Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-09

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chapter in history was, however, about
to be opened.
With the outbreak Of the Civil War
in the United States. the attitude OF
the government towards the countries
to the South underwent an immediate
and radical change. In this change
the governments altered front towards
the extension Of slavery was a funda-
mental factor. But, beyond this, the
people Of the United States, who had
been accustomed to point to the revo-
lutions in Spanish America as proof Of
unfitness and incompetency for self
government, suddenly learned that no
country was exempt from the posi-
bility Of internal disturbance. The
language Of the government also was
completely transformed. Terms OF
kindness and respect took the place
of epithets Of approbrium. In word.
thoughts and aspirations that had ami
mated the policies Of Henry Clay be-
gan again to elevate and to dignity
the utterances Of statesmen"
Omitting a considerable portion OF
Mr.. Moore's speech, in which he point
ed to the gradually increasing close
ness of political relations. and sketch
ed the history of a number Of success
full Pan-American conferences Of
later date, he said in conclusion:
The time was when Pan-American-
ism seemed to be most fifty emblem
ICED by the orchid. a product wholly
ornamental. having the roots in the
ground and suggesting the thought OF
artificialty. But gradually this en-
blem has ceased to be appropriate; and
in its place may we not now take as
our symbol the monarch Of the for
est, the oak. rearing it's branches high
in the air but sending it's roots deep
into the ground. and drawing both
from earth and sky all the elements of
a vigorous and useful growth?
I'VE have seen that in the dreams of
Bolivar and Clay the idea of solidarity
of political interests was predominant.
So long as this condition continued, rela-
tons were necessarily incomplete. Sym
pathy follows association, and associa-
ton naturally follows the line Of our &C
tvities. One thing was yet needed to
complete the circle of our sympathies,
and that was the union of material with
political interests by means of a more
intimate commercial intercourse. To
such a contamination there have hereto
fore been certain rigid obstacles.
Our commercial relations with the
countries of Central and South America
have often been discussed as if trade
could be brought about by a mere ex-
ertion Of the will, Our manufacturers
and merchants have been censured be-
cause they did not seek the trade of
those countries. In reality, to say moth
ing of fiscal distractions, the develop
ment of trade has been slow because
conditions were not ripe for it, Not on
~ has the United States, like other
rapidly developing countries, been
great borrower, resorting to the same
European reservoirs from which other
American countries have been nourished
but its merchants and manufacturers
have been preoccupied with their own
rich and expanding home market, in
which short credits and iarge profits ex-
ercised their inevitable fascination.
These conditions have, however. been
changing. The development of manufac-
lures has created a need of foreign mar
kets, while the gradual accumulation of
free capital has prompted attention to op-
portunities abroad.
THAT the American nations are alive
to the advantages of cooperation in sup
plying each others material wants can
not be doubted. A demonstration, both
original and striking, of progress in that
direction is furnished by the Pan Ameri-
1afafx- bal1 tn,
Washington under the presidency of the
Secretary of the Treasury. That its con-
vocation was a happy thought is shown
by the earnest, practical character Of
its deliberations, and the plans wisely
laid for future activity. May the work
thus auspiciously begun go steadily and
prosperously on!
"In conclusion, l venture to advert to
phrase too frequently heard in public
places-the dictum that commerce is
war Catching phrases are VIGOROUSLY
misleading, often proving upon examina-
ton to be essentially fallacious; but this
particular phrase l desire to put under
the ban Of Henry Clay's denunciation as
narrow. selfish and grovelng.' Trade, 1t
is true. usually involves competition: yet
competition when fairly conducted is to
be regarded only as the stimulus of en-
ergy. Commerce properly viewed is an
exchange of benefits. A great American
statesman, one of the ablest statesmen.
1 may say. of recent times, the late
Baron Rio Branco of Brazil. in a re-
markable state paper. well observed that
Arrangements in which neither of the in
terested parties loses, and still more
those in which all gain, are always the
best Commerce pursued in this spirit
is unfriendly to no one. 1t is not I'M
friendly to Europe, or to any other part
of the Globe, but is. on the contrary. a
fructifying influence, contributing to the
prosperity and contentment OF all. In
this benign sense it found a place in
Clay's vision Of free, harmonious. unit
ed America. as the abode of justice,
peace and good will"
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