The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-11-24
The Commercial Expansion Argument
Is Torn to Pieces.
SIDE SLAPS AT MR.. GAGE.
Carnegie Thinks That Annexation Would
Deal an Irreparable Blow to the
Trade OF the United States
Hot Shots Fired by the
steel King.


imperialism. Mr.. Carnegie says:
We draw closer and closer to the
problem, and fortunately two members
of the cabinet have at last told us where
they stand. 1t Is most desirable that the
other members speak out, even II they
take the side of imperialism. II the
people today knew that President Nc
hinley had convictions on the subject to
would be over. Secretary Gage has not
only told us that he has changed his
views and is a convert to imperialism,
but he has fortunately given us the
reason. He accepts the dangers and cost
Of Imperialism against his own wishes
for the sake Of commercial expansion.
Now Secretary Gage has never man
ufactured anything or exported any
thing-is neither in manufacturing nor
In commerce. am iu both. Our con-
oern Is today the largest manufactory in
the world in its line, and / believe it is
also today the largest exporter Of man
ufactures in tie United States. We have
within two years begun to send our steel
to all parts Of the world. Our sales
leach into the millions of dollars. We
have our London house now as we have
in New York. The foreign business is
growing by lelps and bounds. Now one
Of the reasons why oppose imperialism
the acquisition Of the Philippines, for
instance, is commercial expansion. The
secretary gave no reason for thinking
that the acquisition of distant possessions
would Increase our foreign trade. Per
NIT me to state reasons why 1t would
not inoI ease it, but would decrease it.
Foreign trade rests upon peace aud
security; the waters must be calm, dis
tlrbing influences absent, to foster trade
in foreign parts. Should we undertake
to hold the Philippines we Immediately
place the whole Republic within the
zone of wars and rumOrs of wars, and
the rumor Of war, it must be remember
ed, is in itself destructive to commerce.
If secretary Gage Is not satisfied with the
Commercial expansion which this country
is enjoying, what will satisfy this manp
l have seen nothing like 1t in my life
time, nor have l read of anything com
parable to 1t. Without distant posses
sion, the Republic-sOlid, compact, safe
from the zone Of war disturbanOe-has
captured the worlds markets for many
products and only needs continuance
of peaceful conditions to have the in
dustrial world at its feet. Our exports
now exceed the exports of Great Britain.
If the secretary of the treasury has time
to spare let me suggest that he can use
1T to better advantage studying how To
give to our exporters suitable steamship
lines to carry away the traffic that is
offered. This is the one great want of
the United States in the way Of com
merciRl expansion, not the management
of barbar0us regions, involving race
troubles far exceeding those we have at
home.
! should like to ask the administration
one question which the President and
cabinet must soon think Of. Are the
Philippines to be considered part Of the
American Republic as Porto Rico is and
are we to keep them for ourselves as we
have Porto Rico, excluding the world
from equal trade rights with themS
Suppose President Mckinley says: Eyes
have always stood for American labor
am its great champion; l am a pro-
tectionist to the core.
begin to grow doubtful about the
President having convictions upon any
subject, but If he has conviction it is
this, that 1t is the duty of an American
President to take care of American labor.
Well, he will have done so when he an
nOunces that he is going to obey the con-
stitutiIn of the United States. But
suppose the President is true to tae con
stitution aud bis oath to support itY
Then there is free trade between all
parts Of thr United States and the Philip
pines, as theIe Is to Porto Richie has
stood true there-but there Is a high
tariff between the trade of all other
nations and the Philippines.
b lieVe the President will be driven
TO hIld this position. What ensuesP
War. Britain Is our best friend today, |
but only on condition that we keep the
open door" for her in the Philippines
u I'd in Ill Uthr Of our distant posses
siuns. The most sensitive chord Of
Britain is its foreign trade; upon that 1t
depends, Let the President Of the United
States once show that the American sys-
tenn is to be extended to the Philippines,
and that Secretary Gage had some found
alton for his idea Of commercial expan-
sion for the advantage of American labor,
and 1t will not be necessary for britain
openly TO intervene.
France, Germany and Russia, as is we'll
known, are opposed to America entering
upon possessions in the far east. Those
nations combined drove Japan out of
CoreA; they willsdrive the United States
out of the Philippines, always provided
Brit in agrees to do what she did with
Japan-Ocoupy a neutral position. But
/ go further than this. She will require
the United Stats to agree to keep the
"open door" as she required Germany to
do.
have spoken of European natio ms,