The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-09-28
ISSUES OF THE CAMPAIGN.
Ex-Governor Stone Of Missouri Discusses
the Political Situation.

Ex-Governor Stone Of Missouri Discusses
the Political Situation.
In my opinion, the next Democrat
ic National Convention will again de-
clare for the free coinage of silver
and it will be done by a practically
unanimous vote. The party, as a
whole, is intensely in earnest in its
advocacy of bimetallic coinage. 1t
will not recede from this position; it
will not go backward.
I believe the next National Demo
cratic Convention will also press our
maritime interests to the front. And
make the rehabilitation Of our mer-
chant navy a leading issue ofthe cam
paign. I say tissue" because any Sc
rious effort to rebuild our merchant
navy on large scale will necessitate
a bold assault on those Republican
policies which have destroyed our
maritime interest for the beniit of a
special monopoly, and because the
existence Of a great merchant navy
would of itself put forces into opera
tion which would soon demolish that
whole fabric OF "protection'' so artful-
ly contrived by our Republican oppo-
nents.
Il We expand our maritime inter
ests, we must seek trade; if we covet
dominion of the seas, we must control
the markets of the world. But this
We cannot do if we exclude others
from our own markets. II we put
ssPrivate and Exclusive" over the
gateways to our ports, we cannot ez-
pect free welcome into the ports Of
other countries.
Ine two things are inconsistent and
impossible. But we should fill the
seas with our ships. What We need
above all things are markets. The
productive capacity of our country,
already great beyond comparison, can
be quadrupled; and the inventive
genius and business skill and enter
prise OF our people are confessedly
superior to all others. If we under
take in dead earnest to do the carry
ing trade OF the world and to control
the worlds commerce, We will soon
outstrip all competition. Think what
we might do if we should do our
best.
Let me illustrate: Ofour enormous
cotton product we manufacture only
small percent. 4 do not venture
into statistics of-hand) By far the
greater part is shipped abroad. fab
ricated in foreign mills, and made the
basis of q vast commerce for foreign
countries. All this cotton is manu-
factured somewhere, it is transported
in somebody's ships, ami the manu-
factures are sold somewhere in the
markets of the world.
Why should not We manufacture
our own cotton, carry the goods in
our own ships, and sell or exchange
them ourselves to those who have
need Of them? If this should be done
it would greatly encbance our man
ufacturiDg interests, give employment
to thousands, and by stimulating de-
mand increase the market price OF the
raw material.
What is true Of cotton is equally
true of other things. If we find mar
kets to absorb our products, the mills
and men to make them will follow;
they will all grow up together. Can
We find the markets? I believe we
can-in the Orient; aye, and il Eu-
rope, too, for with our superior ma
chinery and workmen, we can pay
higher wages, and yet compete with
Europe for tradein her own markets.
But if We want the worlds markets,
we must go to them. If we desire to
dominate the worlds commerce, we
must be equipped for the work.
To be 50 equipped we must have
the greatest merchant navy afoat.
All this is good old Democratic doc
trine. It was favorite policy OF our
fathers in ante-bellum days. l believe
it will be again. And, therefore, l
believe the next Democratic conven-
ton will push the revival OF our mar
itime interests to the front and make
it aleading issue; and, incidentally,
will insist upon the speedy construc-
ton of the Nicaragua Canal, and the
necessary enlargement of our navy.
To my mind there is so much of pros
perity and glory to our country 10 be
gained by this policy, that I believe
it will command the support of the
people Of all classes and sections when
It is fully presented and understood:
Apropos to this I believe it should
be the policy OF the Democratic party
to have our government seek the clos
est alliance with Mexico and Central
AMI South America, and, I may add,
with Canada also.
We ought to form with them, or as
many Of them as possible, a bimetal-
lie union, and make bimetallism an
American policy in opposition to the
European policy of monometallism.
II we take the lead and offer the
proper inducements and encourage
ment, this can be done. We can so
unite the Americans as to rule the
world, not by force of arms, but by
the arts OF peace.
I believe I have indicated what will
probably be the leading issues of the
next campaign. There will, of course,