The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-07-10

plunder. Within recent years, tho civil
lied nations have begun to recognize that
these methods are not in consonance with
the principles of humanity. Their con-
quests have as rule been peaceful ones
during the past few years, made for the
purpose of extending their commerce.
The trst department of commerce es-
tablished by any country was inaugurated
by Germany, and since that time all Of
the nations have recognized the propriety
of making the extension of commerce a
national object. This new protection Civ
en- to commercial interest has resulted in
large extension of such interest. The
international trade of the world to-day Is
over twenty times as great as it was a
century ago. 1t has increased out Of all
proportion to the increase of population.
1t has caused corresponding increase Of
wealth. This condition has brought about
a new era in the worlds history, which
might be termed the era of commerce, and
this bids fair to succeed permanently to
that of war, which has lasted throughout
the centuries preceding the opening Of the
present one. This has caused tho amalga-
nation of large corporations into still
larger ones. 1t has caused commerce to
be conducted upon scale never dreamed
Of by our fathers.
While trusts are dangerous to the pub
/ lie welfare by reason of their purpose,
which is to increase prices by preventing
competition and limit production to the
point of the greatest possible profit, the
legitimate corporation, however large its
capital, having for its purpose great in
crease of production and the extension OF
trade instead of the sitting of trade, is
distinctly beneficial and assists in the diff.
fusion of general prosperity.
The opening up of new markets will
create new lines of employment and in
crease the number of men required to
conduct the old lines of business, thus
affording to the man who earns his bread
by the sweat of his brow the opportunity
to keep constantly employed and insuring
him against periods Of enforced idleness.
1t is happy condition which benefits all
and is not condition which should array
one class against the other. Trusts should
be stamped out wherever they may ap-
pear, whether their capital be large or
small, but the employment'of large capt.
tai, If used in the creation of new trade,
cannot fail to confer benefits upon the
entire people.
LABOR AND CAPITAL.
And these ancient governments too
made the mistake of treating labor as a
commodity, without reference to the
laborers. This mistake was made solely
in the interest of the employer of labor,
and from the most ancient times the aa-
tions of the earth have treated the laborer,
with relation to his labor, as personal
ity. They have compelled him to dispose
statutory enactments, compelled all young
men to learn trade. But while treating
the labor as inseparable from the person
ality of the laborer, they did nothing TO
protect him in his labor. Under the prin-
ciples of equal justice to all, the laborer
will be protected in his labor, as the en-
ployer is in his capital. The interests of
the laborer and his employer, il properly
understood, are reciprocal. They are In
terested to bring about one result, the
profitable employment of labor to the good
of both labor and capital 1t is to the in
terest of capital to have efficient and con-
tented labor. It is to the interest of labor
that capital should be profitably employed
in order to increase the demand. for labor.
Under the principles of equality and jus,
tice, this relation will be 80 we'll under
stood that it will bring about system Of
legal arbitration, similar to the principles
governing courts Of equity. that will de-
termine questions arising between labor
and it's employers in such manner az
will advance the interests Of both.
1t was reserved for the christianized in.
tellect Of the 10th century to repudiate the
unchris tian governmental systems of-pre-
vious ages, and to construct an organized
political system of governmentNwhich re-
cognized the truth that governments were
made for man. and intended to make him
a responsible moral as we'll as intellectual
subject; that they were intended to secure
human freedom, freedom of conscience,
freedom of intellect. and freedom of &C.
ton; that they are to be founded on the
great moral law proclaimed from Mt.
Sinai, snd that nations as we'll as individ-
uals were to be subject to its commands,
and that they were intended to be the hu.
man agencies not only to bless their sub
jscts but the world. The publican,gov.
ernment of the United States is the most
government based upon the rock founda,
ton of the peoples rights to govern them
selves under the sanctions of an enlight-
ened conscience and Of the moral law.
Perfect individual and national liberty
is guaranteed by it, and'its great.purpose
is to promote the general welfare. Truly
the hand of God has been in this wonder.
full age of human progress, and has been
instrumental in raising up our republic as
a beacon light to the world and the gov
ernmental instrumentallty which is to
spread the blessings Of human liberty and
civilization.
GODS PURPOSE IN EXPANSION.
With this heaven appointed destiny,
what splendid opportunities are afforded
US as a nation. Some are disposed to talk
fippautly about the advent of the United
States into the arena Of the struggle
among the great powers of the earth.
They oppose the extension Of our terri
tory, of our commerce, of the blessings oi