The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-04
Willis VS.. Stevens

The nomination OF Judge John w.
Willis in this, the Fourth district COM
pletes. with one exception, the list Of
Democratic congressional nominations
In this state. Judge Willis possesses
scholarly attachments, the faculty Of
readily sitting puzzling questions and
penchant for public affairs, all of which
would make him a valued member of
any congressional body. While the
nEonopolies and trusts, against which
the Democracy has ever been pitted,
VIII receive, we are assured, no small
share Of his attention, during the cam
patgn, his platform covers some other
admirable features in which the public
at large is interested.
He holds, for instance, that civil
service reform should be vigorously
prosecuted until merit shall be the only
basis for appointment to office" This
was the article of faith which aroused
the antagonism Of some party leaders
against Mr.. Cleveland, though that fact
by no manner Of means proved that he
was wrong and they were right. In
fact, the contrary is generally held to
be the case
"The welfare of society depends upon
a scrupulous regard for the rights of
property-as defined by law" is an
other admirable plank. So is plank
No. 7, which demands the expansion of
our merchant marne-a subject, by
the way, that is rapidly coming to the
forefront of discussion among intelli-
gent and ar-seeing American citizens.
Here are just a few figures which
show the lamentable condition and the
pressing need Of upbuilding our ship
ping interests:
The total foreign commerce CT the United
States during the last year was valued at
H,S47,532 1884, Of which $616, 050 654 represents
of domestic and foreign products. or the
foregoing, total of $7S, 2S3, 704 of imports and
exports were brought into or taken from
the United States by land vehicles and MT
by sea; the balance, amounting to a total
of 81, 743, S21 ,4S6, was carried in vessels. OF
the foregoing, last named American ships
carried just 16 per cent Of the imports and
SO per cent of the exports, or a total Of 9 Is
per cent of the entire foreign commerce. Of
the United States transported by sea, foreign
ships carrying the balance. The money
the vessels of the United States was $t61,-
328,017 and of that carried in foreign ships
1852, 493,479.
These figures show that, although
that year was the greatest in our his
tory, as regards foreign commerce, it
was the worst year Of American ship
ping in that trade. In other words, the
proportion of imports and exports car
rled in American vessels, during the
year ended June 80, 1897, was IL per
cent, while for the year ended June 80,
1898, it was only 8 per cent. Truly,
American farmers and manufacturers
should insist upon their representatives
in congress bestirring themselves in
| behalf of the marine transportation
| facilities Of this country. It appears
to be the fact already that these facili-
ties are inadequate for our growing
! .AAaiatio trade. and such a condition Of
affairs will in no way improve until
federal legislation gives encouragement
| to American shipping interests.
The Democracy is to be congratulate
ed upon having injected into the cam
paign a live issue. It can be treated
as such by the live men of the party,
and the money question" can safely be
left where it Is, in the possession Of it's
dancing Dervishes.
Congressman Frederick Clement
| Stevens can now pinch himself to
make sure he is awake, and prepare to
paw the circumambient atmosphere.