New-York tribune., 1900-04-03
THE MEANING OF EXPANSION.

After a time ''the plain people" will catch the
Idea that expansion means prosperity for them,
not for the trusts or the -miionaires or the
seekers OF fat Offices. The islands will be particu-
larly stony soil for aLy such industry, at least
for some years TO come because popular feeling
about them has been incomparably stronger.
more keenly critical and quickly reused than 1t
ever was regarding any other territory
possession. But the fruit of expansion will be
more sure supremacy of this country in the
worlds money market greater balances payable
yearly TO American producers, larger employ
ment and better wages for American labor and
vastly increased opportunities for the legitimate
and profitable use Of American capital. Many
persons still question this, but ii is only because
they have not considered with sufficient care the
new conditions. Without American enterprise or
labor or capital, suppressed in every energy and
industry for centuries by Spanish rule these isl
ands have already bought from other countries
products worth over S100,000000 in year. and
have exported to other countries products still
more valuable Every month men have been
counting it great thing for this country that
its exports have been rising above 100000, 600
and exceeding purchases from other countries
by $4,000, 900 or S50.Oo00OO Part of this change
already realized is because exports from this
country TO the islands are larger by some mill
ions than they ever were before. In seven
months ending with January exports of do
mestic merchandise alone to the islands Were
S25 45Q $40 in value, against S14,3S3, ,425 in the
same months Of the previous year, and yet the
exports in that previous year were more than
S31 100000 in value and from this country
greater than In any other year on record, though
as yet rot a third OF the value which the islands
have purchased from all other countries.
What does this increase of over S11. 900 600 IN
seven months nearly S20,O00,OO0 year-mean
for the people OF this country? 4 greater de-
mand for their products, a greater and perma-
nent demand for their labor, an increase suffi-
cient TO support forty thousand more workers or
a smaller number with higher skill and better
wages But that is scarcely a beginning The
islands are not yet buying third Of the goods
In value they bought few years ago. When 1t
is considered that they are all prostrated in
their industries just relieved from Spanish rule
and the devastations Of war, and have not yet
recovered their former producttveness and pur-
chasing power, the increase Of S20,0o00O0 prom
ises several times ms much, and yet il is already
large enough TO count on the right side in the
international exchanges which fix the position
OF the United States As debtor or creditor
nation. But as yet these islands have scarcely
felt the touch Of American enterprise and capital
in developing their resources
Cuba is about the size of Pennsylvania, and of
its thirty-fve million acres only two million
have ever been cultivated Even Its thirteen
million acres of primeval forest are mines OF
wealth while no one can guess how extensive
are IFS mineral deposits, OF which only two sent
to this country nearly ell Of the $4,000 tons OF