The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-08
"Triumphant Democracy. +"


will riglsNy be highly esteemed splendid work
1t is grand thing to think well of ones country,
and better still to speak well of it, and TO so
| show forth its excellence as to command the
admiration of others in foreign lands. This Mr..
Carnegie does in manner that carries the con-
viction that he is enthusiastic and sincere ad-
| mirer of this great American Republic. In the
opening chapters of the work he proceeds to lay
| a broad and solid foundation for his praise
| by recounting the marvellous progress made by
this country in everything that tends to make
| people great and good. This is excusable, for
| every citizen Of the United States must feel a
pride in the progress it has made since it es-
tablished its independence hundred years ago.
But much of this progress must be ascribed to
natural rather than artificial causes, though
enough remains to give eternal renown to the
founders of this Republic for the patriotism and
wisdom they evinced when they set out to build
| a government for their people Some of the
statements made by Mr.. Carnegie will be in the
| nature of surprise to the general reader and
will serve to increase the admiration already
felt for the Nation. 1t is the general impression
that the ocean commerce of the United States
| amounts to nothing compared with that of the
world at large. The author says:
1.-The shipping of the Republic ranks next to
that of the worlds carrier-Brtain. No other
nation approaches Ter in the race for place. In
1880 the carrying power of Great Britain was
eighteen millions of tons; that of the Republic
nine million. being about one-half the mother
lands commercial feet, but more than that of
France, Germany, Norway. Italy and Spain
combined, these being the five largest carrying
powers of Europe after Britain. The Western
Republic has more than four times the carrying
capacity OF its European sister-France. and
quite four times as much as Germany Her
ships earned nearly 20 per cent of the total
shipping earnings of the world ia 1880. France
and Germany each earned but shade over
per cent The exports and imports of America
are already equal to those of either of those
countries-about ST. 100000, 000 Notwithstand-
ing those facts, which are corroborated by Null
hall. and are known to be correct. the general
impression is that the Republic, gigantic as shes
on land, has very little footing upon the water
This is one of the many popular delusions of the
kin beyond the sea- But while she is next to
Britain herself as maritime power, it is when
we turn to her internal commerce-her carrying
power on land-that she reverses positions with
her great mother. The internal commerce of
the United States exceeds the entire foreign
commerce of Great Britain and Ireland, France,
Germany, Russia, Holland, Austria Hungary
and Belgium combined For railway freight
over $50, 600 900 are annually paid, greater
sum than the railway freightage of Great
Britain France and Italy collectively and more
than is earned by all the ships in the world, ex-
elusive of Americas own earnings from ships.
The Pennsylvania railroad system alone trans
ports more tonnage than all Britains merchant
ships"
The work continues il this vein in every de-
partment of labor and progress, the writer evil
IDENTIFY being an enthusiast in his love for Amer
lea and her institutions, aud in no other drec-
AL 49, kos-
ernment of the people, rather than OF a ruler or
oligarchy The American citizen will read these
encomiums with pardonable pride while the resi-
dent of any other country will reluctantly con
cede the truthfulness of the claims made In
comparing the educational advantages of the
several nations Of the world, the author shows
that England annually spends on ornaments
$145 000 000 and education but $33 500, 600;
France spends $175 600 900 for war, and but $l6,-
600, 900 for education. Italy makes the worst
showing, in devotng 500, DOC, 900, annually. on
ornaments, and but So, 100000 on education,
or seventeen times as much for war as for educa-
ton. The United States, $47, 100000 for war,
and twice that much. or $93 600, 900. for educa-
ton. The conditions, it will be seen, are re-
versed in this country from what they are
abroad. The youth who grows up in the United
States has the best chance of getting an
education of those of all the world
living. as he does in the only country
that expends more for education than for war;
Touching on agriculture, the writer presents
statistics showing this to be the most productive
nation on the globe ''Were the live stock on
Uncle Sans estate" he says, ranged FIVE
II 81
five feet long, and marched round the world. the
he ad and tail of the procession would overlap
This was the host of 1880; that of 1885 would be
ever so much greater, and still it grows, day by
day, and the end of its growth no man can fore
| tell" In this same line the author demonstrates
the great business the city of Chicago does in the
| way of s,aughtering hogs. 'Last year 1884 she
received nearly two million cattle, a million
sheep. and FIVE million hogs more than twenty
| FIVE thousand animals per day. So that there
| marches into Chicago every day in the year
| Sundays and Saturdays included-a procession
of victims two and hale miles long. ten abreast"
He goes on to recount the marvellous develop
ment Of that and other cities noted for their re-
| markable progress. OF Indianapolis he says
| indianapolis. with its present population Of
| 90, 900 inhabitants has also history which the
| oldest inhabitant can recite from personal ex-
perience Practically its history as q city dates
from the opening of the Madison railway. in 1847
| Before that date it Was q small country
| town, so isolated that its trade was
compared to that of two boys who
when locked mp in q closet made money swap
| piag jackets. The town was laid out Ia 1891