The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-16

cOmuiercldi expansion, Win All It's re-
suits and responsibilities, is blinded
to the true interests of his section and
welded to a mere political sentiment.
The argument has been advanced
in the south that commercial expan-
sion in the Orient will educate those
people. and that o they will under
sell us In our own markets. A few
years ago there was a great furry
made abou the importation of manu-
featured articles from Japan II is a
fact La japanese imports from US
have grown with greater rapidity than
her exports. In 1851 the exports to ia
pan amounted to 1,7S1, los yens, n in
1898 40, 001 ,0S7 n in value, thus show
ing an increase in our trade from 5.72
per cent. in 1881 14.57 per cent. in 1898.
The japanese imports in raw cotton
in 1892 were II. 026, 637 yens. while in
1898 they amounted to f. $40, 457 yens.
Mr.. Taylor says: Industry leads to
wealth brings demand for goods and
II is surprising that the prophecy
should sometimes be heard that the
Chinese will import less as they man
ufacture more. Experience teaches
that the direct contrary is invariably
the case
I'm striving for commercial progress,
commercial expansion and commercial
supremacy, / would not favor the in
corporation into our body polite of
Se~mibarbarous races, totally unable to
appreciate our system of government,
but I do favor the policy of expansion.
I will vote for the r~entention of these
islands in some constitutional way, so
as to control new markets and new
commercial advantages. Nor am / to
be deferred by the specter of imperial
ism. invoked by s~entimentalists or de-
signing politicians to brighten the weak
and timid. If this be Imperialism, let
them make the most Of it.
The acquisition o the Philippines
through Admiral Dew ey and his brave
men, under the guidance of an over
ruling Providence, has given US a step
plng-Stone to a wider one of influence.
They are the gateway TO all the ave-
nues of trade in the Orient. The crate
powers are in the field, aggressively
extending their spheres of influence,
n for the United States foolishly to
retreat from this conflict in the east
is to prove recreant to her high destiny
n he magnificent possibilities offer
ed.
Expansion has beer the policy of
his government ever since the land
ing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock.
From that rock started the ripple
which expanded TO 400, GOO square miles
for the thirteen colonies, 4,0OO,O 900
square miles for the nation today. Had
the United States followed a~nti-expan-
slon1stS they never would have eXer-
ciSed control of this vast continent and
become an important factor in the
worlds civilization The hour has come
when this young giant of the west
muSo come forth among the nations
and assum e greater responsibilities,
but with them increased opportunity.
We are confronted with conditions
that cannot change. A constitution may
be changed if in process of industrial
n governmental development obso-
lete and useless restrictions prove a
bar to progress. Conditions are widely
different. From one hundred years ago.
New n unforeseen forces have arisen
in social, governmental and industrial
life, but these new conditions and
problems constitute parts OF the
worlds eternal law of progress. From
thirteen feeble colonies we have ex-
panded into the greatest nation on
earth. Some divine hand has tenderly
and surely lifted us from a lofty to a
lOftier epoch. Why should we falter
and ttremble before the splendid posi-
bilities opened up to us by the Ruler
of Nations?
! "Hailing from the south as I do, I
say let all sections join hands in seiz-
ing this grand opportunity of extend
ing our commerce, influence and civil
iZatiOn. With the opening of the Mic
araguan canal and the construction
OF deep water harborS along the Gulf
[ believe the south will be able to I'M
der bid the world in supplying Asia with
raw and manufactured cotton, and that
one of the marvel of the newborn
century will be the great tide of south
ern products sweeping across the
broad Pacific to millions of consumers
in the Orient. The east is the land of
promise. There civilization had its
birth. Westward has been its course,
until after circling the globe i; turns
! eastward to lay the fruits of centuries
| upon the shrine of its nativity"