The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-13

I -
| grsss there were those who thought that
the house was large enough; that 81
! members had represented 10000 Of PEG
/ PIE, and that they were a sufficient num-
Der 70 represent 100000. Kansas and
Maine thought otherwise. and after a
memorable contest we finally Won over
| 10 our way Of thinking the states lying
geogra phically between Maine and Kan
sas. and the next house % representa-
| tives to be elected VIII consist OF So mem
| beTs and Maine and Kansas VII retain
their present representation.
But L have been speaking Of the past.
| What Of the future? Fer the first seventy
years from Washington 10 Lincoln, the
great question in dispute was whether cur
government was q nation or q league Of
states. Lincoln, woh stood for national
unity, settled that question IN favor Of
the United States Of America. After the
questions growing out Of that war were
determined. we began discussion OF the
kind Of money that we should use and
Whistler we preferred our manufacturing
70 be done in this country or abroad We
have decided upon the kind Of money that
We want. II IS TO be the money Of civil
izarion-as good Is the best anywhere.
We have settled our tariff policy-in favor
Of ourselves and our own country. We
have expanded, and We viii leglslate or
the questions growing out Of that expan-
sion. The great question Of The future is
whether we VIII stand stiu or whether
We shall continue TO grow. The nation
that has attempted 20 remain stationary
in the past has always retrograded A ns-
ton can 90 either forward or backward.
Il can do nothing else. Our people have
a genius for invention We have 75eo2.-
$50 Of people. We can produce enough for
159o00,o00 The question Of the future IS
not one Of production; it IS one Of con-
sumption. As long as we find a market
for our surplus products. just so long
VIII we continue 10 prosper. What that
surplus is thrown back on our own peo-
PIE the mills VIII close, prices Of farm
products VIII fall, and a business depres-
sion viii surely follow. During the first
century OF the Republic our people have
been upon the land. In the second they
are going upon the sea Legislation that
VIII help to enlarge cur foreign com
merce, that vii assist in the itransp0rta-
ton Of our products to other lands, ought
to receive the support Of the interior OF
our country as readily as those who live
along the seaboard.
The shipping bill Is now pending in con
gress. and it VIII Increase our foreign
trade. Senator Vest. in a recent speech
on this bill, said it was part Of the great
protective system which is sacred to the
Republican party. This is a splendid In
dorsement for the bill. There could be no
-,
have tried free trade and protection and
they know the difference. II the shipping
bill is part of the great protective sys-
TEN they win cheerfully favor it. for free
trade and hard times have always gone
hand in hand in this country. II It takes
the shipping bill to perfect thar system,
II viii be perfected. Protection has been
found 70 be the best upon the land. and
why should it not be the best upon the
sea? While our foreign trade is constant
~ increasing. and while our manufactur-
ers are seeking markets in other lands It
is a national disgrace that only Q per cent
Of our products bound to foreign coun-
tries is carried under our own flag. The
shipping bill has for IT'S object the restor-
alton Of our merchant marine The time
is opportune for such legislation. IF il
does not come at this session it VIII at
the next. and on that legislation which
is for the general good of the whole
country and for the carrying out Of a
great national policy. New England and
the Mississippi valley Should be in hearty
accord. You of Maine VIII he directly
benefited by this legislation. We Of kan
sas viii receive our benefit indirectly. as
We have from a protective tariff, but re-
ceive it we will
cit is a great contest to recover our
ocean-carrylng trade. It is no greater
than was the struggle 70 40 our own
manufacturing in this country. We then
worked in the face of determined foreign
opposition that enlisted the aid and sup
port Of 4 large number OF our own citi-
zens. The effort TO regain control Of our
ocean trade and commerce will be bitter
" and persistently opposed by foreigners
who now control that trade and VIII not
relinquish It without a struggle. The con-
test will be second only TO the one over
the tariff question But It VIII end In our
favor. Such legislation wiz he enacted (
The people Of this country VIII not con /
tinue 70 pay tribute 70 foreign ship
builders and steamship companies. : hey +
VIII insist that our products shall 60 70
lands under cur own flag in vessels owned (
by our own citizens and manned by
American crews. In this great contest OF
the immediate future the SIndower state +
Of Kansas and the Pinetree state Of
Maine viii be together.
The great contest for the restoration +
Of our merchant marine could not be sue
cessful until now. II never would have
been possible had Lincoln failed and the
south seeded. Then ali honor 70 him .
for this contamination devoutly TO be (
wished. Born in poverty. reared amidst I
want and adversely. he became. under f
God. the instrument THAT delivered slave +
and master from the hlighrIng iastitntIon /