St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-10-19
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il read, though in different Ian
guages, the same day in oil Christen-
dom. The telegraph keeps us advised
Of what is occurring everywhere, and
the press foreshadows, with more or
less accuracy, the plans and pur-
poses Of the nations. Market prices
of products and of securities are
hourly known in every commercial
mart, and the investments of the peo-
pie extend beyond their own national
boundaries into the remotest parts
Of the earth.
"Vast transactions are conducted
and international exchanges are
made by the tick of the cable. Every
event of interest is Immediately bull
letined. The quick gathering and
transmission of news, like rapid
transit, are of recent origin, and are
only made possible by the genius OF
the inventor and the courage OF the
investor.
ut took special messenger OF the
government with every facility
known at the time for rapid transit
10 days to go from the city OF Wash
ington to New Orleans with q mes
sage to Gen. Jackson that the war
with England had ceased and .
treaty of peace had been signed.
How different now.
Achievements Of the Telegraph.
eve reached Gen. Miles in Porto
Rico by cable and he was able through
the military telegraph to stop his
army on the firing line with the mes
sage that the United States and SPAN
had signed protocol suspending hos
tilties. We knew almost instantly OF
the first shots fred at Santiago and the
subsequent surrender of the Spanish
forces was known at Washington with
in less than an hour of its consumma-
ton. The first ship of Cervera's fleet
was hardly emerged from that historic
harbor when the fact was flashed to
our capital, and the swift destruction
that followed was announced lmmedl-
ately through the wonderful medium
of telegraphy.
$50 accustomed are we to safe and
easy communication with distant lands
that its temporary interruption even
in ordinary times results in loss and
inconvenience. We shall never forget
the DAYS of anxious waiting and awful
suspense when no information was per-
mitted to be sent from Peking and the
diplomatic representatives of the ma
tons in China, cut off from all COM
| munication inside and outside the
walled capital, were surrounded by an
angry and misguided mob that threat
ened their lives; nor the JOY that
thrilled the world when a single mes
sage from the government of the Unit
ed States brought through our minis
ter the first news of the safety OF the
besieged diplomats.
Progress of q Century.
"At the beginning of the nineteenth
century there was not mile of steam
railroad on the globe. Now there are
enough miles to make its circuit many
times. Then there was not line OF
electric telegraph; now we have vast
mileage traversing all lands and all
seas. God and man have linked the ma
lions together. No nation can longer
be Indifferent to any other. And as we
are brought more and more in touch
with each other the less occasion is
there for misunderstanding and the
stronger the disposition, when we have
differences, to adjust them in the court
Of arbitration, which is the noblest
g. ~ Sn%opna.
tional disputes.
Our Unexampled Prosperity.
envy fellow-citizens, trade statistics
indicate that this country is in state
Of unexampled prosperity. The fig
ures are almost appalling. They show
that we are utilizing our fields and for
ests and mines and that we are furnish
ing profitable employment to the mil
lions Of work:ngmen throughout the
United States, bringing comfort and
happiness to their homes and making it
possible to lay by savings for old age
and disability.
"That all the people are participatin
in this great prosperity is seen in
every American community and shown
by the enormous and unprecedented
deposits in our savings banks. Our
duty is the care and security of these
deposits, and their safe investment de.
mands the highest integrity and the
best business capacity Of those in
charge of these repositories of the peo'
pies earnings.
1--WE have a vast and intricate bust.
ness built up through years of toll and
struggle, in which every part of the
country has its stake, which will not
permit of either neglect or of undue
selfishness. No narrow, sordid policy
will subserve it. The greatest skill and
wisdom on the part Of the manufacture
ers and producers will I've required tt
hold and increase it.
"Our industrial enterprises which
have grown to such proportions affect
the homes and occupations Of the peo
; pie and the welfare of the country
Our capacity to produce has developed
so enormously and our products have
so multiplied that the problem of more
markets requires our urgent and imme