The times., 1893-06-02

Richard Mansfield Foresees "A National
Theater.
TCopyright, 1898, by American Press Associa-
toni
Because there are children now living
who will realize fifty years hence all the
advantages that are likely to occur between
now and then it seems preferable to make
q forecast of half century than of whole
century. There is something realizable,
something within sight, in fifty years.
Pushing the prospect away a hundred years
seems to make the vision too dim and dis
tant for practical purposes.
Up to this period in the history of the
United States its people have been busy in
developing only that within its own bor-
ders. Ever widening areas have given
abundant opportunity not only for the
vast emigration that has reached these
shores, but for the natural increase of pop
ulation The development OF natural re-
sources so vast and varied have rendered
employment constant and profitable; enor-
nous additions by emigration have pro-
vided ready made customers on the one
hand and abundant labor on the other.
Everything within the country itself has
contributed to its own progress until now,
at the closing years of its first century of
progress, it has reached condition at
which all the world wonders.
But with the first fifty years of the new
century these conditions will very materi-
ally change, so far as the enormous increase
IN population is concerned. If the popula-
tion increases at the same relative rate in
the next five decades as in the last fifty
years, the number of people to be sustained
On this continent will be between $50, ,000, ,0C0
and 200,000,000 If the field of opportunity
Is beginning to be limited when the popu-
lation is less than 65, 100000, what will be
che limitations when the population reaches
Ghree times that amount? 1t is no eXtraor-
dinary estimate to believe that 1875, 900, 900
will need to find employment, need to be
governed, and, above all, need to be fed, be-
fore BOYS and girls now born will cease to
live. me prospect is rather a startling one.
1t is particularly so with regard to the
shape that matters are taking as to trusts,
combinations and consultations. If COM
petition is to be eliminated, production
regulated and prices fixed by the few, the
enormous increase in population will find
conditions more extraordinary than ever
anybody dreamed of. If, for instance, COAL
which is the chief factor and force in civ
ilization, should be controlled by ten or a
dozen men, it would compel the govern
ment to take possession of all the coal
lands in order to be sure of supply and free
from interference. Equally so with oil,
with sugar and the thousand other things
now drifting into the control of the few
But the tendency in this strange and
rather dangerous direction is likely to be
checked by the economic revolution re-
Gently witnessed in the presidential cleo
tion. The change which is implied in the
election of Mr.. Cleveland is that an effort
will be made to build up trade other than
that which exists in the country itself. 1t
would seem that this change comes at the
most appropriate time, and that revolu-
tions resembling special providences come
only when needed, and when needed their
effects come to stay.
If the destiny of the country limited it's
operations exclusively to within its own
borders, there would be precious little hope
for the 200, 100000 that in fifty years are to
be taken care of in this country. But with
the world open as field, with taxation re-
duced to minimum, without the need of a
standing army, with abundant supply of
raw material, and with food products
cheaper than elsewhere in the world, it
would seem that the destiny of the United
States included the creation of a commerce
ternal commerce which she has already
created within her own limits.
The extent and magnitude of this inter-
nal trade almost exceeds human estimate,
and is one of the most wonderful demon
strations of human progress the world has
ever seen, yet the foreign commerce of
which the United States Is capable is des-
tined to even exceed these enormous fig
ures, and in that foreign commerce exists
the hope of the future generations of this
continent.
Hence the revolution which now impends
in economic affairs is of great moment in
the forecast of the next fifty years. If the
genius of the people of this country, it's in
ventive faculty, the introduction of steam,
machinery, electricity and the forces that
have chiefly contributed to the progress of
the United States are made as effective for
the benefit of the whole world as they have
been for this country itself, there is no ap-
parent limit, except the limit of the world
itself, to the growth of wealth, to the aug
mentation of opportunity and to the
achievements of this people. Fifty years
hence boys now living will look back with
wonderment at the narrowness of the COM
prehension of even great political parties,
who sought to restrict the operations of the
continent so vast In us forces TO tne devel-
opment of trade within itself.
The growth of the commerce of Great
Britain is the best illustration of what may
occur in the United States in the ne1t fifty
years under changed conditions. The Brit
ish islands, which are mere speck upon
the map of the world, levy tribute from
every nation under the sun. This they do
in spite of distance from supplies of raw
material, with the necessity of purchase of
food products from distant climes and in
circumstances altogether disadvantageous
as compared with those existing In the
United States. If by the commercial policy
of Great Britain she has regulated up to
this time the commerce of the world; if she
holds the supremacy upon the seas by her
great maritime wealth, and by her accumu-
lations of capital she has regulated the
monetary affairs of the entire financial fab
ric of the earth, surely the United States
can do more.
But it is not outside the continent alone
that in the next fifty years so much will be
achieved. Turning northward, n region ex-
lists similar TO the United States in prod
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