The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-08-09
WHAT BOYCOTTING
A COUNTING MEANS
1t Is Serious Matter to Have Diplo-
matte Representatives Withdrawn.

With the boycotting Of individuals
we have unfortunately become too well
acquainted Of late years; but perhaps
few people are aware how the same
process may be applied to a whole ma
ton.
This boycott of nation is nothing
more nor less than the natural result
of other powers withdrawing their Of
fetal diplomatic representatives from
the court or government, as the case
may be, to which they are accredited.
1t makes such country virtually an
outcast among nations-one with whom
you deal at youIsown risk, and for mis-
understandings and quarrels with
whom there is no redress. SErsP
1t is the worst of possible fates that
can befall any country. and means the
Gripping of her commercial as well as
her moral credit. The first necessity
for a states well-being Is that she
should be on terms of friendship with
all others. The outward. and visible
sign of this is the diplomatist who Of
ficially represents the friendly power.
every country, of course. sending it's
own representative to a sovereign
state.
In war the last act prior to the out
break of hostiiftieS-or,' al least, the
declaration of warts the withdrawal
of the diplomatic representatives.
thing hardly ever done till war is de-
cided on-since it means that friendly
relations between the powers con-.
cerned are severed.
The withdrawal of representatives,
even in a time of peace, as it would be
in the recent case Of Servia, means the
same thing, and when done by a num-
Der of powers, 1T becomes a boycott in
effect. The mark Of a nations credit
is the price of her national stock.
When>a nation is on good terms with
the world, and is properly. governed,
and, therefore, prosperous. her stock
stands high; but any disturbance will
cause fall.
For instance, previous to the war in
South Africa British eonsols of face
value of e 100 were worth Ella. The
end of the war saw them fall to G94,
drop Of EGO, or, one-fifth of their
value at par. And this though a strong
government was in power. and the ma
tionai industries being carried on as
usual. 1t was simply because excep-
tional drafts had to be made upon the
sources of national wealth. besides the
doubt of what other complications
might arise, necessitating further ex-
penditure of hundreds of millions.
Now when the representatives of the
great powers are withdrawing from
country-for the hostile combination
enough to make boycott-the fears of
trouble arising is ever present. No one
knows when all the Industries of the
land will be stopped and the country
given up to war; besides which it
means that things are so mismanaged
that the national wealth is played
ducks and brakes with, and the re-
serves with which she should meet her
liabilities are squandered.
In such a case country will not be
able to raise penny, except upon the
most extortionate terms. Again, in all
small countries foreign capital is need
ed for the development of business.
There might be railway to build, coal
or gold mines to work, agriculture to
encourage and. finance, or steamship
line to connect her with her rivals, and
make markets for her produce. Unless
affairs is such that these industries can
be pursued without danger of disturb
ance, this capital will not be forthcom-
ing; and when diplomatic relations are
severed foreign investors are entirely
at the mercy of the party that happens
to be In power, and perfectly helpless
to stand up for their rights.
1t follows that the welfare of the
people, their education and moral con-
troll, are neglected, If not absolutely
abolished. Unable to practice the arts
and science themselves, they are un-
able to enjoy the benefits of the arts
and sciences of other countries, be-
cause it is much too risky to trust any
thing, either of personal or material
value, among them. In fact, wherever
they turn, despair faces the people of a
boycotted country, and the only thing