Britain colluding with China, America's potential rival in South America, is the last thing the United States wants to see.
Because the beginning of 1889 was the transitional period between the old and new presidents of the United States, Harrison, who had not yet officially taken over as president, could only convene political allies within the Republican Party and preferred members of the new government in a private capacity to discuss response strategies.
“In order to counter the British Empire’s unreasonable interference in American affairs, it was also to restrict the entry of foreign industrial products into the local market and protect the national interests of the eastern states of the country.
I propose that on March 6, after officials of the new government ministries officially take office, a government meeting should be held immediately to urge Congress to pass the "Foreign Commodity Restriction Act", which would impose a 50% import tariff on goods from Britain, France and other countries, and impose 50% import tariffs on other countries.
When the country imposes high import taxes on U.S. goods, the U.S. government also imposes a matching import tax rate on some of its goods."
Harrison, as the president of the new government, first proposed.
"Raising tariffs on imported goods will trigger counterattacks from European countries, which will be detrimental to the external development of the Republic's capital. I oppose the use of economic sanctions to counter the British's unjust interference in American affairs."
A Republican backbone disagreed with Harrison's approach of hurting both sides and objected: "The British have always liked to dictate matters in American affairs. This is not a rare event for the United States. I think there is no need to blame the British for their actions.
, substantially changing the foreign policy direction of the Cleveland administration."
"So what do you think is the most important thing for the new government right now?"
Harrison, nicknamed the political iceman, asked rhetorically with his usual cold attitude.
“The real enemy of the American Republic has never been external countries such as Britain and France, but within the United States.
The biggest crisis and problem within the current Republic is the unrestricted and brutal expansion of monopoly enterprises in various fields, and the resulting fierce social conflicts. In Indiana, California and other places, several retired soldiers during the Civil War have
Millions of lower-class white people are very dissatisfied with the phenomenon of the former government allowing trust companies to monopolize the supply of goods and raise commodity prices at will. In the past few years, the "Chinese Immigration Restriction Act" approved and implemented by the government only found a scapegoat and transferred the bottom class.
There was some dissatisfaction among white people, but it did not ultimately solve the problem.
Therefore, I believe that after the new government is established, the most important thing is to introduce a bill to restrict the monopoly market of trust companies, improve the minimum living subsidy standards for the people at the bottom, and alleviate the social conflicts caused by the free development of the local economy."
Alleviating social conflicts and promoting rapid and healthy development of the local economy are issues that every U.S. president must face.
Harrison was born into a political family. His grandfather, William Henry Harrison, was the ninth president of the United States. During his time in politics, Harrison was a condescending and critical person. Although he was dignified as an official, he was not very good at managing the economy and the country.
, but he is a second-rate politician.
Moreover, in the 1888 presidential election, he relied on the support of party tycoons and a group of industrialists and bankers, and defeated President Grover Cleveland through the tricks and vote-buying methods used by the Republican Party and was elected president.
Therefore, in terms of domestic policies, he preferred to maintain the interests of large industrialists, bankers and other groups, while consciously ignoring the rising dissatisfaction among farmers and workers.
The other party's objections not only represent the interests of most white people at the bottom, but also reflect the political opinions of some big bosses in the Republican Party. Therefore, Harrison cannot pretend not to hear it and ignore it.
"The policy of commercial freedom is the foundation for ensuring the economic prosperity of the United States. Blindly restricting the development of large enterprises is inconsistent with the founding ideals of the United States.
Of course, the difficulties faced by the white people at the bottom are also real problems. Therefore, in order to solve the temporary social problems that arise during the process of economic development, the new government can provide a certain degree of guidance for the development of large enterprises. For example, it can propose such a
The bill requires that any contract or merger of enterprises shall not be a trust or other similar form of organization, and any scheme to restrict trade or the flow of goods between states shall be illegal.
At the same time, in order to alleviate the social conflicts caused by the low subsidy policy implemented by the first Cleveland government and appease the emotions of local veterans during the Civil War, the new government can apply for the implementation of the "Minimum Standard Pension Act" to reduce the cost of pensions.
An increase of US$129 million from US$88 million in 1888 to solve the living problems of disabled and retired soldiers."
After dealing with the difficulties from different political factions in the party, Harrison once again brought the topic to South American affairs, but he learned the lesson just now. This time he did not express his views directly, but signaled his political ally, the Secretary of State of the new government.
James Gillespie Bryan says what he wants to say.
