks Well and Intelligently OF
the Topics Of the Day.
AMERICA FOR AMERICANS
Nicaragua Canal and American
Shipbuilding-RestOrat of
Republican Tariff Policy the
Prime Issue.

among Astoria's visitors yesterday, Is too
well known to this community 70 need
an introduction. His hea1th Us now bet
ter THAN it has been for some time past
and he WILL enter upon Gllfs new duties
invigorated and strengthened from his
summers vacation. Prior to his departure
next month for Washington, together
with Senator Mitchell, he has been caal-
ing upon his friends in different parts
of the state thht he might learn OF any
special matters which they desired him
to Cook after for them dn tlhe capitol,
and also to post himself more fully in the
business of the different parits of the
state.
An who know THE senator know him to
be man of the people, for THE people
and for Oregon every thine and AID the
time
To am Aatorfan representative who
asked him for hhs ideas on the questions
of the day, he said:
"In the discussion of public maitters
by a member of congress wCho has not yet
taken his sent, he should remember that
passage of scripture which reads some
thing Iike this: Let not him THAT put
teth his armor on boast like him that
tal1euh it off, but I shaI be glad to give
you anything THAT can say that viii
be of interest Ito your readers"
What are your views, senator, on the
money question:"
80 far as my own VIEWS nre concerned,
l can only repeat wfJaIt / have before
publicly Stated, THAT 1 am lin favor of the
largest possible coinage of both gold and
silver consistent with THE maintenance OF
the equality of values of all the dollars
issued by the government whether gold
silver or paper, On this question
am lin full accord with the national Re-
publican platform of 1892, and ann con-
fident THAT Republican craftsmanship
will devise Legislation for THE enlarged
use of silver als money without Empairing
the equal purchasing and de'btt-paylng
power of 1.-THE dollars of either metal. ]
believe THE restoration of Ithe Republican
protective tariff policy will largely in
crease the balance of International trade
in favor of THE United States, thereby to
great extent preventing THE expectation
of gold and making practicalbCe an en-
larged use Of silver in our domestic ex-
changes"
What, in your opinion, is the bearing
of the Niearaguan canal ON our national
affairs?"
Il consider tIhat THE constitution of the
Nllcaraguan canal lis THE most important
public Improvement Ito THE Pacific Slope,
as well as TO the entire nation, that has
ever been proposed in congress. This /
believe to be true, not only because of its
importance from commercial point of
view, but because of its use as a. means
of defense.
"The opening of THE canal, by giving
Shorter lines of transportation between
the principal shipping ports of THE Pacific
and Athnltic seabolards would materially
reduce the rate of freight on the prin-
cipal exports of the Pacific Slope. would
open and extend the marlpelts for all man
ufactures of wood and lumber, and by
reason of water competition would reduce
the raltes of freigtht on the trtanscontllneu-
tai rail wtays-all inurtng Ito the benefit of
our producers and shippers. think the
opening of THE canla, would be of imme-
dlate and special benefit ito Oregon and
Washington in opening up to us the mar
kets of THE At[antic for an The products
OF our forests.
"Nhere Is another nlaluteIr intimately re-
lated to and connected with 1he proposed
opening of the Nicaragua canal, which /
regard ais of great Importance to the
United States, viz: That of the rehabli-
taItion OF the American merclhhnt mar
inc. We should not only secure the
construction and opening Of THE caria
by the government, but we should by
a wise and generous policy, encourage the
building of American ships and the car
rying of our imports and our exports ir
American bottoms. 1t is estimated by
competent authority uhAlt THE people OF
the limited States have paid to the
owners of foreign ships an average OF
$3.50 900, 900 per year for freight durirg the
last 30 years, making total of A,JOO,OOO-
900, "a sum greater than our entire in
debtedness ito foreign nations. AS this
freight must be paid in gold, or in pro-
ducts whose value lis measured In god,
it is a very greAt drain upon the coun-
try, which might be avoided by policy
of adequate protedtion to American ship
building"
'Wnat do you u.Gnk, serltor, would be
the effect on 1he voGI1me of business done
over our trtanlscontinenltaI railroads in the
event of the completion of the canai?'
"Whfle 1 do not pretend TO be able to
forecast the effect of the opening Of the
canal upon the valhIme of business done
by the trianscontinenlta1 railways, lam In
clined to the belief thalt It Will increase
transcontinenta1 traffic, and that SUCH
increase. will result from larger produc-
ton and the increased commerce THAI
win naturally follow from the impetus
given to the development Of our resources
by the opening of THE canal"
You think, then, tlhalt on the principle
of competition developed along the Mis-
sissippi river by the building OF parable
lines of raf,road on both banks and the
consequent development of Increased
/ traffic for both the boalts and THE roads
by the natural increase in popuduon and
business, that The competition of the Mic
araguan canal against the tranzcontln-
enOsa roads would make new business for
bodh the canal and the railroads by the
development OF a new population and new
Industries 70 be serwedT'
Hnat Is 1t in a nutxhel1-t1e canaG will
bring greatly increased population on
the Pacific coast, open new Industries and
make new traffic for tine roads az WEI
as for the canal fhseff."
What do you think VIII be the chief
issue in the next NATIONAL cam1aagn7g
''W55hout in any way ignoring or un-
deresdnnaiting other great and important
ptlb1c questions. / regard the reesor-
alton OF the Republican policy OF a pro-