New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-26

q ' ! : "
Carlyle who said that kuowladge of statistics
valuable because it enabled YOU keep other peO-
pie from fosting statistics down your throat; and
one Of our cOnsuls in Europe literary MANS on
record saying witherinsy of ambassador that
his only conception of "a nations greatness was
that be found in sordid tables OF exports
Vet read Alright there is no more certain index of
country's strength than the tables tnat tell Of
the commercial transactions of "A free people.
comparison. for example of the present prosperity
Of America. set forth in the last annual re-
mort 70 Congress of Secretary Gage with the dis
NAL picture of almost national bankruptcy pre-
scented by THE Federast i'm the earlv days of the
republic when the first Secretary of the Treasury
was pledging his private fortune to- repair public
credit reveals century of unparalleled expansion
in this country.
When Speaker Henderson If the House read the
closing paragraphs Of Secretary Cages report. he
said: I'm these figures is embodied the whole story
of our national welfare" In truth. they are more
eloquent of our present unrivaled prosperity than
any eIucidaton of them could be
The value of exports of the present fiscal year eN-
ceeds those of years ago 1903 Isl with de-
crease of imports Of 81 1901 The total value Of
imports for 1901 sS2S l65 while the exports
swelled to the value ST. S7 76 99l. The value or
our exports therefore, our imports during the
fiscal year 1901 amounted 70 S654592 SO And these
figures both the value of exports and as to
the excess OF exports over imports. are greater
than before in American history
Now. contrast this prosperity with the following
note OF alarm sounded by 1.-THE Federalist' in the
early days of the republic:
I'VE may indeed be said have reached almost
the last stage of national humiliation There Is
scarcely anything that wound the pride or
degrade the character of independent people
which do not experience. Spain excludes US
from free participation in the navigation of the
Mississippi Is public credit Indispensable re-
source in time of public danger? We seem to have
abandoned It's cause desperate and irretriev-
able Is commerce of Importance TO national
wealth? Oars is at the lowest point OF dechna-
ton"
Americas present prominence mas been
gained by the subjugation of older powers The
growth Of the republic has been due to the
country's amazing resources and TO the unconquer-
able energy of it's people, and when gioryins IN the
national welfare, Should keep in mind that We
are only the threshold OF our achievement our
present financial and commercial position among
the family of nations is simply the measure of
century's growth; the country has only passed It's
majority-not long time in the life of nations
The young Republic OF the West no sooner felt
the stimulating influence of national life than it
began to improve the virgin wilderness of its
homestead and gather together a few household
conveniences. Help was scarce and necessity COM
PEELED the creation OF labor saving devices. These
increased the productive capacity OF the young
family and created a desire 10 enlarge the bOuu-
daries OF the homestead. and it was only short
time until the expansion gave abundant emporium
ity for the exercise of energy. No sooner the
farm cleared. fenced. dtched and put into state
of cultivation which produced more than was
needed for family consumption than the necessity
for market for the surplus was felt The United
States gradually arrived the conviction that no
nation has a vested right in the markets of the
world. and out to secure what IT looked upon as
its legitimate share Of the worlds commerce IL
well equipped for the struggle. NO tradltonaI
prcjudices of its own creation barred its path The
GfrQ rrTh "a
Efforts keenness Of vision gave wide horizon
Separated from Europe. Asia and South America
by wide oceans it invented the steamer 10 bridge
their Feeling the necessity of more rapid
communication with distant parts. IL invented the
telegraph and laid cables through the coral caves
Of the sea 1t was quick 10 learn what wanted
and then applied itself TO supplying that want.
The world called for food, and American prairies
waved with corn and wheat. while its plains be-
came dotted with cattle. The world was invited TO
come and eat-but not without money and without
price The world naked; America planted
cotton. invented the cotton gin, and sold the
wherewithaI TO cothe the people.
This arrangement highly satisfactory to
older nations. and the United States was en-
couraged TO pursue the policy of being a producer
OF breadstuffs for the labor of Europe, and raw
material for its looms and factories. America,
however. was not slow TO see that If Europe could
spin. weave, print cast forge and iaDricate the
material transported from America at profit. the
suaded that the loom beside the cotton heId would
have an advantage over the boom across the sea
The smelter and forge with lime, coal, and ore at
it's door would work in successful competition
with the furnaces of any other country and So
the other day. the entire world. the United
States included. awoke TO the fact that a new COM
merciaI world power had arisen disputtng the
mastery of trade with all mankind.
What has been called the Yankee peril in Europe
is a Yankee surprise among the Yankees them
selves whose statesmen In fostering the conditions
which brought about this state Of affairs
builded better than they knew and stand amazed
AT the results. We share the trade in the spe-
ciaItrs OF other lands. America sends Goals 10
Newcastle. cottons to Manchester cutlery 10 Shelf
neld, wine To France. potatoes 70 Ireland oatmeal
to Scotland. watches to Switzerland. and sauer-
kraut to Germany
empire of manufacturing industry. and the Aneri-
can workman. with his sceptre of steel rules the
world
All Europe has awakened To the presence Of the
Yankee peril. and the demand for a European
Zollverein to resist the commercial invasion has
become a shibboleth among the anxious captains
of industry in the Old World An Austrian states
man. a year ago. advocated such coalition Max
Manthner. president OF the Chamber Of Commerce
of Lower Austria. and member Of the House of
Peers of Austria Hungary. addressing that body
recently on the necessity for Austro- Hungarian
canal construction. exclaimed
Unless Europe hastens 10 provide herself with
cheap transportation she will be crushed by the
United states. That country has recently pursued
a policy which is intended 10 reduce Europe TO a
condition of economic dependency. and TO make
the United States the centre OF the whole manu-
featuring world"
In France statesman declared that his warning
the previous year against the yellow Peril had
been UNDECIDED. and France. in conjunction with
other powers was forced to combat in the Celes-
tiaI Empire. II his mission, he continued.
10 raise again his voice in warning 1t the
American peril that advancing with ir-
resistibIe force upon unhappy Europe The Ma
poIeons of American finance" he concluded. con
Ihn