The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03
EXPANSION OF OUR TRADE.
SoUTB PRA CTICiLLy UNANIMOUS FOR
a BROAD NATIONAL POJfCK

Letters From FIFTY Southern Representa-
tive Business Men on the isthm'sn Canal
Tho Revival Of the Merchant Marine
and tho Retention Of the Philippines.
BALTIMORE Dec "A few days ago tho
Manufacturer Record asked about hny Of tho
leading business men Of the South Tor their views
upon the resolutions recently passed by the
Southern Cotton Spinncrs Association, which
have attacted such general attention. and upon
kindred topics They were asked 70 give their
opinions upon tho following questions:
ID Tho Importance OF the construction Of an
Isthmian canal
(2) The need for the development OF tho Amor
lean merchant marine through Government AID
TO afford adequate facilities for our increasing
commerce with the world.
t3) The demand for a steady expansion OF
our navy and the control Of the Philippines by
the United States az a strategic point in the East
in connection with the development OF our trade
with Oriental countries
II was sue ,;ested that these questions, vitality
affecting the business interests Of the country
and especially those Of the South. could be dis
cussed from tho purely business standpoint az
bolrng upon tho growth and expansion OF tho
South's commerce and industry. This weeks
issue Of the Record devo,cs six pages TO the publ
cation OF tho letters received. With only two
exceptions, every writer takes a decided stand
% favor OF every one OF these propositions, and
theao two strongly urge tho Importance OF tho
canal, but question the wisdom Of Government
aid to tho merchant marine. On the Other hand,
with these two exceptions, some thirty or forty
9th rs who are among the foremost leaders IN
Southern upbuilding, whose influence Is felI
in every part OF the South. urge strongly the
Importance OF subsidies In aid OF our merchant
marine. the expansion Of our navy commensurate
with the position Of orr country In the worlds
Affairs, the control Of the Philippine Islands.
and the maintenance of the open door" In China
Mr. Ellison A. Smyth. President Of tho Polsor
Manufacturing Company. operating the largest
cotton mills In tho South wriios that he endorses
these propositions mos, heartily, and admits
the fact that the prosperity Of tho cotton mill busi-
ness in South Carolina depends upon the China
trade to a very large extent lie snys
I'VE have more right to the Philippine Islands
than our furefathrrs had 10 most OF the territory
cm' r,c'd in the rignnl ,hric' n colonies, and
having assum"d mighty and unavoldahlo
responsibility, not only, 70 ourselves and ths na'
lives, hut to the world In occurring the Philp-
pine Islands. We could not return them to any
foreign sovereignty, sell them 10 another pow q
or Wild them To native rule without shirking that
resp, n II hty and taking hack ward step from
which this country would never rccover
lie adds that h. iavors any mrns,,rc that would
m nrrh !" f m ar" G and S ne t
called would lr one step toward the re-estailtsh-
" cS 81 s goods TO S1 1RSn' nds t ,hc% way Of
and th,nce by the British Mail Steamship Line
steamship Inns would have direct steamships
from san Francisco to the Orient
Jams Boy n ycspfrsidn,S' me I ,Rorrte
discussion on the Importance Of these questions
TO the SO ", saws
an lsthminn canal ~ the development q the
merchant marine through Government aid: (5l
STEADY .snansi3n q e. o., Msvy a. the control
soii,l.ud Coal md Iron Company says
81 inportrnt to the commercial interests 81 this
country that one hardly darcs to enter upon their
discussion, WITH the hopr Of trcvity. Evry
the question OF increasing the commerce of this
country with the world realizrs that We must
Cunrt'r ri the world presents q more inviting field
than tho OrCrtal countries There Is no part of
the world from which there will I've a greatt do
msnd Tor the cottor.ntl products OF our country,
N say nothing ol It's furnishing market for
other products, The prophecy is not far amiss
that Manila may some day become fnt the South
rrn country a I.ivrrpool for the handling and lis
trlhutIon 81 cotton and cotton goods IN thC lar
East i the Govcmm,n, shall trild up and de-
yruu the Philippine Islands in material way,
r"r'trut the Nichraruan canal and give Govern;
Mt at3 to our merchant marine until 'sthl l!shCd
4
able t. conn I" with that 81 other countries These
great liics, ms ar vital 10 the business in
trrs SITS 81 o,r country which mean ih- interests
that make the CuIntry rruSp0Irts ami uCh that
they should receive the 'thoiEhtiu consideration
Of all of our rcoplc and should hc viewed without
am political HAS whatever. The most optimistic
could hardly eNaGg"r,tc The results that VII
follow the Wis" and thoughtful action Of this
country in cnnr.cHon with De-, grHt questions.
"thr building Of an lSlhminn canal is tie hey to
our t"sin,, It will place the South in The greatest
plcmcn, this We must have a merchant marine
ami n navy cIuHl or suuc-iO- 10 that OF ony other
nation 40 NOR. political rrciu,!lccs," he says,
'shouli deter u. from dong " hu, other nations
have dong 10 accomplish thus end, and a. England
developed ts shipping business, until II CONTROLS
liz, sea carving ia t. OF TIC world bv subsidies,
We ought 10 n.ont ro-c liberal Legislation that Will
cdcc, this desirable end. and On this all parties
should unite We stand upon the dividing line
between worldwide commerce and q confined
trade, and no one can hesitate TO SAY that NE
greatest nation Of al the earth should have tho
Etrf, st commetIr' "a" MS pin2R r1 in ana ana
the widest influence among the nations OF the
earth. his cannot be don" withoa, merchant
marine great enough to carry on our trade with
other nations and, having built this mcrcl ant
marine, in order 10 protec, /, and our expanding
trade we must have navy ptopntti1n"d IL mngni
prominent Democrat himself. he. adds Why
is I, that all Tho progressive, wldeawake IN II
Of the South are in favor Of expansion, while III.
Deocra,ic politicians are mainly in favor OF the
| nitel States Senator sullivan OF MISSISSIPPI
SAWS that representing the newer and later
Democracy, he believes that We should no, bind
Ourselves hlinllv tu tho past but accept the present
situation AMI regard the present surroundings,
and adjust ourselves 10 the situation a. II is, and
in view Of these he fav0rs the building Of tho
N!cafaguan Canal. the control NJ the Philippines
and the development o! our Eastern trade to the
utmost
Mr. r. l. Hickman president Of tho G ranite-
vile Manufacturing Company OF Augusta says,
that willie opposed to the war al the beginning,
he recognizes the situation as 1t now stands, and
is certainly n believer in expansion for business
purposes and feels sure that II the resolution
Of the Cotton Spinners' Association could be
carried out IL would he OF immense value TO us all
Mr. D. A. lompkins Of Charlotte president
NJ several cotton mills points out that the develop
men, of trade with the Orient by the construction
ol the NicaraguHn Canal the laying Of an ocean
cable, the development OF quick shipping iacili.
ties by Government aid In the building OF a hrst-
cnss merchant marine and the retention Of tho
Philippines as essential TO our increasing inter
csts in the ORIENT would mean the creation OF an
Oriental market for Southern cotton goods when
would in time largely aid In making the $500,
OOO. 900 Of cotton now annually produced in tho
South worth 500, COCOON by reason Of manu-.
featuring IL al home for shipment to China and
other Eastern countries
Mr. W. p, G. Harding. OF tn, First National
Bank of Birmingham, says;
"lhe opening Of the Nicaraguan Canal and
the speedy development Of merchant marine,
which can best bc done through Govcrnn ont aid