The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-11-15

(By John c. Eames, of the H. B. Clafin
Co. of New York;
How any man at all interested In the
advancement and welfare of this great
country can preach the doctrine Of ante
expansion is more than can unders
stand.
Anti-expansion means contraction, OF
at least that would be the result. UnA
less we seek markets for our goods outs
side Of the limits Of our own country
we cannot advance commercially. We
are a country of producers. Not only
do we draw from natures bountiful
supplies of the ground, but, by using
the ingenuity Providence has given US,
we have demonstrated that we can BY
modern machinery turn out more man
ufactured goods than we can use. There's
fore we must not only seek markets
elsewhere, but we must create new
markets for our productions. To do
this our country must have at least q
foothold in other countries, CONNER"
cially at least.
Our occupancy of Cuba and Porto
Rico has assured US of the greater part
Of the trade with those islands. The
influence for good has not stopped
there, but it has extended to all the
Spanish countries Of America.
Inquiries from these countries for
American goods and manufactures are
becoming more numerous every day.
I wish to say, right here, from my
own knowledge Of the business men IN
Cuba, and from what they have said
to me personally that I am sure that
their confidence in us alone was what
made them continue business on the
islands and feel that there was a fu"
ture for them. Witohut an exception
the business men from Havana and
other cities in Cuba have stated frank
ly to me that If the United States
should withdraw entirely from Cuba,
they themselves would feel obliged to
60 out Of business; that all business
confidence would be shaken.
Speaking especially Of fabrics manu-
factured from cotton, think how I'M
portant it is that we find new markets
for our cotton goods. OF the 100000
to 10000 900 bales of raw cotton pro-
duced in this country. two-thirds of 1t
is exported and made up into cotton
cloths abroad. The expectation of the
raw material in itself is an immense
factor in our foreign trade and COM
merce, but how much better it would
be, instead of sending two-thirds of
the raw cotton abroad and using one
third in manufacturing goods in this
country, to export one-third and use
two thirds here, exporting the finished
product, thereby doubling the number
of our mills and factories and giving
employment to twice the number Of
operatives.
1t is not probable that we will ever
gain much of a foothold on Chinese
shores, for it does not seem to be the
desire of the people of this country at
large that we should expand to that
extent. But we have the Philippine
islands, practically forced upon us by
circumstances, which in the near fu-
ture will prove to be one Of the most
valuable territorial acquisitions that
we have made since the original thir-
teen states were organized. Not only
can we, in time. supply the seven or
eight million inhabitants of these is
lands with practically everything that
they do not raise or manufacture
themselves. but we can use the islands
as a stepping-stone to Asiatic coun-
tries. The ajority of the large Hong
kong and Shanghai houses already
have branches at Manila. as we'll as
representatives in New York; this will
complete the chain Of commercial in
tercourse between this country and
China.
What we need, to expand our trade
and commerce with other countries, Is
broad and liberal policy by this gov
ernment such as the present admins
tration has adopted.
JOHN c.. EAMES.
New York.