The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-23

lie domain for trans.contnental railways--not Ia
| aid railways per Sc, but to develop trade as
constitutional duty. Coastwise ship subsidies
would be the equivalent of railway land grants.
Irrespective OF the merit Of transatlantic subsi.
dies, no one should question the wisdom Of rea.
sonabe governmental aid TO our coastwsc meich'
ant marine. Our commerce with Central and
South America is now largely by the grace Of our
European trade rivals. Not day should he lost
in terminating this ridiculous and intolerablc
stuation and in establishing regular mail and
trade lines from the great ports Of the United
States to the shipping centels of Mexico, Central
and South America.
Monroe Doctrine a Trade Measure.
But more important than these material aids,
will be our future relations TO the Mon,oe doc.
trinc. Believing in the doctrine as the American
people do, they owe 1t to themselves 10 re-
assert the claim Of President Adams, that Anleri-
can commerce is the "common possession" OF
Americans, and not Of Europeans or other pow.
crs--that while we do not want the land. we and
all other American republics claim exclusive trade
rights in all territory protected by the doctrine
a monopoly, in short OF American commerce for
Americans, as against the rest of the world.
recommend the immediate negotiation OF
treaties Oh the following basis: G) Endorsement
of the Monroe doctrine; 10y endorsement OF the
Daz doctrine; and (3) preferential customs d,i.
parties, either party to be at liberty to make
similar treaties with any colony or sovereignty
in the Western hemisphere, bur not with any
European nation. Negotiations for such treaties
should be initiated by the United States as The
primate of the American system, and should pro'
cced not through nAmerican congresses. but
directly with each protected republic. When 1t
Is understood that VIC desire such treaties, and
will accept substantially nothing else, the trea.
ties will be made, and our commercial rights un.
der the Monroe doctrine will thus be recognized
and established by the highest form Of nterna-
tional obligation.
Mexico is contiguous to the United States and
naturally first to become Americanzcd. Mar.
vclous is the transformation OF the last five years
Even now American railroads are integrating its
states. American capital vitalzing its industries
American banks exploiting its fnanoes--and when
| these influences are propelled with the overpower.
ing energy of this republic, under the fostering
influence Of reciprocal trade treaties, into Central
| and South America, we will Increasingly mono
polizc their commerce and bind to ourselves for
all time the growing exports and imports Of Cur
sister republics.
Our Trade in the Orient.
The expansion of our commerce westward must
be on that great ocean, Seward's Commercial
battle ground Of the world" where Baron lIueb.
ner beheld written the future history OF the
Anglo.SaXon race. There the nations are al
| ready gathering for the mighty conflict. England
| pushed the Canadian railway to foster her Ori
entail trade. Russia built her trans Siberian road
for the same purpose. Germany and France and
Italy want Pacific ports and trading areas OF oil
the nations struggling for the trade OF the Ori
ent, is the only naturally entitled to it,
London and Paris and Berlin and st. Petersburg
are on the other side of the globe; but we have
a Pacific coast line of 1000 miles. Within the
last four years we have pushed that line 1000
miles farther out to Hawaii. In the very center
of the Pacific we have one OF the Samoan group
We own the Aleutian islands near Japan. And
now we are in the Philippines, within 600 miles
Of the gates of China.
Facing the Pacific and Indian oceans are $780,
100000 people, more than half the population Of
| the globe Excluding North America the foreign
s., 500, 100000 year. History shows that what
ever nation controls this commerce controls the
trade of the world. The stake at issue is stu
pendous. With the Philippines, Ladrones, Sa
| moa, and Hawaii, our possessions reach acros:
the Pacific; all great trade and cruising routes
an American ship is never more than 1000 miles
from an American port; the Pacific itself is our!
primarily; our territory bounds it two sides
our islands dot its surface; and with the ocear
and its islands in possession, an isthmiaI
canal leading the Atlantic and Gulf commerce
straight to India, China and JAPAN American
banks established in all Asiatic trade centers.
great merchant marine pouring out OF every Pa
| cifc port from San Diego to Seattle. and swell.
ing the tides of trade that roll back and forth
over the Pacifc-why should not the commerce Of
the Orient become the commerce OF America in
larger degree than OF any other nation?