The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-31

locker; an Indifferent spectator. She has
been pushing her trade aggressvely thruout
all quarters Of the earth. She has been stead
lily securing increased participation in the
worlds commerce. yet she has not secured
her just share. The scepter of commercial
supremacy seems to be within her easy grasp :
which she has attained her present eminence.
She has men of commanding power In the
world of finance. She has her captains of
ability to meet successfully all corners. She
has the labor which possess high order OF
intelligence and capacity unsurpassed IN
other countries. She has natural advantages
almost bewildering in their abundance, ade-
quate to enable her to carry the contest to
successful issue. But we can not win in the
development OF our domestic trade and In the
extension of our commerce abroad without an
infexible adherence to wise principles OF
finance and sound economic policies. Com
Chance. 1t is not the result OF accident. It 10
due to the observance OF wise policies and
national practices.
Need Our Own Merchant Marine.
We send our commodities into almost every
port and draw from all countries trade IN re-
turn. It Is significant fact which we may
we'll ponder that we contribute to alien ship
owners near one hundred and seventy-hve
millions Of dollars per annum. in payment for
the transportation of our imports and exports
We carry barely ten per cent OF our foreign
commerce in our own vessels 1t would seem
that the tremendous tribute which we are
making to support the merchant marine OF
principles of sound national policy: The skill.
enterprise and reSourcefulness OF our coun-
trymen would seem to be adequate to enable
us to re-establish the prestige OF our nation
in the carrying trade upon the high seas. We
| are inspired by our navy, which has so spien.
didly indicated it's power and the national
dignity, and we shall hope in good time TO to
commerce, bearing our flag In all the ports
of the earth.
T This Is not q question of mere sentiment,
/ for 1t has very material and practical bear
Ing not only with respect to the. saving OF
! the present large annual contribution to for
eign vessel owners, but upon the further ex-
tension of our commerce IN the interests OF all
sections Of our common country.
You are fortunately situated at the head OF
the great lakes, which afford unsurpassed
This means much in the future development
Of your trade; much to your farmers and
| much to your manufacturers.
The growth of commerce upon our great
lake system in volume and value, verges upon
the marvellous. 1t is said that the value of
Lake Superior commerce alone one-half CEN
fury ago was two millions Of dollars per
annum. but that this year it will exceed three
The tonnage which passes thru the locks at
| Sault Ste. Marie is twice as great as that
the entire world In twenty years this ton
mage has increased 1,742 per cent. In 1880
it was 1,734 900 and last year it rose to 81,
955, 900 tons-an almost incredible expansion.
It is obviously important that the canal
system In connection with the great lakes
| should be SO improved and maintained at all
times as to afford the ready passage OF yes
and may we not hope that In good time ade-
quate provision will be made so that they may
find an outlet to the Atlantic seaboard?
Relations Of Labor and Capital.
One of the most discussed themes OF the
day is the proper relations OF labor and capt.
tall and how best to secure and maintain
them. It is far-reaching question. which
vitality concerns not only the present but
also the future It is a subject to be dealt
trace of either passion Of prejudice. To Sc.
cure to each a just measure OF the fruit OF
their joint operation should be the universal
desire. Wars between them have been many,
resulting In great losses to each and to the
community. A resort to force to secure JUS
tice should not be necessary. There should be
| a fair and effective settlement Of differences
| must come thru patience. forbearance and
education. The process should be evolution
| airy rather than revolutionary. We must
rights which the other must respect. This
| VIII pave the way to their mutual recognition.
| Here surrounded by the many and rich pro-
| ducts Of both labor and capital, we may well
| pause to contemplate their respective rights,
| and venture the hope that they may come
more and more to realize their Just relation to
ency. Reason Is the chancery Of justice and
civilization. To 1t we can confidently commit
| our differences. Her judgments may some
times seem to be slow. but they are altogether
Just and are alone such as abide. -.
] Our modern development has excited the
| surprise and challenged the admiration OF the
| world. Capital has combined as never before
Corporations have been organized upon an
unprecedented scale, and have been carrying
| forward many enterprises OF large magnitude.
In the main they have been accomplishing g
aave snaSe e
| To say that all this has been done without
encroachment upon the rights Of individuals
and communities In many instances is ia
ascribe to human agencies an infallibility
which they do not possess. But because some
do wrong, we should not condemn all. The
is 1t the hold
agencies, individual and corporate: Corpora
tons and combinations, which derive theii
breath from the state are within Its absolute
and perpetual control. The state, IN her gu.
shalt thou go and no farther" This Is not
only the states undoubted prerogative, but II
should exercise it-not In narrow: destruc-
but SO as to protect and preserve wholesome
enterprise and insure generous competition.
Our progress is the result OF the operation
period Of many years. It is the result Of the
action Of great laws of trade which IN
written, and we should not lay upon the
!
! present prestige and power the violent hands
Of ignorance and passion, lest We do more
! harm than good; lest we create greater illt
| than those we suffer. We should not hest.
tate to denounce wrong and seek to eradicate
1 it wherever 1t exists. We should locate i
and deal with it, but we should not strik,
out blindly and equally against both the evi
| we would remove and the good we shoult
Protection Of Competition.
Above all things we should avoid the dem
agogue as pestilence, and take counsel onl!
Of reason and right There is no wrong W
have not the power to remedy or prevent
and that power we should exercise with wis
dom and unflinching purpose. We shoul'
ton, and capital properly employed Neithe
the appeal of prejudice nor the voice 0
greed should swerve VI from this purpose
It 1s as much our imperative duty to protec
capital and labor In the free and proper ex
ercise Of their functions as It is to RESTRAIN
and forbid, the encrachment Of wrong.
| There is no moro vital or wholesome lesso,