The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-02

v.
One OF the most valuable chapters in
this work In the twent y-second in which
Prof. H. G. Emery Of Yale University con-
siders the economic development Of the
United States He begins by directing at
tention TO the fundamental fact that the
economic history of the United States diff
fers from that of any European country
In that Il commences with the trsnsplanta-
ton OF civilized race 10 n cast territory
endowed with extraordinary resources. 1t
can hardly be said, indeed that under
such circumstances, a new nation begins
its development al the point that has been
reached by the older nation from which
II springs: for there lis an inevitable return
TO a more primitive economic life in the
adjustment TO primitive environment
Neither, on the other hand, can II he de-
MED that the process of transplanting re-
moves many OF the shackles of custom
and tradition which retard the progress OF
older countries. In new country things
cannot be done in the old way, and. there
fore. il is at least probable that they will
he done In the best way. There ia no force
to oppose tho quick adoption Of the methods
which make most directly for the end in
view. Prof Emery admits that the process
of economic adjustment may have inn
portant effects on national character and
on legal and political conceptions; but he
holds that the period of transition will be
but temporary, and that the social changes
will be conditioned by the racial inheri-
lance On the whole, he thinks 1t may
be said that -the nation begins its new life
with the period of apprenticeship already
passed; and the cenIury-long process OF
accommodating knowledge. Of building char
actsr and of shaping economic and political
institutions, in short, of rearing, stone by
stone, the structure Of civilization, does
not require TO be repeated. For these rea-
sons, an account OF the economic growth
OF The United States is rather a chronicle
Of material achievement than history of
economic Institutions
In a rapid survey Of the earlier stages OF
our industrial evolution Prof. Emery
dwels for a moment on the strange fact
that, though England had imported cotton
from the East before Jamestown was
founded, vet Virginia had been an English
colony for q century and three-quarters
and, with the other colonies had achieved
Independence before cotton was exported
to The mother country. The total produce
ton of cotton in the United States III 1900
was only 1900, 900 pounds; but in 1910
this had increased TO S5,0O00O0 pounds
Down TO this time the production had been
confined to the Atlantic States; but in the
next decade the continued foreign de-
mard led to that great increase in produce
ton which was to afford unique instance
in history Of great region entirely de-
pendent on a single crop and Of q world
dependent on that region for its supply,
it also led 10 that rapid settlement Of the
Sout Invest which was to increase SO greatly
the area Of slave labor and the power Of
the slaeve- holding class" Nor is tho fact
overlooked that this extension of cotton
culture iii the South was Of immense im-
portance to the West, since it built up the
much needed market at the ocean terminus
OF river navigation.
Looking back over the course OF national
development in the quarter Of a century
following the War of 1872 Prof. Emery
regards the general inc of national policy
followed as broadly and wisely conceived,
whatever exception may be taken To some
of it's features and however futile or On.
travagant may have been In some cases
the support of internal improvements.
He sees. neverthsless, that despite the
growing prosperity. there existed Ia 1859
elements cf weakness which made the
evolution of 4 strong national lie still
doubtful. ny this time the country had
como to he divided into three sections.
.The New England and Middle Siotes east
of the Allegheny Mount aims, rapidly al
vancing ci. industrial and commercial
lines, had come &c be far removed III obar-
actsr and syn pathy from thescotton States,
with their expanding plsntstiou and slave
system, and they were not YET CONNER
cially joined with the new West, Even
the extension Of canals to th, West although
IL brought the products Of western New
York and of the shores Of Lake Erie TO the
Hudson, did not overcome the dependence