James Gillespie Bryan is a famous statesman and diplomat in American history and is revered as the "founder of Pan-Americanism" in the United States. He served as the U.S. Secretary of State twice and was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate four times.
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In 1881, during his first term as Secretary of State, he proposed policies and suggestions to challenge Britain's global economic dominance, especially to seize the market in the Western Hemisphere;
At the same time, he also proposed to Harrison the proposal to promote the modern Pan-American movement and hold an international conference of the Americas.
James Gillespie Bryan intended to comprehensively change the isolationist policy of the United States in foreign affairs and implement a more radical expansionary policy. Therefore, faced with the recruitment of the new government President Harrison, he did not hesitate too much and
He decisively agreed.
"The Republic's core interest area is in the Americas. Britain's intervention in American affairs is a serious violation of the Republic's national interests and must be clearly and effectively counterattacked!"
After understanding Harrison's intention, James Gillespie Bryan tapped his fingers on the table and said passionately: "I agree with your Excellency the President and enact the Foreign Commodity Restriction Act to restrict the impact of European goods on the local economy.
The erosion of the market is a very necessary means, and it is also the first response measure to counter British maritime hegemony!
As an overall strategic approach to countering British maritime hegemony and safeguarding and expanding the Republic's overseas interests, we also need to strengthen control over Central America and the Caribbean. Only by first establishing and stabilizing the Republic's dominant position in Central America and the Caribbean can we completely
Only when the forces of Britain, France and other European countries are expelled from the two places can the Republic advance its sphere of influence to the Isthmus of Panama, South America, the North Pacific, the Central Pacific and other regions."
"The United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and Spain control many islands in the Caribbean. According to your thinking, does the Republic need to send its navy to knock down all the islands occupied by the four countries?"
"If the Republic has the strength to deal with the joint operations of Britain, France, Spain and the Netherlands, occupying all the colonies of European countries in the Caribbean and even North America is the most direct solution. However, the current Republic does not have the strength to be an enemy of most European countries.
strength."
James Gillespie Bryan escaped the trap set by the opponent and stated his point of view in an orderly manner.
"In the current situation where European countries still maintain colonies in North America and the Caribbean, developing the navy and using the Republic's navy to seize sea control in the Caribbean is the only effective way to respond.
Sea control is most important for the Republic to expand its overseas power. The main routes of the ocean can bring a lot of commercial benefits, so it must have a strong fleet to ensure sea control, as well as enough merchant ships and ports to take advantage of this benefit.
Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea, the Panama Canal being built by the French, and the Hawaiian Islands in the Central Pacific are all crucial maritime hubs for the Republic. By occupying the above three places, the Republic will control the passage in and out of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
It can enhance the radiation of local forces in overseas areas and avoid the danger of war with hostile countries in local areas.
Therefore, in order to achieve the above goals, we must increase our efforts to develop the navy."
Seizing control of Central America and the Caribbean from the British, and then pushing the sphere of influence of American capital into Venezuela and Colombia in northern South America, is Harrison's most concerned strategy, but vigorously developing the navy and persuading those in the country
As a member of Congress who is the spokesperson of a big entrepreneur and a big banker, it is not easy to get them to agree to divert government funds to the navy.
After the Civil War, the United States, which had a population larger than that of Britain and France and a land area nearly twenty times that of France, drastically reduced the number of its army and navy. It maintained only tens of thousands of regular troops on its huge land. This was in line with the position of the country's big capitalists.
great relationship.
Domestic strong isolationism can not be completely reversed by one or two politicians or one or two governments. Since the 19th century, the U.S. government has expanded its economy in the Americas and cut military expenditures on armaments, reducing the number of troops.
, is the most intuitive manifestation of the stalemate and struggle between the two forces.
Harrison was not confident in persuading members of Congress to agree to the proposal to vigorously develop the navy, and could only express limited support for James Gillespie Bryan's proposal to build a large navy and seize control of the sea.
Along with quarrels and debates, the bosses of the new U.S. government spent two days and finally reached a compromise on some aspects.
In terms of local internal affairs, the interests and needs of big capitalists have been basically met, and the interests of the people at the bottom have also been taken care of to a certain extent. As for the navy, because the strength of military industrial enterprises is far from being able to compete with big entrepreneurs and big bankers, it is only
The government has obtained several benefits by expanding the amount of subsidies for ocean routes and increasing the number of white immigrants in Hawaii. As for building warships and increasing military expenditures, they have been put on hold for the time being.