The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-04

sold to France last year only 81 900, 900
worth of our manufactures. We cannot
sell her steel, because, in retaliation
against our discriminating laws, she has
imposed a duty of 81 a ton upon our
steel rails, so that Germany and Eng
land sell steel rails in France at 81 less
than we can. The duty on an American
mower in France is $3.50 more than on
English mowers, while an American
reaper pays So moro duty than the same
machine shipped from England. So that
Frenchman can buy a mower from Eng
land for $3.50 less than from an Ameri-
can and a reaper for SIS less in England
than in this country
In asserting the proposition that our
tariff schedules are an obstacle in the
way of the restoration of our merchant
marine and the establishment OF ade-
Quate ocean transportation, as We'll as
in securing the best results in our inter
national trade, l am not advancing
theory or making partisan declaration.
l am but interpreting as to the erect or
these prohibitocy duties upon our foreign
trade the almost dying declaration and
warning of the most jealous and ablest
advocate or protection this country has
known. whose untimely death touched
the heart of the world. / am only elab-
Grating what the State Department
states in it's last annual review of the
worlds commerce. Let me quote from
this valuable document:
"It would seem to be evident that trade
agreements widening the channels of ex-
change between the United States and
other countries must have an important
bearing upon the question of building up
a merchant marine. One Of the great
obstacles to the establishment of direct
steamship lines from United States ports
is the difficulty of obtaining return car
goes. 1t is a fact of great Significance
that, wherever better facilities of trans
portation have been provided, our for
eign commerce has Immediately grown.
even in the face of obstacles that might
have seemed unsurmountable, and in the
absence OF other measures for promoting
II ade.
"The only barrier (speaking OF the in
PRODUCTION of our goods in foreign mar
kef) to their introduction will be the
artificial one of tariff or other discrim-
mating legislation, and this may be either
removed or greatly modified by judi
cious scheme of reciprocity. If to such
agreements. securing favorable treat
ment of our exports, We add concessions
permitting the importation of a larger
volume of foreign products, we lay at
once the basis for such exchange as may
justify the establishment Of direct trans
portation lines"
Mr.. President, when we oppose terri
torial expansion in the faraway islands
OF the Pacific ocean, our political adver-
sares taunt us with the statement that
Toff ha Demo-
cratic party, was an expansionist, and
trat the Democratic party itself. in its
early history, was a great practical ad
vocate Of expansion. The statement is
true and we are proud of it. The Demo
cratic party has added to the territory OF
the Union nearly one-half of its present
domain on this continent, and some of
these acquisitions were accomplished
against the violent protests of many who
questioned the wisdom and patriotism OF
the Democratic statesmen But the
Democratic leaders were patriotic and
did not hesitate to move forward ON lines
that they knew were right.
The question there was whether, on
the one hand, our country should be lin
tied by the Mississippi river, while the
vast interior OF America should be con-
trolled by European nations and Euro
pean interests, and dominated by mon
archical institutions, or, on the other
hand whether between the Pacific and
the Atlantic there should be but one
single Union, composed, indeed, of sep
arate States, but equal and sovereign
States, owing allegiance to common
flag and entitled to receive and receiv-
ing equal rights, protection and privl-
leges under that flag. The question here
is a question of two flags, one emblazoned
by a galaxy of stars, representing
Union of equal States and speaking to
all the nations of the earth of the sur
passing excellence of our institutions,
and the other an ensign of our imperial
sway over 100000 of conquered sub
jects.
l protest, Mr.. President, against quot
ing the action of the leaders OF the DEM
ccratic party in securing America for
Americans as precedent for the ac-
QUESTION of the Philippine archipelago
and the subjugation of the Filipinos to
our yoke. The expansion of JEFFERSON
was a natural expansion 1t brought
safety. not danger. The proposition to
extend the limits of our country to an
other hemisphere and to establish under
our flag imperial sovereignty across the
ocean is an entirely different PROPOSE
ticn. and one behind which turks dan
gers against which the whole history OF
Republican institutions, present and
past is a solemn warning.
wise man Is his own best friend: