The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-22
uANp1cAppINa OURSELVES.

4hc morCudub VINO Cdu sel1 HIS Eooue
at the lowest price, quality being equal,
is the one who is certain to sell the most.
The manufacturer who can produce his
wares at the smallest cost is certain to be
the most successful one, because produo-
ing at the smallest cost enables him to
sell at the lowest price. If an
American manufacturer cannot offer
his goods at as low price as the
foreign manufacturer. assuming the
quality of both to be the same, he can
n OF sell them except in market where
he is given some artificial production.
Given an open market to which all manu-
facturers have access on the same terms
the manufacturer who will sell the most
goods in that market is the one that can
sell them the cheapest.
The producers and manufacturers of the
United States are outgrowing the home
market and are beginning to COM
pete for foreign markets. To have any
chance of success they must be able to
produce and manufacture at as low cost
as the producers and manufacturers of
other countries who compete with them.
Anything that tends to increase this cost
tends to diminish the prospect of success
full competition. The American
manufacturers and producers are already
at some disadvantage on account of the
higher wages paid to the American work.
ingman. though the difference between
wages here and abroad is made up to some
extent by the superior efficiency of the
American workman. On the other hand
the American manufacturer and producer
derive a considerable advantage from the
much lower cost of government in this
country than in Europe, where the huge
military and naval esta blishments which
have to be kept up impose tremendous
burdens on all sorts of industry.
The real prosperity and happiness OF
this nation, indeed Of every nation, de.
pend upon the general employment of
the people at good wages. and that IN
turn depends upon the making Of indus
tries profitable. Our country is fast
filing up and tho home market will not
always suffice for the absorption of home
products. Already it has ceased to be
sufficient fol-. the absorption of many kinds
of goods and producers are more and more
reaching out into foreign markets. AS
we have pointed out to have any chance
of success there we must be able to sell
the same classes of goods as low or lower
than other nations can offer them. We
are at disadvantage as to the wages Of our
operatives and workingmen, but we are
at a great advantage now as to the
burdens of government. This disadvant-
age we can escape by reducing the wages
of labor, but to do that would inflict
grievous harm upon the republic. In the
course of time it would inevitably lower
the tone of the working masses, diminish
their means for educating their children,
gradually crush their ambition, and OK.
tinguish their PRIDE and eventually
reduce them to the level of the
workingmen of continental Europe.
Nothing could be worse for the future of
the republic than the lowering Of the tone
of the workingipeople of this country who
constitute the great mass of the voters.
Yet we are starting upon a career now
which is pretty certain to result in one of
two Ihings--the utter extinguishment of
all chance to compete with foreign manu-
facturers in foreign markets or great
reduction Of the wages of labor. Large
armies and large navies, and the subju-
cation and keeping in order of uncivilized
peoples mean heavy expenditures, heavy
governmental burdens which must be met
by taxes upon all kinds of industry. The
great advantage that we now have over
the nations of Europe, some of
our people are deliberately planning
to surrender by advocating a career of
expansion and Imperialism. While the
Gear of Russia is summoning all the ma
tions of the world to consult together
to deysie some relief from the tremen-
dous burdens of militarism some of us are
deliberately and in cold blood planning,
in obedience to what is called destiny,
to takeEunder our charge 10, 900, 900 of bar
barians, 10, 900 miles away. well knowing
that this means great army and a great
navy to be supported by taxes upon
American industry. just entering upon =
race for the markets of the world we are
proceeding deliberately to handicap our
selves by surrendering the great advant-
age we now have over the rest of the
world. We may call this destiny; but it's
prouer name is folly