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commerce shall be in a flourishing condition. It is the duty of 

 the people to have such a policy pursued as will revive it, and 

 place it where it can by proper measures be placed, namely, 

 upon a prosperous basis. The farmer now looks to a foreign 

 as well as a home market for his productions. The price of 

 grain is as mucli fixed in Liverpool as in Chicago. The ex- 

 ports of what may be fairly classed as agricultural products in 

 1881 amounted to over seven hundred and eighty millions of 

 dollars, about four-fifths of all our exports, and but a very 

 small percentage was carried in American vessels. This con- 

 dition of our commerce is a disgrace to our country, can be 

 and ought to be remedied. It is for the farmer to say whether 

 such a policy shall be pursued as will restore our commerce to 

 her natural and prosperous condition. I cannot go into a dis- 

 cussion on this occasion of the measures necessary to bring- 

 about so desirable a result, but ask your favorable consideration 

 of all legitimate measures to secure its deserved prosperity. 

 Its success is essential to yours. While the farmer ought not 

 to do anything to discourage manufactures, but to do all tliat 

 can fairly be done with a proper regard for all the other inter- 

 ests to promote their prosperity, lie is in duty bound to let no 

 opportunity pass which is offered to revive our dilapidated 

 commerce. We must adopt such measures as will give our 

 commerce the lofty position to which it is entitled among the 

 enterprises of the people. 



CONCLUSION. 



Does any one ask why I have thus occupied your time, I 

 answer, the subjects of which I have spoken are of especial in- 

 terest to you, and because I am most desirous of having the 

 evils that threaten us averted by peaceful measures, with the 



