The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-19


| teachers and papers to reach a people
with whom we have no trade relations
are barren of good results. With the
establishment of our commercial inter-
course is correlated an ambition for
moral advancement and intellectual en-
dowment. Civilization is not one-sided,
nor lop-sided. 1t does not proceed along
restricted lines, but mergeS all interests
into symmetrical unity. Religion and
education, politics and business, har-
moniously blended, yield a perfect prod
uct. But commerce is the fundamental
element upon which all exists. During all
the centuries of civil organization among
men business has been the ne plus
ultra of human endeavor- The church
has its mission, the political party its
sphere, the school its province, but the
organization maintained for business
purposes subserveS all of these. Moral
and intellectual supremacy is always
found in the country which constantly
enlarges its commercial area and per-
fects it's commercial system.
We are bewildered at the accomplish
ments of the past and amazed at the
fmpetuous issues of the future. The
white Man. is invading new fields
conquering new territory and subjugat-
ing new people. With nil desperandum
emblaZOned upon the royal banner of
American commerce he is opening new
avenues for our industry and creating
new incentives for our ambition. Saga
cious men may question the wisdom of
his policy and declaim against its con-
summation. Wars and armies and bat
ties ana cOnQueStS are tranSltOrY and
incidental features, but their results will
contribute to the permanent progress of
the human race. Before the resistless
march of the White Man, with his
burden of American commerce, armies
will disband and feuds will be settled
by the arbitrament of peace. Wherever
the Goddess of Liberty goes she will be
sustained. not by glittering muskets and
cleaning bayonets, but by the COM
mercial honor and civic glory of the
people.
New occasions teach new duties"
The United States has been four times
tried by war and tested in the crucibIe
of 123 years of independent national
life. The history of government fur
nishes no parallel or precedent to the
magnitude and grandeur Of our achieve
ments. 1 disclaim any political or par
tisan motive when 1 say 1 take inspira-
ton from the Respondent history of the
past and predict that this government
VIII never stand abaShed in the pres
ence of the Philippines, the West In
dies, nor of all the islands of all the
oceans.
Expansion, in its political significance
may or may not be realized, but in it's
commercial sense it is as inevitable as
the DEGREES of fate. The white Man"
with his burden of commerce has al
ready reached these islands, and indif-
ferent to political declarations, protocols |
and manifeStoS, he will remain, until
history records the accomplishment of
his purpose.
One-half of the Anglo-Saxon race lives
in the United States, and today the des-
tiny of Il, 600 600 people is committed
to them. As have faith in the eternal
Verlt1eS of time, / believe there is an
omniscient purpose in the events of the
last year. Men of commanding inf1u-
ence and power in our nation assert that
intermingling with these heterogeneous
elements viii diminish the general aver
age Of the intelligence and virtue of our !
people. A nation is but an aggregation
of individuals and is subject to the
farr- Il 1rrr- to
man ever did a generous or humane
act without adding to his stature of
manhood. and no man ever refused to
perform a benevolent act without being
dwarfed in his mental and moral nature
But, aside from any sentimental or
altruistic views, the White Man." in
his efforts to extend our commerce,
should receive the appreciation and the
alteration of the American people
England has AZ colonies and depend
encies, with a population of IA 900 900;
France has 81, with a population of ST.
100000; Germany has 8, with a popuIa-
ton of 100000, and the Netherlands
has 3, with a population of SO, 000, 900.
There are 126 colonies protectorates and
dependencies in the world, with a COM
bined population of over 500, 000. 900, and
belonging to Is different nations. The
relations existing between these col
OnieS and their mother countries are
so intimate and important that not one
of the 10 governments would willingly
yield possession or control of the small
est or least important of its auxiliaries
Time and experience have established
their commercial power and usefulness
The white Man is circumnavigating
the globe, and is founding American
commerce everywhere. The student of
tendencies and purposes can not fail
to discern a coming day when the
United States will be the controlling
power of the world. Josiah Strong says:
The worlds scepter passed from Per-
STA to Greece, from Greece to Italy,
from Italy to Great Britain and from
Great Britain that scepter is today de-
parting. 1t is moving to Greater
to remain, for there is no further west;
beyond is the Orient The people of the
United States occupy the Gibraltar of
the ages which commands the worlds
future
The great ships that pass from ocean
to ocean are 'shuttles weaving in a
glorious web" of commercial destiny
We sent into foreign markets last year
$4S3, o00, 600 worth of food products, while
our total export trade reached the mar
velous aggregate of 1921, 329, $50
The white Man carried a burden of
American commerce into foreign lands
last year of almost four millions a day
That means not only four million dol
lars a day upon our national balance
sheet, but extended influence and pres
tige. 1t means that American COM
merce, the foe of war and friend of
peace, will some day exercise tranquil
dominion over all civilized countries. 1t
means the realization of Tennyson's
dream that the commercial instinct and
pacific influence of our people will be
augmented and intensified
Till the war drum throbs no longer
and the battle flags are furrd,
In the parliament of man, the fedora
ton of the world
1t means that commerce and educa-
ton and religion, the Anglo-SaXon trim
ism and ignorance and superstition. 1t
means that respect for the Stars and