Evening journal., 1900-10-23
THE REPUBLICS STABILITY.
Continued Expansion n Serious
Element In IL Is worthy of
study.

study.
Sw%HE necessity for continued expan-
sion Of our foreign trade, as a
serious element in our stability as
a republic, is a subject worthy Of every
intelligent voters study, however It may
be slighted in common political debate.
Consideration OF stability carries us
point further than does consideration Of
prosperity.
The American skilled workman has
received of late singular tributes from
European economists of rank. But while
his leadership makes him so important
factor In our commercial development,
II also involves, under certain conditions,
a positive menace TO the State. A COM
parison with the British workman will
serve TO illustrate our meaning.
The Amercan-nnd we speak now Of
the higher classes, as typical-has an in
dlvidual ambition which the foreigner
has not. This is due to the larger oppor-
tunities opened to him by republican in
sttutions He aims to accumulate money
which the foreigner as a rule does not.
He makes social. material and political
progress a leading incentive Of action:
while the foreigner gives the pleasures
Of life first place. The foreigner Is far
more accustomed than is the American to
the enjoyment Of voluntary holidays. He
takes life easier" as Il is commonly
phrased. The result is that short time,
when necesstated by overproductlon, is
- oh fka
in the United states-where imported
labor of the best sort is quickly amalga-
mated and adopts the methods and aims
of the native.
No further proof Is needed than our ex-
perience with the low tariff Of 1894, that
a change Of government now, insuring
another low tariff would, by opening the
way to vastly increased importations. re-
suit promptly in overproduction here by
skilled labor. This overproduction would
be the first fruit Of the change. as 1t was
in 1S94-when our manufacturers sold
accumulated goods abroad at a sacrifice
in order to minimize their losses The
aftermath would, OF course, include wide.
spread loss to capital, in retrenchmeni
on costly plants and the shutting down
of factories. But what of the effect upon
skilled labor, greater in bulk and earning
power now than ever before?
With men constituted as are our bes
workmen, enforced idleness is not al
opportunity for pleasure, but a curse
This is true. even when savings eliminate
the danger Of early privatlon. Demorali
cation quickly develops. Resentment &C
companies the compulsory use Of saving
for daily expenses. Ambition chafes un
der gradual inroads upon money accumu
lated for the purchase of a home. TO
the higher education of family, or 70
the safeguarding of age.
The intelligence and ambition. there
fore. that make Of American skilled labo
such superior citizenship in times @
prosperity. constitute a menace to tn
State in times OF overproduction and pre-
tracted depression. They make of trad
expansion abroad-which with som
countries is largely n matter Of choice
with us a social political and economl
necessity. We make more than we ca
consume. We must sell the excess an
keep our manufactures busy, or insur
with inactivity, a perllous disconter
among some millions of ambition
money-saving men.
Il has been lamentably demonstrate
r that we cannot do this with free trade {
!. a nominal tariff-yet such a tariff woul
a be the first product Of a transfer of go'
I ernment