Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-01-26

~ vi tue potlcS Ol territorial eNpan-
sion, feel moved 10 remark in PASS
ing that this nation Is uot accustomed
% TAIL in anything that Il undertakes.
Since We first declared ourselves
Tree and inocpeplcnt people nothing
'Rat we have undertaken has ever
nTovd 10 be beyond our resources, and
history Affords an excellent basis for
iRe belief that w shall he abundanty
ah'e 10 accomplish anything that we
may I've moved to undertake.
The great roreign trado movement
watch received It's most powerful i'm.
pH'nS three years ago continues with
undated activity Again the statls-
ties ot our exports record the largest
volume OF foreign business that has
ever been transacted The pxnorts
tor the wear euoing June 30 lSgs
reached the total OF Sl,9t0, 9g2,D.T a
gain of SlTS,oO0,oOo over the previous
year, The exports of American man
utacturers In the last fiscal year
amounted to SgSS,S7i, ll9, n total great
or by twelve and one-half millions
than ever previously recorded. While
many factors have contributed to this
great extension of our foreign trade,
probably no Influence has been more
noted than the efforts or the manurac.
turers of the United States. ludivldu-
ally and by united action they have
worked pcrslstCntly In the develop
mcnt OF their foreign trace and have
IJlghtAl Ihnlr nrntinnIS "a ly.Nta
where heretofore they have been UNI
known by their untirnG energy,
persistence and honest dealings, the
manufacturers OF the United States
have acquired position In tho worlds
markets from which they cannot DO
disooged. with the start that has
ben made our foreign trade Ia bound
TO grow and no opposition from our
strongest competitors can bar our
progress, II Is exceedingly gratifying
To find that business conditions have
undergone II marked change during
the past year With the exception Of
n few industries affected by peculiar
conditions, the manufacturing interests
of the United States, MS n rule, arc en-
toying both activity and fair degree
OF prosperity at the present time. La
Dor Of every class Ia well employed,
and in many instances reductions IN
wages during recent years have been
revoked and former rates restored.
Taking u broad view OF the country
there are evidences of activity and
signs of prosperity on every hand, and
the conditions which now present
themselves form u contrast as pleas
ing as 1t Is striking In comparison
with the state of affairs two or three
years ago
Interest IN tho construction of
Niearnguan canal has been stimulated
powerfully by the Incidents OF tho late
war with Spain ana by the CONNER
cIal expansion or tho United States
which has resulted from the brief con
0iet, Arguments heretofore advanced
In behalf Of tho various lnteroceanld
canal projects have been more essen
tally OF Il commercial character; but
while the Importance OF n canal from
purely mercantile standpoint has in
no way diminished, the political and
strategic value Of waterway across
the Central American lsthmus has
been Increased enormously during tho
past, few months, We are not called
upon TO determine tho rights OF tho
parties In the controversy, nor are we
asked TO pass upon the teehnicalltles
Of route, cost and engineering. II
seems highly proper, however, for us
Ns business men to give clear express
sion for our belief In tho commercial
necessity OF canal across Nicaragua
and To our conviction that whether
constructed by private corporation or
upon funds supplied by our govern
ment, the canal should be frst. last
md always mn American enterprise
and under the control Of the United
States. With our new possessions IN
me far East we need now M never be-
fore q way Of quick communication by
water between our Atlantic and paclnc
consta. In the orient are the largest
undeveloped markets for our pro-
duets, and our growing trade there de.
mands better and cheaper means II
transportation than our trans-c ontlnen.
tai railway lines afford. The millions
which Nicaraguan canal would cost
would be well spent II devoted to such
an end by our federal government.
Conditions have not been favorable
during the past year TO the awakening
OF any high degree OF enthusiasm
about the Paris exposition OF 1900.
Many Of our manufacturers have been
disposed to give small consideration to
II. and some Of them have even ex-
pressed their determination to dismiss
the matter entirely on account OF the
sentiments which were attributed 10
France during the war with Spain. II
Is greatly to be regretted that any OK
our manufacturers should have per-
mitted themselves TO be so moved by
preJudlees for which there was really
no foundation, and It Is much to be
hoped that the return OF peace and
settled conditions will revive interest
n