The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-27

year In 1898. owing 70 the threat OF un-
| friendly tarin legislation. the total
dropped to Ss47, ,665. ls4. Our exports OF
| domestic merchandise decreased s1s9.-
| c00, ,000 but reciprocity still secured US =
| large trade in Central and South Amer
| lea, and a larger trade with the West
| Indies than we had ever before enjoyed.
| The increase Of trade with the countries
| with which we had reciprocity agree
| ments was S3.560.e15 over our trade In
| 1892, and sic, 440. .721 over our trade In 1891.
| The only countries with which tho
| United States traded that showed IN
| creased exports in 1893 were practically
those with which we Had reciprocity ar
| rangements. The reciprocity treaty be-
tween this country and Spain, touching
| the markets OF Cuba and Puerto Rico,
was announced Sept. 1. 1891. The growth
| Of our trade with Cuba was phenomenal.
| In 1891 we sold that country but l14.4n
| barrels OF flour; In 1892, 366, ,175; in 1893,
| e16,406, and in 1894, 622, ,248. Here was a
| growth OF nearly 500 per cent. while our
| expectations OF -four TO Cuba for the year
| ending June 80. 1s95-the year following
the repeal OF the reciprocity treaty-fell
| to 379.s96 barrels. loss Of nearly half
| our trade with that country. The value
| of our total exports OF merchandise from
the United States to Cuba In 1891. ths
| year prior to the negotiation OF the reel
| procity treaty, was $l2.224, ,SSS; In 1892,
$l7 1858 579; in 1893. s24157 .ess; in 1894. S20.-
l25.321. but in 1895. after the annulment
| of the reciprocity agreement. II fell TO
only $12. .Ss7. SCI.
| Many similar examples may be given
| Of our increased trade under reciprocity
| with other countries. but enough has
| been shown Of the efficacy OF the legis-
| lation Of 1890 to justify the speedy
restoration OF Its reciprocity provisions.
| In my judgment congress should i'm
| mediately restore the reciprocity Sec
tion OF the old law with such amend
| ments. IL any. as time and experience
sanction as wise and proper.
The underlying principle of this leg
| islation must, however. be strictly OBJ
| served. II Is to afford new markets for our
surplus agricultural and manufactured
| products without loss to the American
aborer OF a single days work that he
might otherwise procure.
Foreign Immigration.
The declaration OF the platform touch
| .ng foreign immigration Is one of pecu-
lar importance at this time, while our
own laboring people are in such great
distress. / am in hearty sympathy with
the present legislation restricting for
| eign immigration. and favor such extern
sion of the laws as will secure the United
| States from invasion by the debased and
| criminal classes OF the Old World. While
we adhere TO the public policy under
which our country has received great
| bodies of honest, Industrious citizens.
| who have added to the wealth. progress
and power Of the country. and while
we welcome to our shores the
migrant who contributes by his
energy and Intelligence to the cause
| Of free government. We want no
! immigrants who do not seek our shores
| to become citizens. We shall permit
none to participate In the advantages
! of our civilization who do not sympathizd
with our aims and form of government.
| We should receive none who come to
| make war upon our institutions, and
profit by public disquiet and turmoil.
| Against all such our gates must be
tightly closed.
Our Soldiers and Sailors.
The soldiers and sailors Of the Union
should neither be neglected nor forgotten
| The government VIII. ch they served so
| well must not make their lives or con-
dition harder by treating them as sup
| plants for relief III old age or distress,
or regard with di tain or contempt. the
| earnest interest one comrade naturally
| manifests in the welfare OF another.
| Doubtless there has been pension abuses
! and frauds in the numerous claims
| allowed by the government. but the pol
icy governing the administration of the
| pension bureau must always be fair and
| liberal. No deserving applicant should
| petrated by or for another. Our SOL
diers and sailors gave the government
| the best they had. They freely offered
health, strength, limb and lifc to save
/ the country In the time OF its greatest
peril, and the government must honor
them in their need as in their service.
with the respect and gratitude due to
brave, noble and self-sacrifcing men,
who are justly entitled TO generous aid in
their increasing necessities.
Our Merchant Marine and Navy.
The declaration OF the Republican plat
form in favor of the upbuilding of our
merchant marine has my hearty APP
proval. The policy of discriminating
| duties in favor or our shipping, which pre-
vailed in the early years of our history
should be again adopted by congress,
and vigorously supported until our
| prestige and supremacy on the seas is
fully attained. We should no longer
contribute directly or indirectly to
the maintenance of the colossal
marine OF foreign countries. but
provide an efficient and complete
marine of our own. Now that the
American navy is assuming position
| commensurate with our Importance as
q nation-a policy. am glad to observe
| the Republican platform strongly en-
dorses-we must supplement 1t with q
| merchant marine that will give us the
advantages, in both our coastwise and
foreign trade, that we ought naturally
and properly to enjoy. 1t should be al
once a matter of public policy and ma
tional pride to repossess this immense
and prosperous trade.
Civil Service Reform.
The pledge OF the Republican national
convention. that our civil service laws
shall be sustained and thoroughly and
honestly enforced, and extended wher-
ever practicable" is in keeping with the
position OF the party for the past q
years, and will be faithfully observed
Our opponents decry these reforms
They appear willing to abandon all the
advantages gained after so many years
agitation and effort. They encourage a
return to methods of party favoritism
which both parties have often de-
nounced, that experience has con-
dcmned and that the people have re-
peatedly disapproved. The Republi-
can party earnestly opposes this reac-
tionary and entirely unjustifable policy
| I x.rt1l toly h.c rd Sta hi Id