The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-02
TUESDAY AUGUST p 1895


ri crsniafds have sueeringiy ieletIeu
as nation OF shopkoepers ana
we do rot feel rescntful we are Wv
greatest business peCrlo ON eaIth'
arc as n nation. energetic thfhy anu
- wonderful inventive genius ana We
tnow how 10 produce and now 10 DO'
IN 90 advantage as no other ma
ton on earth knows.
last wear. according 90 the Bureau oi
Statistics after supplying all our o""
wants both of farm products ana pro
dpcts Of the mill We sold to oiher N"
,,o,s $500 600 coo worth of stuff in excess
Of onr purchases from them. we nave
M aristocracy. we have no idie class
Some few of or rich men live upon INC
interest Of their money and DO niue 10
helm trade. but most of them are ac'N'N
engaged in the various pursuits oil nc
o. professional men. our members OF
Congress. our governors and Legislators
indeed an classes of citizens are III
sense traders. They AN know how TO
buy and sell and get gain
IL is to this peculiar trau we
trace the sentiment in this coun-
try I'm favor Of the acquisition
OF CUBA and Porto Rico. Americans
are such good business men, ihat il j.
n mart Of their nature 20 attend to the"
own affairs and not 10 NEEDLE IN the az
fairs of other people. The Ilmes u"es
not believe that the American people
really desire that the government pursue
a policy of Imperialism. We are noi
war.s = people We have plenty oil
courarc.' and when war IS necessary we
do not shrink from IT, We are good
fighters too because we are good traders
hecause we are determined 20 succeed IN
whatever We undertake But we prefer
10 live al peace among ourselves ana win
the nations of the earth. 1t was sald
and with truth that the business men OF
this country were averse 20 going TO war
with Spain. if il could be honorably
avoided. because they knew That war
would iniure business. But now that
the war has been fought 70 finish now
that we have Il in our power TO take
posTession of fertile islands. the trade
instincts again asserts itself, and the peo-
ple are saying here. there and every
where. 1--WE have an excellent opportun-
ity now to extend our trade 10 pro-
mote the business welfare of the country
and we should not let II slip.
II may be said that this is low view
20 take. but however that may be- we
state the simple fact when We say that
the business instinct IN the American
citizen is a ruling passion, and that 1t IS
a part Of his nature to improve every
business opportunity.
But first Of an the American citizen
Is patriotic. and II he can be brought
"a look at this question in its true light,
n he can for the moment suppress his
passion for business and let his patriotic
spirit assert itself. he win be willing TO
make any reasonable business sacrifice
rather than that the country shall depart
from those great principles upon which
Il has been built up Let US take the
broader view. the far-reaching view. II
will not be good business for us 10 ac-
ouire the islands of the Pacific If by so
doing we must entangle ourselves in
European complications and be forever
in such position as that q foreign war
may be forced upon us at a moments
notice. we say that it Is not only good
American principle. but that Il Is good
american business also for as TO stand
by our traditions, 10 mind our own busl-
ness and let all foreign nations alone.