The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-30


and international, and not between sec
tions or routes in our own country
AS for the policy of his own properties
in this competition, Mr.. Hill has these
wise words to say:
After all is said, we railway magnates
are largely autematons in the shuttle.
We must move as nature and commerce
dictate. We succeed only as we obey
the great natural laws and the public in
terests AS between roads and magnates,
It is the case of thezsuryival of the fittest
Who is the fttest, which road, what
route? That which geography. gravita-
ton, climate, 0eproduction, population,
commerce and nprogress select, control
view" ri
This is broad apiew, but no one who
has given careful consideration to the
comparative study of commerce over its
dIifefent courses and at different periods
can deny that 1t ais justified Even ad-
hitting that we may not maintain the
same ratio of Increase of population for
the next third of a century, the close OF
THAT period is practically certain to find
at least le0, 06as000T within the American
boundaries of 9hesTUnfon, and their quail
ties and capabilities viii be much the
same as those which have been shown
in the wonderful history of the past.
The natural resources of the land may be
counted on for Il development far exceed
ms what has already taken place, for it
is literally true, in view of recent
changes, that the surface mas hardly
been more than scratched. Indeed, the
really reasonable criticism OF Mr. Hill's
outlook on the future Is that it is too
narrow. We think that he underesti-
mates, for instance tie possibilities OF
increased population IN tire Southern
states and the extent and variety Of the
production and Industries that can profit
ably be sustained there. Nor does he
seem to appreciate fully the possible de-
velopment Of industries supported entire
ly by nome consumption, and the de-
nland that these will create for the food
raised in our own country.
= Again, it is capable Of rational argU-
nent that the commerce with the Orient
VIII not be confined within the limits he
assigns. Although the total amount of
our manufactured products which We
send there is still small, it is in its
growth relatively more important than
our exports of food. With the advance
of means Of communication ia the East
an advance that had already made re-
markable progress when interrupted Dy
the troubles in Ckina-We may count
with confidence on the development Of
new needs and new means Of satisfying
'+heln in that region. Mr.. Hill appears
to be somewhat under the influence of
Lie HOIlOn pHaC the trade OF the world IS
a fairly stable quantity, for which the
various nations 'fignt'' In reality, it Is
constantly increasing quantity, to the
increase of which the competing nations
steadily contribute. The vast popula-
tions OF the Orient will be consumers in
the ratio that they are producers, and
the development of new industries among
them will make them in the long run
better customers for the rest Of the
world.
The flatterfngs prospect for our share
in this ever-increasing trade, not only III
the East but throughout the world, does
not depend alone on cur certain ability
to produce food but on the ability to ex-
plot all the varied resources of our for
tunate land; on the energy, ingenuity,
industry. and mental force OF our people
and on the security and ample freedom
which our Social ard political life affords.
We are only beginning to realize what
are the advantages that we possess in
these regards. There is still a majority,
probably large majority, of our people
who imagine that We are in need Of
protection to hold our own in the com.
merce Of our own land whereas we are
constantly pressing forward to take Il
largo partain the comnereeyef the whole
Wcrld, and shall do so to the benefit of
all concerned. For that commerce is,
after all. not SO much a contest as an
unconscious and necessary cooperation.