The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-31
OUR ASIATIC TRADE
MIR. p. H. RAHILLY THINKS II
SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED
IN EVERY WAY
PRAISE FOR JAMES ]. HILL
The Address of the Latter Before
the Farmers National Congress
Strikes n Keynote a Question
of 81 Per Ton and the Latter's
Answer.

StEAACS a. - "A question
to- Mr.. Hill In Regard to a Bonus
of 81 Per Ton and the Latter's
Answer.
To The st. Paul Globe
1t is not often that a man engaged In
! agricultural pursuits feels as though he
should laud the efforts of the president of a
! great railroad corporation, but the present is
an exception.
| At the last Farmers National congress,
| held at st. Paul. also at the last Farmers
! State Alliance convention, held there, James
J. Hill, president of the Great Northern rail-
road, a man who has devoted his life and
! his intellect to the study Of all currents of
commerce. made speech in which he eX-
posed to our vision a part of the enhancing
picture of American commerce.
! AS vice president of the National Farmers
Alliance and Industrial union. 1 have been
requested to express my views from agri-
cultural standpoint on the various points
made by Mr.. Hill in his address before the
above named congress and convention.
In view of the fact that quite agree with
! Mr. Hills views, as expressed before the con-
yentions 1 have no hesitation in stating my
views on the subject.
First of all. l sincerely believe that the
man, set of men, who will be instrumental
| in opening up and giving the American peo-
pie outlet to the Asiatc nations, will prove
themselves the greatest benefactors to Amer
lea that have appeared on this continent in
our day.
| Commerce covers the world Asatic COM
merce is a part of it, and when we look back
to the commencement of the history Of our
! country, we find that the original thirteen
states were more remote from each other
| took more time to communicate with each
other and were further separated than is to-
| day the commerce of the whole world We
can no longer be bound by the limits Of
the American continent. What would fit s.
| 100000 Of emancipated colonists will not 75-
100000 of people who are the equal Of any
other 75,0OOOO0 people of the world.
The foundation of the wealth of this great
nation is in the SOIL the products of our
| farms, our mines and our factories constitute
| the main wealth Of the nation. We furnish
| more Of the staff Of life than any other ma
| ton in the world. 1 have no doubt the
| United States will furnish the present year
| one-htth of the entire bread Of the world
! We have the most fertile soil Oh the globe
We have a climate that cannot be excelled We
have the intelligence, and implements and
mechanical appliances on the farm and in the
| factory.
The United States has approached a point
where we can supply the nations of the world
| with articles which constitute the main com,
modities of commerce
From an exhaustive examination of the
| reports of our consuls in foreign countries.
| note that we are sending pig iron to twenty
| seven European cities; we are shipping steel
| to Belfast and to the Clyde with which to
! build British ships. We ship annually 1OO.-
! OO0,O00 bushels of wheat to Europe. Practical
| ly we have but customer-Great Britain
buys three-fourths of everything we sell and
! sne having no competitor can purchase our
| surplus at her own price. The price of our
surplus is the price of all we produce
| why are we compelled to sell wheat at so
cents, rye at 70 cents barley at 425 cents. corn
at 20 cents? Simply because we have but
one large customer. Now for the remedy
Lying west OF us is one-third of the popula-
ZION OF the globe BY all means give us
an outlet to that immense country.
Our government can establish and does
establish our commercial relations with other
| nations. 1t must be done through the ef-
| forts Of the representatives Of the people of
the nation. L am convinced that Mr. Hill las
struck the keynote when he stated that we
must have an outlet to the Asiatic nations
and have no doubt that future generations
Will admire the man in whose brain such an
idea originated.
MI. Hill states: eff we are to have what
we should, merchant marine that is worthy
the name and worthy Of our country. we must
set about 1t in a way that will bring sue
cess; that will insure success If the
amount OF money that has been suuandered
on river and harbor appropriations which
has paid so many political debts ard done Us
I so little good, had been spent on building
UP our merchant marine, we could have a
ship leaving the Pacific coast every dav in
the year for Asia. laden with our products
First OF all, desire to address my brother
FARMERS, not alone in the West but in the
middle and Eastern states also Remember
If the United States has a surplus OF 100 coo
600 bushels of wheat and one-thirJ of that
west of the Rocky mountains is shipped to
ASIA market we never have had, you will
readily perceive how likely the price is to
advance from one-third to one-half more
than we ares likely to receive having only
one customer.
What is the duty of the people of the
United States under such circumstances?
Request your senators and representatives in
congress to use their influence to obtain a
| sufficient appropriation to build up mer-
chant marine worthy OF the nation Positive
ly decline to vote for or support any can
didate for Office who will decline to support
such measure regardless of party.
Mr.. Hill stated in his address that he had
representatives in Asia investigating the
feasibility Of opening up commercial reIa-
lions with thai country which result has
been satisfactory. Not alone is the farmer
interested in the building I'D of such a
merchant marine, every person in all the
walks of life, who has the interest of the
United States at heart is equally interested.
BY all means, MIR. Hill use your great in
fuence to give the American people an out
let to the Asiatic nations and the gratitude
OF future generations will follow you to the
other side of the grave.
At the request Of many, l have written the
following letter TO mir. Hill. His answer
will explain itself: p H RahilIy.
Hon. j. ]. Hill, st. Paul, Minn.-Dear Sir:
had the pleasure of being present at the
farmers national congress, one year ago also
the State Farmers Alliance last winter. |
was delighted with your address on both
occasions on the subject of extending the
commerce Of the United States to China.
Japan and other countries. Since that time
at every opportunity l have had l have in
vestigated the subject and have become en-
tirely convinced of the correctness of your
theory. There is one point in your address,
however, l desire to call your attention to-
You say If this country should encourage
the upbuilding of merchant marine to carry
products to Asiatic markets, where they will
bring the most money, bonus OF 81 ton
would insure the building of ships as fast
as the shipyards could turn them out" AS
vice president of the Farmers National Alli-
ance, l have been requested to explain the
above paragraph. They ask me who will nav
the bonus Of 81 per ton. My own conviction
is that the bonus will be paid TO the ovyner