The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-22

hold it's own. We have. indeed, since 1915,
constantly increased cur commercial
grasp upon Japan. In 1897 we had more
than 12ia per cent. of her entire trade
At that ratio, in fifteen years, we ought
to be sending annually to China two hun
dred millions of dollars of merchandise,
| or one-half as much as that, exclusive OF
purely agricultural products, we now
send to all the other peoples of the earth.
But commerce, however virile and enter
prising, ought not to be left to shift for
itself. Government should always give
to it the aid of its presence and moral
force. The Importance of this cannot
be overestimated Physical presence-the
power that flows from personal contact
Is the force that dominates everywhere.
This has proven itself over and over
again in trade between individuals, in
politics, in the propagation of moral
truths, in every relation of life. We may
not con prehend the philosophy, but we
know the fact. Nations impress them
selves upon the people of other nations
after the same Kramer. They take on re-
lations with others largely as they are
drawn to each other by physical contact.
A nation that seeks trade and influence
must make itself seen and felt. But the
physical presence of a nation to people
of foreign lands is it's flag, it's warships,
and the power 1t wields within the sph ere
of their observation. A harbor in the
Philippines, well garrisoned, and sove.-
eighty over the islands or a portion of
them, would be the embodinen ent of Amer
lea in Asatic waters. Our course seems
clear, if we are in earnest in our pur-
pose to participate in the development of
the east. We need these islands as an in
tegral part of the naval force without
the display of which we can never OBJ
tain a proper share in her commerce or
of t. nI,t Inc Il.
them in the interest of the merchant ships
that will for all time carry that COM
merce on we need them as strategic
points in naval contest with any otnar
power on the earth; we need them that
we may draw physically close to that
quarter of the globe in which we wish
our influence to be felt and our COM
merce to expand; we need them, above
all other considerations, as security to-
ward peace-that character of peace bond
that all nations respect.
o
am not unaware that what I have
said has the ring chiefly of commercial
conquest. The appeal however, is not
solely to the commercial spirit. Com
merce, after all, is the forcrunncr only
of every form of civilization. Civil lib
erty and better culture follow in it's lead
ership. BY creating new wants, cont
merce stirs new aspirations. BY giving
to men new surroundings, it quickens
new character OF thought. 1t lights up
the within from the new light 1t first
places without 1t reaches a people on
their human side, and having thus OBJ
tanned a permanent foothold, opens TO
them higher civilization. If Anglo-
Saxon law ever takes root in Asiatic soil:
If the people of that far-ofr continent
ever rise to the individual ennoblement
and dignity that constitute the disting-
uishing characteristic of the English
speaking race; if true popular institutions
ever come to supplant the present species
of paternal despotsm; If the religion of
Christendom, like the light of the sun
swallowing up in its effulgence other
lights, displaces their crude religion
these will come to pass because the pri-
mai germs will have been borne in upon
the tide of commerce, In the character Of
her rising commerce is bound up the fu-
ture civilization of the Asiatic people. II
Is the unerrng hand of civilization thar
points to the far east. A vast continent
lifts out of the ssa upon which to lay by
the hand of commerce, the founda tions
of that civil ard religious liberty that has
given to the English speaking race great
ness at home and coming primacy over
the affairs of mankind.