The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-04-19

IN JUDGING the vitality of a peo-
pie as a nation, we must take into
consideration whether the prosper
ity of the nation is attributable to
the richness of her natural resources,
or to the enterprise and intelligence of
her people. A. comparison of CONNER
cial statistics will not teach US any
thing in this respect, unless we
separate the figures of all exports of
the products of the soil from those of
the exports of manufactured goods.
AS far as this country is concerned,
over four-ffths of our exports consist
in produce, such as cotton, minerals,
illuminating oils, cereals, breadstuffs,
meats, ETC.; while the Ger man exports
consist almost exclusively of manufac-
tured goods. That is an immense sd-
vantage we have over Germany, whose
natural resources alone would hardly
suffice to support her dense population.
Of the four great commercial coun-
tries, France, in relation to her size, is
by far the richest in natural resources.
England owes her great wealth princi-
pally to her vast and numerous coloni-
al possessions, and the United Ststes
owes her prosperity to the productive
ness ofheras yet butpartially developed
immensely rich territory. These two
great English-speaking peoples are
possessed of an indomitably pushing
and enterprising spirit, always on
the lookout for trade advantages.
The French are somewhat less pro-
9ressive in this respect. and are in
clined to rest on their past laurels, to
take life easy and to enjoy themselves.
Compared to the three just named
countries, Germany found herself con-
fronted by nothing but difficulties, and
what she did gain within the last
thirty years was produced solely by
hard work and by an intelligent and
timely employment of commercial and
industrial expedients acquired through
practical and theoretical study.
The German Empire was re-estab
iished less than thirty-fve years ago
having at that time population Of
forty-one millions. Previous to that
the present Germany consisted of g
conglomeration of itwenty-eight small
states, each going its own way and fol
lowing its own private interests. 81
1t had been for four centuries. AS full,
five years were needed for organization
and adjustment, the commercia
growth Of Germany did not commence
till thirty years ago. The census re
turns for 1905, giving Germany a pop
ulation of little over sixty millions
was published last month. This is
gain of fifty per cent in thirty-fiv
years, in spite of the fact that Ger
many lost two millions by emigration
while she gained nothing by immigrs
ton.
In commercial respects Germany ca
boast of still greater achievement
German banking and German expol
and import houses can now be foun
anywhere on our inhabited globe. /
the United States, the West Indies ant
especially, in all South American couI
tries, German firms are doing exec
lently well, and the same can be sal
Of all other hemispheres. Even wit
most Of the English colonies German
is doing an extensive business. In q
those countries the English, Il
French, and the Spaniards had bee
long before the Germans; yet the lstt'
gradually managed to get the lion
share of the trade, except, of course,
the English colonies, where the Englis
men had too great advantages on the
side.
The reasons for the German col
mercial successes are as simple as th,
are instructive. First Of all, the &c
man firms made it principle never
send employees to foreign ports who d
not possess good grammatical kno'
ledge and at least fair conversation
abilities Of the language Of these con
tries. The German government, ali
never sent consuls to such countri