The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-03

seven hundred and thirty-six million
bushels of grain, and eleven million two
hundred and seventy-four thousand
bales of cotton. The gold and silver
and precious stones, whose quest
brought Columbus across the ocean
and inspired the adventures of De
Leon and De Soto, become the COM
monplaces of commerce. compared
with the present reality and future
possibilities of this annual fruitage of
a territory blessed with eXhaustless
treasures in fields, mines and water
power, which are owned and controlled
by people who have displayed the
genius and energy, the initiative and
wise working which have produced
these marvellous results.
But this fair is more than a memo
rial of the glories of the era which
recently closed so brilliantly. 1t conf
IDENTIFY and hopefully enters the twen-
tieth century with the high and pa
triotic mission of promoting closer and
mutually beneficent relations with
neighboring countries and commune
ties. The teachings of this industrial
exhibition, carried by visitors from the
West India Islands and the South
American states to their homes, Will
enforce the lessons of reciprocity and
open here and there new and growing
markets.
Reciprocity Defined.
Reciprocity has been a popular but
underlined idea in American politics.
Its possibilities have captured our
imagination. It's practical and bene-
fetal limits have never been revealed.
Where it brings the highly organized
industries and cheap labor of other
countries in competition in our mar
la until GPhpn1a will NOT
be adopted. Bargains are never one
sided among shrewd dealers, and in
large and in detail reciprocity is bar
gain. But with the West India ISL
ands, and most, if not all, the South
and Central American Republics and
Mexico, it is our plain duty to offer
such mutual advantages by tariff con-
cessions as will draw them to us, and
give us in return the better position for
our products among their people. We
cannot expect that the British colonies
in the Western Hemisphere will for
ever purchase sixty per cent. of their
importations from the United States
with little corresponding buying on our
part from them. We must keep and
foster this vast commerce by liberal
recognition, for British America
bought from us in 1900 SILT .191 1902. as
against SSS, S42, 100 from Mexico and all
the Central and South American Re-
publics, and SIG, 934524 from Cuba, or
more than all North and South Amer
lea and the islands of the sea combined.
The balance of trade in our favor with
Canada last year was $50, 58ss07, while
the balance against us with South
America was $61,455,5S2.
American Marine Needed.
Our. failure to capture or hold What
fact that we have abandoned the sea
Our country, with its superb energy
and limitless productive powers. but
without an adequate merchant marine,
is like Hercules chained to his forge, or
an eagle clipped of its wings Until
ships under the American flag are car
rying American merchandise and es-
tablishing routes and ports and bank
ing facilities for American commerce.
we cannot possess or enjoy our inher-
itance. When the istnmian canal is
opened built. owned and controlled. as
it will be, by the United States, our
poverty on the ocean will make it the
opportunity of our rivals The day
ought to be near-it should be hasten
ed by this exhibition-when American
fleets, carrying the surplus of the har-
vests of the South from her fields. her
forests, and factories, and returning
with responding cargoes from the
West Indies, and South, North and
central American countries will utilize
for our national wealth, patriotism
and pride, the superb harbor and con
Venient location of Charleston.
These conditions make it important
ana imperative that we maintain the
Monroe Doctrine. This American prin-
ciple of international law is not a. men
ace. 1t leaves intact and unmolested
the titles and sovereignty of all the
European powers possessing territories
on this side of the Atlantic. But since
1t was promulgated, Dec. 2, 1928 it has
been notice and warning that no SOW
ereignty of the old world can enlarge
it's area or acquire new lands in the
New.
The Constitution.
mo review of the one hundred and
fourteen years of our existence as a
nation, and contemplation of its perils.
triumps and results. would be complete
without tribute and reverence for the
constitution of the United Staes. This
great charter of rights and liberties
has alone survived the revolutions
which have overturned or radically
changed every other government since
1t was adopted. Except as to the
amendments necessitated by the Civil
War, it remains as it came
from the hands of its trainers.
our first and greatest jurist. John
Marshall, Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, built a nation of limitless DOW
ers for preservation and growth from
the congratulations Of the constitution.
Following the lines thought out by his
genius, that court has in that immor-
tai instrument found authority for the
wants of each generation. SO. we
here, bowling to its latest decision. lay
aside our different theories of consti-
tutonal construction, to welcome Porto
Rico and her products. TO bid all hail
to Cuba, and to prepare for the Gull
ture and utilization Of the markets of
Hawaii and the Philippines. and of the
nearby Orient from the vantage Of
Manila for the ever-increasing surplus
Of our labor. which will paralyze our
industries unless 1t can energize them
by outlets and purchasers.
The Puritan and the Cavalier.
The spur Of necessity created out Of
Puritan education and conditions
race Of restless state builders and pio-
neers, inventors, merchants and arti-
sans, and the most successful organiz-
ers Of industries of any age or coun-
try. Their genius for enterprises on
shore and sea, and the unequaled op-
portunities of our land. have given
them vast wealth, and with II luxury
and ease. When, after the exhaustion
OF the Civil War, the spur OF neces-
sity pricked the skin Of the cavalier
the mettle of resourcefulness and pluck
of the race were found unimpai'ed
Then came the exercise OF qualities
which overcome all obstacles. develop
resources. and energize and enrich