The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-30
THE MISSION OF UHE MERCHANT

There is progress in the affairs of this
world. Weare not moving in a circle. The
movement Is steady and well-deilned The
past has no returning tide, and the chronicles
of the race point unmistakably whittier our
progress tends. The unexplored regions Of
the earth lessen rapidly, and the vision of |
civilized man, so to speak, reaches from pole |
to pole, and follows the equatorial line around |
the globe. Every year the antipodal nations
become more intimately acquainted, and
many generations will not mingle with the
muld before some MOSES OF philosophy, stand
ing upon the Pisgah of science, will catch
glimpse of that favored time when there shall
be universal communion of mankind and,
comparatively, universal peace.
This may have been the enthusiastic dream
Of poet in the last century, but in view Of
the astonishing development of the present,
we of eighteen hundred and sixty-four have
little room for doubt. The scientific traveller
| has already stood beside the Bechuanas,
under the norce sun of Central Africa, and
hunted the bear and wolf in the chilly twi-
| light or hIUtlC AUue. Inc ISLANDS OF
Oceanica are coal depots for steamers that
voyage over half the globe. The long secluded
myriadsl who still repeat the lessons of Con-
FUCIUs, and the Japanese, with their strong
walls and inhospitable coasts, have yielded to
the necessities of the age, and now seek more
intimate intercourse with the people of other
lands The speaking wire and the iron horse
will cross seas and continents, binding the most
distant countries, as II their res dents Inhabited
a conlederacy of adjacent States. The plan
tation, the store, the forest, the mine, and the
hunting ground will interchange their things
OF value, and the interest of one and all must
be unity and peace.
The merchant is the grand agent in this
glorious work. The necessities of commerce
have given us the steam engine upon land,
the mighty ships defying wind and tide upon
the sea, and the lightning message that is to
make neighbors of mankind. They have sent
the explorer to unknown lands to tell Us OF
their wonders and their wealth. They have
J disseminated the arts ard sciences to enlighLon
and refine people who for years have dwelt in
! n brutal barbarism. And-lottier honor YET
they have shown the Christian missionary
the path to the idol worshipper and the dark
: souled lover OF human sacrifice.
u At home and abroad the hand of the mer
u chant Is felt to be mighty for the increase o.
comfort, luxury, power, and prosperity
Whether he builds railroad In his own lane
or negOtiates a treaty for traffic with tht
Fejee savages, he works with palpable nfu
d ence to advance the high destines Of our race
o Commerce Ia king" and commerce is thu
IT apostle Of peace.
Of Then observe what an important personag
rt the merchant is in politics For what pur
70 pose are the majority Of treaties concluded
Y What prevents powerful nations like Grea
IS Britain and the United States from setthn
i every quarrel or temporary diplomatic di.f
A Guilty by recourse to the sword, but tho cor
D. sideration of the enormous commercial sacr
ST fees that must inevitably ensueP How muc
ID OF the legislation of Parllaments and Cor
'e crosses is indicated by the wants Of trader
e. Politicians may bluster more furiously tha
d the March wind, and professional diplomatist
90 may Landy words in the attempt to kindle
consuming blaze Of war, but it is general
oI tue Of the trading world, that If merchau
utters an emphatic "No," the sword will RI
'e main in its sheath. London could not affOr
y enter the lists against Washington aboV
'h a barren Musquito coast. Trade on both sid'
II of the Atlantic negatived the very though
Al Peace can never be advanced with the extel
OF sion Of military despotism; and, for that re-
81 son, the merchant desired to clip the ire
a. sceptre and restrain the growing dominion
the Czar.
DC If the mission of the merchant is as graz
81 as we conceive 1t to be, il his influence Is TO
y, felt 10 government, social development, al
w the moulding of the vast destinies Of mankin
Is can any standard OF excellence be too high Z
We his aspiration, can any education be too hber
Oh to at him for hir task?