The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-01-01

we have been enabled to make woo.l"n
4 goods and silk goods for ourselves in ale.
quate quantities and admirable qualfy.
instead Of importing them from foreign
| countries. The time has gone by when
Europeans could ask: Who wears American
cloth or dons an American hat? Our boots
and shoes are the models of cordwaincry
throughout the world. Our labor-~ayIrg
machinery Is the despair and envy of m1'-
kind. Our sowing machines. our rearlH,
machines. our sewing machines, our typ
writing machines, so TO all parts OF tie
globe. where economies of muscle and y
time are valued.
IL Is also during the last three decades
that we have beheld the doctrines of no
| so-called Manchester School discreditci
As regards the application OF capital and
the manipulation of labor. For the prIu-
ciple Of unlimited individual competition
has been substituted. to a large and con-
stantly increasing extent. the idea of con-
centration.
The combinations known a. trusts
have undertaken to minimize the cpst
and regulate the distribution of conmoll-
ties. This phenomenon, the most nota-
NOfblN III VIC hNl llllll WI Nv N'lllAIN
from an economic viewpoint, has. n vet.
probably but forcShadowed the magni-
tude OF its possible proportions. Ihs
time may not be distant when not only
the iron and steel industry. the coal in
dustry. the mining Of the precious metals.
the task Of railway or steam ship convex
anoe, but even the output of every kind
of agriculture. will each be organized ami
directed by n single colossal corporation
In England and on the Continent OF Fu-
rope. while the process Of industrial com-
bination has not been carried so far
as it has been in the United States.
politicians have even there departed
widely from the theories Of the Man
chester economists, The principle Of
l1isses fare is obviously repudiated in the
Gladstone Land act of 1851 and in the Old
Age Pension act for which BISMARCK WAS
responsible. The State Socialism, of which
there have been so many examples in Ger
man. Austrian. French, Belgian. Italian
and British legislation, bears witness TO
the extent of the divergence from the
point of view almost universally taken IN
highly enlightened communities during
the fities and sixties. How much further
will the absorption of railways. of t""-
graphs. Of Illuminating apparatus and 81
.water-providing agencies be carried hy
the State? Evidently. We are on the brink
Of a century radically different, as regards
the viewpoint Of applied political economy.
from that of BENTON and MILL, OF RICARDO
and M~CCrLLorGH, Of CoBDEN and JoHs
BRIGHT.
Side by side with the placement of in
ilvidual initiative by the consolidation
of capital in private business. ana of the
States engroasment Of "A multitude II
functions formerly relinquished TO private
persons. has arisen Il cry of the dissatI,-
led. In every age there has been. and va
may be sure there will he. a party of di--
content. The discomfort may xhibit the
vindictive and reckless temper of Russian
NihillSm, or the tentative and vagrauj
proposals OF American Populism, or the
agrarian bent displayed In Spain. or the
relatively moderate spirit evinced by So
cialists in Belgium. France and Germany.
since they have become sobered by official
or legislative responsibilities. No Eouht.
the growth of Democratic Socialism Ia,
been a characteristic. and. to some eye.
a sinister feature Of the last three deca les
Of the nineteenth century. In Germany
the Socialist vote has increased steadily
and rapidly until now il constitutes a large
fraction Of the electorate. and II has re-
suited in the return of a corresponding
number Of members to the RelCu-tag.
In Belgium the Socialists have thrust aSl!A
old-fa5hioned Liberals Of the FrSre-Orban
type, and now stand forth rs the principal
opponents of the Ultramontanes. In France
the Socialists are 50 strong in Paris and
other large urban centres that they form
a considerable faction in the Chamber -
Deputies, and have been able to dictate
the admission of one Of their leaders to
the present Ministry. II canno have
failed to be observed. however, that the
younger Spokesman of Socialism in Ger
many and of ColleCtivism in France are
much more cautious, Conciiatory and op-
portunist than were the elder promoter,
Of their cause. who were under no ur-
gent obligation TO accommodate theory 70
practice
Among other salient and pregnant events
marking the last third of the century, which
We have hitherto omitted to note, NAV
be mentioned Germany's deliberate en-
bark ment on d policy OF colonial expansion
and naval aggrandizement; the partition
OF Africa among spheres Of influence"
the infexible refusal of the PapaCy 10
recognize the Italian monarchy; the con-
struction undertaken, and nearly accom-
plished, by Russia oi a transcontinental
railway as yet unparalleled in length.
which is TO link the Baltic 10 the sea Of
Japan; the violent reaction Of China against
Christian spoliation and intrusion. AMI
the declared determination of the American
people tn level the rampant by which nature
has walled of the Pacific from the Atlantic
coast Of the New World. Often must
intelligent and anxious onlookers have
found themselves beset by the inquiry:
Are we 10 look for a benetoent or for a
pernicious outcome from all the moved
and startling phenomena that confront IS
on the verge Of a new age? The reply
lies hidden in the womb Of Fate,
To THEopoRE RoosEvELr, who to-day end
his distinguished term az Governor Of re
Empire State. the heartiest Of oonsratI.