The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-06

tian era. We are the only great CONNER
cial nation which sells more than it buys.
We are the only nation which is abso-
lutely Independent, untrammeled and self
supporting within itself. While we were
growing up we sent abroad food and
brought home equipment But now that
our American policy has realized its ulu-
mate aim and it's full fruition in our un-
challenged Industrial supremacy we are
sending not only the products of our
farms, but the fabrics of our forgcs and
factories.
We place our pipes in the streets of
London; we land our tubing at Singa-
pore: we sell our paper in Japan; we
send our machinery all over the world.
The hour when our manufactured eX-
ports passed our manufactured imports
marked the turning point of commercial
mastery and opened new vistas before
us Having gained the undisputed con-
troll of our vast domestic market we
boldly enter into the worlds trade COM
petition. Yet with all this achievement
we have in many fields but Just begun
the development of our enormous re-
sources. We grow SeVen-eighthS of the
worlds cotton, but we manufacture only
o fourth of it. We consume more of
some leading products of the tropics than
all Other nations Dut we have had no
the amazing MULTIPLICATION of our pro-
ductivc capacity there is no limit to our
possible development but the worlds
needs. In twenty-five years we shall be
a nation of a hundred millions, equalling
all EurODe in energy of creation, and to
contemplate the dazzling snlendor #
that beneficcnt destiny, If only the growth
of the past twenty-five years shall be
maintained, seems like the rhapsody of
dream.
COMMERCIAL EXPANSION.
If we are to fulhn that destiny we must
have commercial expansion, and 1t is a
profoundly significant fact which shows
guiding Hard that overrules the Will
of man that this war should have come
just as this great necessity begins to be
realized The opportunity matches the
need The elevation of the United States
| TO a new rank among the nations, the uni
versal acceptance of it's obligation to
stretch forth it's civiizing hand where
the fate of war has carried 1t, the for
| tunate possession of an established en-
| porium on the very theater of the worlds s
seeking have brought the occasion and
! the duty together. Is it not for enlight-
| cned American statesmanship, watcnful
of American interest, to use the oppor-
| tunity, not in territorial avarice, but Tor
/
| fluence in the Orient with the base and
| the bulwark that are needed for its sup
port?
Trade follows the flag. Around the
| waters of the Orient dwell more than a
| quarter of the human race. Among thest
| ancient people there is agitation. and
| awakening. The old walls of isolation
and seclusion will be broken down, and in
| throwing off the thralldom of ancient pre-
| init there viii
| the invitation and the inroad of civilizina
| instruments and influences We shall
| enter into no struggle of imperial dtVi'
| sion, but why should we not share the
| opening traffic of that vast region? Why
| should not our mills use our own cotton
now sent abroad, and multiply our spin
dies in clothing China? Why should we
not furnish her electric power and ma
| terials? Why should we not join in lay
ing the rails of the new lines of commun
cation that are to set her sluggish life IL
motion? Why should we not find i'm tht
| requirements of vast people arousini
from their ages of tOrpor one of the open
ings that are needed for our surplus man
ufactures?
NEEDS OF 4 NAVY.
The Pacific is rghtfully within ou
| commercial sphere. We hold one shor,
and we are nearest the other EuTop
| must cross two oceans to the Orient ans
we but one. Why should we not peace
fully and providently avail ourselves o
the commercial advantages within ou
grasp? We have, besides, learned tn
value and the needs of a navy. Dewey
respecting the neutrality of Hons Kong
had nowhere on the broad Pacific to res
his foot save on his own deck, and un
der the signal from Washington h
steamed straight TO Manila defiant o
mine and Of fort, because the Spanisl
fleet was there, and because he needle,
and proposed To make an American haT
Dor! And we have come TO understan
that under modern necessities our Olym
pias and OregOns and our commercial
fleets bearing our flag over the wor
must have harbors where they can ride 1
safety i'm their own unchallenged right.
| And so, as We move forward to the ney
duties before us, let us try to realize tn
majesty of our position and the grandeu
of our destiny. Picture the strength an
the promise of the commanding place ou
mighty Republic now holds I'm the realr
of nations. continental domain washe
by the two great oceans; midway an
oyer-arching the Orient and the Occiden