The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-10-01
WAR AND COMMERCE.

War and commerce are mutually destruc
tive. Neither can nouish without cisplac-
ing the other. War preys upon commerce.
which in turn destroys the probability of
war between TWO freely trading anG mu-
tually dependent nations.
Historians tell US that the war between
tie north ana the south was made possible
only by the total want of acquaintance and
close commercial relations between the
sections. The autipathy that grew up was
largely attributable to the lack of railway
communication, of personal contact, and of
friendly or business correspondence. The
sections hated each other from alack of un-
Outstanding each other.
English statesmen have long recognized
that SO long as America continues to feed
the people of Europe, that no European
government could afford TO go to war with
this nation. And SO long as the countries of
Europe continue to supply or wants with
the products of their industry, it would be
suicidal on our part to become embroiled in
quarrels with them. Nations become mu-
tually dependent by exchange of products
People OF one nation DO not labor in order
to supply the wants of the people OF other
nations, however; for eaca nation. each
community, and indeed each person works
only for himself-to supply his own wants,
Bat 1t IS one Of the beneficent harmon;es
Of the relations of man TO man, that in
working by the most effective way in which
TO supply our own wants. we also supply
the wants of others. We do not as had
been said, think OF others at all. and we
only use them because we find it to our ad-
vantage to do so. We do not buy silk from
France because we desire to give employ
ment to the French people, but because we
find that the easiest way OF obtaining silk.
Nor do they buy American sewing machine
because they are interested in
in our welfare, but because
they can make money by using
American machinery, and they can get
more and better machines by making wine
and silk than by making the machines. 1t
is not, in short, that we love other people.
but that we love ourselves that we ex-
change products with them. We do not
know nor care whether foreigners are
benefited by exchanging goods with US.
but we know we are, and that settles the
matter for us. 1t is not because tie mer-
chant of this city loves either the eastern
firms he buys from or the people he sells
to that he is in the mercantile business. II
is not because the farmer loves the mer-
chant that he sells his wheat for money
and with the money buys sugar and grocer
les from the merchant Each works for
himself, and throughout the whole domain
Of productive industry there is no import
ant exceptions to the rule
This looks like sheer selfishness. but there
is wisdom in it over and above the
power Of man to subvert When each
is doing the best he can-earning the most
possible-for himself in legitimate way
whether by exchanging his goods. by i'm
proving his methods Or the tools he works
with, or by hiring to whoever will paw him
most, is also, uncOnsciously, doing the best
he can for others also. The more his labor
and goods exchange for, the more they are
needed by others. The greater the trade
between countries, the greater the mutual
benefit.
Commerce demands peace for its pros
perity, and is therefore the enemy of war.
1t breaks down the barriers of national
prejudice, by the substitution of an en-
ightened self-interest in the place of an
Gent prejudice. Though selfish as to its
prosecution, its results are universally ben
eficent. The former barbaric desire for
gain through war is now giving way before
the assured benefits of peace. Commerce
is the corner stone of civilization, supply
ing The only Indispensable condition-con-
tact and acquaintance with other nations.
by one of the most effective incentives
known to human kino-individual self
interest.