The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-27

1edCc IdlU Her NlClOIl6S llO lcSS Ic-
nowned than war" The cogency of this
suggestion is accentuated. and justified.
by late commercial figures supplied by
the treasury bureau of statistics concern
ing the commerce of the United States
for 1898. 1t is true that during nearly
one-half Of that year we were conduct
ing a war with a foreign nation, yet in
the face of all this we completely out
stripped the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland in the amount of do
mestic exports by $101, ,62O, 497. The total
exports of the United States for the cal
endar year ending February, 1899, were
81, ,23S. 564, ,S2S Those of the United Kingdom
rose only to s1,131, 331. This was our
victory of peace, or along peace
full lines, achieved in the same year that
witnessed our victory over the Spanish
enemy.
1t is true that this was the first year
in which We forged ahead of our great
commercial rival But its significance
would appear to warrant the conclusion
on but two occasions have the exports
of domestic merchandise from the United
States risen to the billion-dollar mark
Yet for the past twenty years, or ever
since 1879. Great Britain has been able to
come annually to the front with a show
ing of over billion dollars worth Of
exports. And in this last group of fig
ures it will be seen that the United King
dom has not fallen off in her annual
roundup of exports. The United States
has simply eclipsed her by a really re-
markable squirt in the homestretch. In
1879 domestic exports of the United King
dom fell to $92S S29, ops against but s754.-
C56755 from the United States. The in
crease for Great Britain in these twenty
years is but % per cent, against So per
cent for the great war year of the United
States.
1t is quite likely Ambassador Choate
had these significant figures in mind
when, in his recent speech, he frankly
admitted the keen rivalry of the United
N1eS'NNH7 III 'i-t ietCt lOI CODlIn6rcldl Supren-
acy If we can outstrip the United
Kingdom in a year complicated on
cur part with the perplexing harass-
ments of a great war, what can
we not accomplish in year of profound
peace? England, herself, is one of our
largest customers. Twenty years ago
she took from us, in domestic exports.
but $346 4S9,SS1 worth. Last year she
tilted this to $734 39S, O32, an increase of
81 per cent And the fact should be kent
in mind that there was no such ratio of
Increase in our importations from that
country. Practically, they remained the
same. The exact figures are, for 1879.
$l0S,5SSS12; for 1888. $1OS, ,945.1S5. In other
words, the increase of United States ex-
s. ports for 1898 over those of the United
Kingdom is just about the amount Of
our total imports from that country w.
beat Great Britain. commercially, in last
years business nearly the full amount of
our purchases from that country.
rms is showing to be proud of, ana
one that must, certainly. prove a gre.+
incentive to further effort There is no
reason why We should ever again fall be-
hind the mother country when the hal.
ances are struck at the end of the year
While the United Kingdom is not decraas-
ing IN the line of her commerce, vet we
are certainly increasing in muc.,
greater per cent. To lead the world i,
domestic exports Is of far greater i'm
portance to the United States than +o
whip the world on sea and land