Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-04-20

Will Spain pIouuCeu Gel ldiii iSSui@S ~
would have been the part Of wisdom
to have made party platforms and pol
icies correspond with existing condi-
tions and their natural and inevitable
| consequences.
We are now in the commercial arena,
contesting with the other nations for
the trade of the world. So far we have
! built up our foreign trade by intense
absorption in the internal development
of our domestic industries. We now
produce sufficient for the needs of
twice our population, and not to find
a market for our surplus Is to invite
stagnation and decay.
The most striking feature in our ex-
port development is the remarkable
and constantly increasing demand for
our iron and steel. Within six years
we have advanced to the position
where American iron and steel enters
into the construction of every bridge
and railroad in the world or fixes the
price therefor.
I saw in the papers a few days ago
that the Baldwin locomotive works in
Philadelphia were supplying the Rus
sian government with $50 locomotives
for the Trans-Siberian railroad. The
facts surrounding this sale are of pecu-
liar interest. The Russian government
owns its railroads and maintains large
shops. 1t puts a duty Of cents per
pound on imports, but when it came to
supplying the equipment for this giant
road Of 5000 miles, it was found that
they had to come to the United States.
And yet, seven years ago, the first iron
shipment abroad was from Birming-
ham, Ala.
| Another feature of American infiu-
ence is our suddenly acquired finan-
cial independence. For years we have
been borrowers; but during the two
years past we have become lenders of
money. Three Of the largest European
governments-E Germany and
Russia-have found 1t necessary to
come to New York for important loans,
thus showing that the center Of the
| financial world has been transferred
from Lombard to Wall street. 1t Is
folly for the political leaders Of the
South to close their eyes to the truth
| that the commercial expansion Of the
United States is a fact of constantly
enlarging proportions, demanding
changed governmental policies to meet
new conditions. [Applause].
In spite of higher wages, with labor
saving machinery, the superior skill
and intelligence of our operatives, un-
der a factory system better organized
than any in the world, Is giving us In
dustrial aScendancy. 1t needs, now
ever, to support it a broad statesman.
ship, not handicapped by sectaonal
prejudices. We can differ about DO
mestic matters and divide upon party
lines, but when it comes to utilizing
national opportunities, North, South,
East and West should unite in main
tanning the supremacy of the United
States in the great struggle among the
nations for the commerce Of the world.
[Applause.]
The South must play an important
part in our country's future. For
third of a century she has been ham,
pered by q struggle for mere existence,
forced to devote all Of her energy and
craftsmanship to the maintenance OF
white supremacy. Thank God, this Is
permanent and assured beyond perad-
Venture of doubt. AT last she has
emerged from her forlorn and pros
trate condition; freed from her en-
thrallment, she can put herself In
touch with the best thought of the
age, and again exercise an influence
in national life. believe the time will
come when the South will be the hope
and salvation of this nation. lap
plause]. Her marvellous growth In
manufacturing enterprises. her devel-
opment of natural resources, and her
rapid advance in progressive thought
and action, is making her again the
leading section in this country. The
center Of manufacturing in the United
States has been transferred from Fall
River, Mass, to Columbia, S. G. But
if we would make the most OF our OPP
portunities we must renounce sectional
prejudices and support broad national
policies, looking to the creation Of for
eign markets, the expansion of trade
and the upbuilding of common coun-
try. [Applause.I We must demand
and have for the South full share of
national life. The South is vitality in
terested in the Asiatic markets. Her
manufacturers are studying the needs
of the people in an intelligent effort to
turn out products suited to those mar
kets. The closing Of the markets Of
China, owing to recent troubles, has
caused a glut of goods, which Is re-
flected by decline of three cents per
pound on raw cotton.
The administration is doing great
deal towards improving our CONNER
cial opportunities in the East, by show
ing some regard for the inalienable
rights of China, while protecting the
legitimate demands Of foreign inter-
ests. Dewey's vistory first established
American prestige along the Asiatic
coast. 1t was then that 800 million
people in the Orient learned respect for
the United States and Saluted us as
first class power. The attitude Of the
United States since in the field of df-
plomacy in China has given confidence
and increased that respect. The Uni
ted States from the first took the lead,
and even the warlike emperor OF Ger
many has had to yield to Uncle Sans
friendly admonitions. [Applause]. We
now occupy the vantage ground. be-
cause on friendly terms with all the
powers. I make the assertion that the,
South has more to gain than any 9TH
er section from the foreign policy now
pursued by the administration, par
ticularly when the Isthmian canal Is
constructed, as it will be. [Applausel.
have read extracts from the speech
of my amiable and distinguished friend
His Excellency, Minister Wu. recently
made in Chicago. 1t Is replete with
wisdom and good sense. We cannot
hope and we should not wish to break
down the civilization Of China upon
which is based a polity, society and
religion the slow growth Of 1000 years.
To do so is to destroy. the empire In
the attempt to suddenly thrust upon
her a Western civilization for which
her people are not prepared. All we,