New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-26
SEVEN YFAPs, ETP4yS50y


1t IS noe 10 be wondered at that commercial
and industrial nations all over the world are
rcmarking upon the enormous expansion Of
American trade, and that some are even talk
ing of the American peril" We are not sure
that the commercial history Of the world con-
tains parallel TO the expansion of our exports
I'm the last seven years-to Wit, since the begin
ming Of the Mckinley administration and tho
establishment Of that protective policy which
CObdenites valnly declare 10 be fatal 10 foreign
commerce. Let US look for moment nj the
chief figures found in that rich storehouse Of
facts and figures the statistical Abstract"
published by the Department Of Commerce and
Labor.
Ia our export trade with only three important
countries does the year lS9T-in two cases 1898
. and IN one 1SJ9-fail to mark the beginning
. OF new era in striking contrast with all the
years before. Those three are France and Rus
STA, our exports b. which have long been sub
Ject 10 exceptional fluctuations and Spain our
sales TO which have increased only a little TO
Austria Our exports before 1897 were never as
high as 100000 while since then they have
never been rs low as 100000. To Denmark
/ they were never as high as 100000 while
since they have never been rs low as $1,000
600. Exports TO Germany before 1891 ozly once
rose above $lO00J0Oo0 while since then they
have ranged from SID 10000 70 S1g3 900 OOD
To Italy they were always below S2OuUO0OO
and since 1897 they have always been above
running up 10 S3J.OO0O0O To Holland they
were only twice above S40op0.oJO. while since
1897 they have never been below SJ0u1OODD
and have reached SS9OD1OJD In the ease of
Belgium the dividing line is drawn at 1S9S
before which cur exports only once rose above
Ss".OoooOo, and only four times above $4,000
coo. While since they have ranged from ST.
ri
change also, with the United Kingdom, our
exports before it never having reached $500
100000 while since they have never been be-
low $JllOO0,OOO, and have risen to SG31 100000
In the case OF Sweden and Norway the line Is
drawn at 1899, before which our sales were
only twice above $6OO0OCO, while since they
have always been above SIOOOO.OOO If we
turn TO other parts Of the world we find the
same conditions. Before 1891 we never sold
Canada as much as SG0,0OO.OOO worth I'm a year,
but since that date we have never sold her less
than S64, 100000, and have sold as much as
S123,OOOOO0 worth In the case Of Mexico the
change has been from less than $2O,OOO0O0 TO
from sd 100000 20 Si2,OOOODO. The Chinese
figures before 1891 never rose as high as $4,000
O00 while since they have only once fallen
below Sl00O0OUO and from that have gone I'D
to S240OOOOO The Japanese figures before
1897 We're always below $S.OO00O0. while since
Iiey nave ranged from Slo,VOooJO 10 SZ9,UOO,-
O0o Australasia before 1897 never purchased
much as S14,O00OOO worth i'm a year. but
since then the figures h.-e ranged from S1J,-
O00O00 to S32.O000O0 Finally, If we take the
total Of our exports TO all the world, it appears
that only once before 1897. to wit, in 1892, did
it reach S1O00OO0OOO while since 1897 it has
always Dcen considerably above that figure, and
has risen well toward S1,JOoOOO,OOO.
These facts caunOt be explained away on any
such basis as a years failure Of crops I'm Eu-
rope, or a war somewhere, or any such thing
They indicate the operation of some more per-
manent principle. \ great increase in one or
two years would be Of little Signlficance. But
so great md gen ral an increase. maintained
unbroKen Tor s. years, me-; Us sonethi-s
that IS Wen worth carefully considering. 1t