The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-09
National Aid TO immigration.
Fdttor OF T,hn Times:

Editor OF The Times:
sir.-If IL be possible for the United
States government, by legislation, to heip
100000 families better their coHdltion
ana obtain homes in the arid West, such
n beneficent extension OF the doctrine
of orotection should not be delayed. Sup
pose the cost or national AID to migration
Is 5000. 900 600 If it provides that many
homes to American citizens 1t viii pay
for itself in that way alone. Fastening
so many people te the soil by homo ties
makes them conservative. Voters who
have nothing 10 lose can afford to be
radical The independent thinking vote
VII be vastly increased. TIE determine
ton of such a boov ri oitizc IS 20 over
throw the power of the trusts would not
prove that they are not fit for citizenship.
Rather it would be an infallible index
that the trusts determination to regard
She world as its oyster is not right. There
SIS no disputing the proposition that the
trusts at present can destroy any KIND
OF competition. European manufacturers
were forced to seek relief from the pres
sure on their markets by finding spheres
of influence in China. a hiaterland was
the prologue 10 a colony. The trusts
were able to rally round the flag, and
temporarily postpone the paTtltioninS OF
China At least. the administration
claims the credit for such a philanthro-
Ders. The common people regard the
pic Accomplishment. But it is a barren
victory. because those who surrendered
TO our diplomacy are no more anxious 10
get out of the Orient than are the Win
performance as the ranllast kind of
gambling in futures.
South America has become the new
storm centre. What Europe expected in
China she is now looking for on the Sou
1hern Continent. Having put our hand
tc 1,or n
Back. Peace may exist in the philippines.
but it requires an army to watch it
Germany has been suspected Of having
designs on South America for 10! these
snany years. There stands the Monroe
Doctrine a menace to Germany. Up TO
The time when Dewey cut the cable and
took possession of the PHILIPPINES our
Constitution was supposed to prohibit
the requirement of foreign territory on
another continent. It takes two to make
r. bargain. is an old German proverb.
The necessity exists for a public do
main. Those who are to be benefited by
st do not care what becInes of the ORR
entail market. but they will have lively
Interest in conditions in South America.
Commerce and industry will spring up
Riong with agriculture in n reclaimed arid
West When a surplus is on hand for
fign trade will be a long-felt want. The
Pacific Coast merchant marine will carry
exports and imports between the western
coast of South America and the country
tributary to our western Seacoast. Set
Element and development of South Amer
ica is a matter of prime importance.
People are as great factors in trade as
resources and products.
The common people do not care to sub
stdi5e immigration TO the United States
dy adopting measures to provide a new
public domain. All the homes the govern
111ent can provide viii be needed by bona
Jide American residents.
The strongest reason for them to change
from the East to the West is the shortage
of opportunity in the lives of industry.
1t would be cruelty to The l,readwinners
of the Eastern States to coax their
friends ana neighbors into the Western
Canaan and then fill their places with a
horde OF European laborers. Give our
own breadwinners a better chance East
and West, and let European colonial eN-
pansion have a chance TO work out some
of the problems to the south OF us. When
the foreign residents become numerous
enough to threaten to do the governing
some of the little artificial republics viii
be glad enough to call on their big sister
for help. The idea that Europe can
transfer her institutions bodily to South
America is a mistake. It is a, heruculean
task to benevolently assimilate a Span
lsh civilization.
Congress has power to levy tariffs on
different parts of the United States at
SITS discretion. An expansion of the pow
er could be made use of to help the Pa
cific Coast States. Trade with the West
ern Coast Of South America will become
increasingly valuable. Unrestricted trade
will never have the result which the
protective tariff has had in the case OF
our Atlantic Coast States and Europe
Tariff and reciprosity with the Eastern
Coast of South America and our Atlantic
Coast States will be cheerfully conceded
by the West in exchange for the kind OF
trade regulations which are needed by
The sunsettIers.
JAMES E. FREE.
Billings, Montana.