The Yale expositor., 1899-08-25

OUR FOREIGN POLICY.

VhO"ShO lhldl ldDly COuCluue UndL Lnt
time must come when this nation will
De the principal manufacturing and
producing nation of the world. These
cannot fall TO realize that the tine
must also come when our own people
can consume but small proportion of
our manufactures and products. To
the short-sighted, and those who would
run political affairs and policies for the
purpose of retaining present suprem-
acy, these matters are but of little mo-
ment; but to those who take a broader
view or national possibilities and fu-
ture necessities it becomes a most i'm
portant matter that every step possible
be taken to extend the market for our
products and manufactures outside
our own territory.
1t was James G.. Blaine who. per-
haps more clearly than any other
American statesman of his time. COM
pretended the present necessity for
the extension of this market. For this
purpose he originaed his famous reel
| proclty measure whereby arrangements
were made to give preference in
levying duty to those nations who
purchased manufactured goods and
farm products of our people. Under
this wise arrangement our foreign
trade was given an impetus never be-
fore known, until Blaine's reciprocity
measure was rescinded by Grover
Clevelands second administration and
a democratic Congress.
But a sense that it is the part of wis
dom to secure permanent rights in
foreign trade has been awakened.
Statesmen have been giving the matter
close attention. Russia, England.
France, and Germany have been taking
advantage of every possible opportun-
lty TO secure concessions and exclusive
rights of trade in China, Africa, and
the Islands OF the seas wherever DOS
Sl0le. The statesmen of those nations
push their respective rights to the very
verge OF war III order to secure trade
rights for their manufacturers and
producers, for they know for an aDso-
lutte certainty that to complacently sit
down as nation and consume their
own products must eventually result in
national death.
This is the real cause of the agitation
III China-China is vast receiving
depot for manufactured foreign goods.
AS nation she is absolutely unable to
cope with any foreign power. Russia
has encrOached in the north and has
recently seized a vast territory i'm the
northeast embracing two ocean ports
and has extended her railroad system
about three thousand miles in length
to these ports. English push, pluck,
and energy has secured rights in the
south. Germany recently seized a port
and adjacent territory as a basis from
which she also might push her trade
interests.
With all of this push and aggressive
ness on the part of foreign nations. it is
well for us as Americans to remember |
that 1T was the United States who |
first broke through the famous Chinese |
Wall and secured an important trade |
treaty with the Emperor of China. BY |
this treaty our nation secured trade |
rights in several important ports and |
rivers in China. We were the first |
nation on the ground. The field for
our manufactured goods is an immense |
one.
The foreign policy of the nation. as |
represented and enforced by President |
is policy to maintain our
rights in China and the
east and to secure advantages for fav-
orable trade relations whenever pos
sible.
Millions of dollars worth of our man.
ufactured products are thus disposed |
OF. This is one of the chief sources of |
national prosperity to-day. Any cur
tallment OF this trade must tend to
lessen the output of our factories, and
those who reflect on the condition our
country was in few years ago when
The wheels of thousands of factories
were stlll and men and women out of
work and III want, will realize the i'm
portance of the policy that tends to
push ana protect American interests in
lewilelds for enterprise and commerce.
III VIII be well for those who so
sharply. criticise the policy so often
'harged to President Mckinley and his
administration to carefully consider,
Ifter all, if there are not some import,
INT FEATURES concerning that policy to
which they have given but little or no
There is no doubt at all that we have
established foreign trade policy: and
here is no question that so long as
resident Mckinley and his admins
ration remains at the head of affairs
hat policy will be vigorously pursued
nd American interests guarded and
There is no doubt the recent de-
elopments attending the annexation
t the island OF Hawaii; the taking of
'ortO Rico; the establishment of what
J now practically American control
\ Cuba, and the cession to this nation
I the Philippine Islands as a result of
ne Spanish war, are all chief factors
Dr. the furtherance of that policy and
ne advancement of American interests
nd markets for American products.
There will be no turning back. There
no Grover Cleveland at the White
louise to again haul down the flag at
Iawaii or in any other territory i'm
hich 1T has been raised as an emblem
American supremacy and control. :
nd In furtherance of that policy the
against American control
the PHILIPPINES will be put down and
lat American possession will become
he of the chief American depots for
10 distribution of American goods for :
at region of the earth. We will treat |
q Importance of this branch of the
IbJect more fully in subsequent issues.
The soothing and healing properties