The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-31

produce the bread for the mother country,
what about the meat?
SOUTH AMERICAN POSSIBILITIES.
Argentina is not a British colony, but last
year it furnished over 25 per cent. 90 Eng
lands grain supply and s per cent. of the
dressed beef. Argentine live cattle are not
allowed to land in England at present, ow-
ing TO quarantine restrictions alleged to be
necessary. 1t will not be long, however,
before Argentine live cattle will be allowed
on the British market, and then will her
meat resources be greatly increased. The
late Kirke Armour made the statement not
long before he died that Argentina was
the competitor most to be feared in the
future by the livestock raisers of the
United States.
Then comes Australia. The drought of
the past few years has played havoc with
her industries. but has taught the same les
son now impressed upon the stock raisers
of the Western United States. Irrigation is
the cry. and New South Wales alone has
just appropriated s5,0C0,O0O off-hand to in
augurate a great scheme of state reclama-
ton. With an assurance of feed and water
the meat-producing possibilities of Aus
tralia are beyond computation.
South Africa must now be taken into ac-
count. Here is a great country in the tenn
perate zone, with vast areas of public lands
ready for settlers. Irrigation has already
been recognized as a prominent feature of
the settlement. Subsidized steamers, as
sisted immigration. loans to farmers, forced
markets and reciprocity with England is
the programme. This means something
more than mere political safety for new
English territory. 1t means a vast increase
in producing power. the building up of a
new nation of mixed blood with all the at
tributes of the Western United States. The
future of South Africa as a great food
storehouse for the world at large and espe-
cially for England must not be belittled in
contemplating the destiny of the foreign
trade of the United States. The advent of
the new century is coincident with a new
epoch in the worlds There will
be establishments, new policies and strenu-
Gus effort on the part of all peoples pro-
ducing the food for the world to so regulate
their own that all can live.
WILL AFFECT FARMERS.
The money and brains of the people of
the United States will enter into all of
these new opportunities. but what of the
people who stay upon the land at home
and still continue to produce? The present
older generation may not feel the pressure
in serious degree. but the maturity of the
younger generation will undoubtly witness
a crisis which will be safely passed or dis
astrously encountered in the degree of
craftsmanship with which the lawmakers
and the executive meet rapidly-changing
conditions.
The bulk of the foreign trade of the
United States is in agricultural products.
With all due appreciation of the great pros
perity which has resulted from manufac-
turing. the present lux of money is largely
due TO American control of the surplus
food supply of the world. Prosperity for
many years to come will depend upon ready
and profitable markets for what the Amer
lean farmer has TO sell. At present he sells
by reasons of the necessity of others. The
time will come, in the opinion of the leading
statesmen of Europe, when the surplus of
the land will be successfully marketed only
by those who have built up and fortified
their trade channels by effective transport
tation systems. treaties of commerce in
which the country recognizes the needs of
others and a wise and flexible administra-
ton of the revenue system.
There is a general air of unrest in all
NhN Sitol HiOuuNliS NOullIleS OF the NOflQ.
The United States is struggling in the tolls
of a high and inflexible tariff system de-
vised for protection as well as revenue.
England is FESTIVE under her boasted free
trade, which is no longer free trade except
by courtesy. The breaches in the walls of
fixed and nonprogressive trade theories are
widening. The United States is trying 10
pull down her tariff wall, England to put
hers IN. 1t is not difficult to conceive a
common level for all countries based on
revenue necessities and the amenities of
foreign trade so that the surplus products
of the earth may flow easily and evenly.
regardless Of political divisions. This may
be termed the tariff millennium, but
European statesmen. especially those of
England, are freely discussing it's posi-
bilities. The only outward sign in England
is the readjustment, now in progress, be-
tween different sections of the British en-
pire. In view of what could be done in this
direction and the effect of such a readjust-
ment upon the foreign trade of the world.
IL has an Ominous meaning for the pro-
ducers of the United States. 1t carries a
serious warning to those who are resisting
the exhortation of the late President
Mckinley in his speech at Buffalo. the
earnest efforts OF President Roosevelt, and
the statesmanlike labors of Secretary Hay.