The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-05-23
NO REsCRIPT AGAINST ABILITY
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
The current talk in Europe about
resistance 10 American enterprise re-
minds Us much OF Mr.. Kipl,ng's ballad
of THE Imperial Rescript" The kais-
er he tells us. decresd that "the
strong shall wait for the weary. the
hale shall halt for the weak" In other
words. there should he levelling ~
ability to the lowest standard, and the
strong man should refrain from doing
more work AMI earning more money
than the weakest could do ana could
earn. At first blush ne Ilan was in
vi,ing, But when the truer Judgment
Of the workingmen asserted itself tHtre
was unanimous refusal TO accept il.
somewhat rudely but unmistakably
voiced by the British delegate. who
Numbered Pull up9 BE- damned il /
will"
Now the European complaint agains;
the United States is simply tha; it, be-
ing hale. does not halt for he weak.
There is absolutely nothing mere in it.
TIE United States is not charged with
megitimate practices, with taking un-
Just Advantage o. its rivals, n extend
ing its commerce at the point Of the
bayonet. Nothing Of the sort. Blu; the
United States has natural resources sur
passing those OF any other land and it
develops them. It has a particularly
efficient and enterprising people. and II
gives them freedom to exert themselves.
1t is able TO make better goods and to
sell tham cheaper than other lands. and
it dJas so. 1t IS swift and does not wait
for the slow: it is strong and does more
work than the weak. That IS all The
head and front of its offending has this
extent-ao more. Wherefore the Euro
pean complaint against us is really moth
ing bu. a demand for another imperial
resarin- a O. linst ability
II will not work. The reply Of the
United States will b. less objurga;ory
than that Of Mr. Kipling's British dele
gate. but it will be no less unmistaka-
BILE. and it will be 20 the same effect.
This nation will not restrain its ability
50 ls 70 match the standard Of those
less competent. 1t will neither fetter itself
nor practice Incidence in order not 10
exceed the productive power Of those
less able TO produce. II The others can |
not keep pace with it they must drop
behind. that is all. Nor is that a sell
fish or an immoral procedure. II Is |
merely an application Of the natural |
law Of the survival II the fttest. and |
Of the law so often quoted and a. often |
mlsapplied by the socialist, from |
each according 20 his ability" If it be |
a benefactlon to the world to cause two
blades OF grass 20 grow where only one
grew before, the United States will not
incur the condemnation Of permitting /
only one to grow where two might well
grow
A fair field and no favor. That is
the true rule in business as we'll as in
sport This country does not seek to in
jure any other. 1t sets no nares to
trip its rivals in the race. 1t sincerely
wishes them good progress and prosper
ity. But for itself II means to keep on
doing the very best it can bringing
forth all possible natural products.
the best goods ii can
and selling them wherever It can find
a market for them. II finds no fault
with any other nation for doing the
same. 1t expects them all TO do 50.
And If any outstrips it, it will not rail
nor whine but take its defeat manful-
Y. We cannot believe that any other
nation will take a different view Of the
ease.