The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-09-18

provides q mutual exchange OF COM
modities is manifcstly essential to the
continued and. healthful growth Of our
export trade. We must not repose in
fancied security that. we can forever
sell everything and buy little or moth
ing. If such thing were possible, it
would not be best for us or for those
with whom we deal. We should take
from our customers such of their prod
ucts as we can use without harm to
our industries and labor. Reciprocity
is the natural outgrowth Of our Won
derful industrial development under
the domestic policy now firmly estab-
lished. What we produce beyond our
domestic consumption must have vent
abroad The excess must be relieved
through a foreign outlet, and we should
sell everywhere we can and buy wher-
ever the buying will enlarge our sales
and productions and thereby make 4
greater demand for home labor. The
period Of exclusiveness is past. The
expansion of our trade and commerce
Is the pressing problem. Commercial
wars are improbable. A policy Of good
will and friendly trade relations will
prevent rcprisals. Reciprocity treaties
are in harmony with the spirit Of the
times; measures Of retaliation are not.
If, perchance, some Of our tariffs are
no longer needed for revenue or to en-
courage and protect our industries at
home, why should they not be employ
ed to extend and promote our markets
abroad? Then, too, we have made
Quate steamship service. New lines of
steamers have already been put in
commission between the Pacific coast
ports of the United States and those
Of the western coasts Of Mexico and
Central and South America. These
should be followed up with direct
steamship lines between the eastern
coast of the United States and South
American ports.
One of the needs Of the times Is d.
rect commercial lines from our vast
fields Of production to the fields Of con-
sumption that we have but barely
touched. Next in advantage to having
the thing to sell is to have the conven-
ience to carry it to the buyer: We
must encourage our merchant marine.
We must have more ships. They must
be under the American flag. built and
manned and owned by Americans.
These will not only be profitable in n
commercial sense; they will be messen-
gers of peace and amity wherever they
60. We must build the isthmian canal,
which Will unite the two oceans and
give straight line of water communi-
cation with the western coasts of Cen
trail and South America and Mexico.
The construction of a Pacific cable can
not be longer postponed.
A Fraternity of Republics.
In the furtherance Of these objects Of
national interest and concern you are
performing an important part. This ex-
position would have touched the heart
Of that American statesman whose
mind was ever alert and thought ever
constant for larger commerce and q
truer fraternity Of the republics Of the
new world. His broad American spirit
is felt and manifested here. He needs
no Identification to an assemblage Of
Americans anywhere, for the name. of
Blaine is inseparably associated with
the pan-American movement, which
finds his practical and substantial ex-
preston and which we all hope will be
firmly advanced by the pan-American
congress that assemblies this autumn in
the capital Of Mexico. The good work
will go OH. 1t cannot be stopped. These
buildings will disappear; this creation
of art and beauty and industry will
perish from sight, but their influence
will remain to
Make it live beyond its too short living
With praises and thanksgiving.
Who can tell the new thoughts that
have been awakened, the ambitions
fred and the high achievements that
will be wrought through this exposi-
ton? Gentlemen, let us ever remem-
Der that our interest is in concord, not
conflict, and that our real eminence
rests in the victories Of peace, not those
Of war. We hope that all who are rep
resented here may be moved to higher
and nobler effort for their own and the
worlds good and that out Of this city
may come not only greater commerce
and trade for US all, but, more essential
than these, relations Of mutual respect,
confidence and friendship which will
deepen and endure. Our earnest prayer
is that God will graciously vouchsafe
prosperity, happiness and peace to all
our neighbors and like blessings to all
the peoples and powers Of earth.