New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-08-25
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that would soon overcome all con-
fusion and hesitancy. Our steel mills
would receive no more war orders,
but far better, they would be pressed
with orders for shipbuilding, for
railroads, for buildings and for all
kinds of construction work in al.
parts Of the world. Our textile mills
would soon recover from loss of war
orders and be fully occupied with
both domestic and foreign orders
Our secondary industries, such as
automo biles, typewriters, agricultural
implements, machinery, ETC., would
also be pressed with orders to make
good war losses in Europe. Our min
eral producers would be equally sure
of good markets and good prices; so,
too, would the American farmer who
may rest assured of good prices for
all he can grow for some years to
come. The truth is war has impover-
ished the whole world. The waste Of
life and wealth has been inconceiv-
able. Millions of lives have been
destroyed or impaired, and the expen-
ditures for war since 1914 of all ma
tons have been over $4,000, 00O,0 900.
Everything grown or made by tho
hand of man is scarce. Years will
be required to refill the enormous
vacuum, and the scarcity of men or
labor at a time when most needed
means high wages high prices and a
long period of industrial activity. or
course, there will be periods of weak
ness and, depression. There will be
grave imboverishment of some Sec
tons, as we'll as the crushing burden
of debt upon all. Difficultie, at pres
ent unperceived, are likely to de-
velop, and recovery from war does
not mean escape from all it's losses
But let it distinctly be kept in mind,
peace when it does come will find
! the United States elevated to a pre-
| eminence industrially, commercially
and financially that would have re-
! uuired a generation to attain, had it
| not been for this cataclysm in Eu-
rope.
The war enriched us enormously,
| because Of the profits obtained in our
| foreign trade and the fact that we
| have been the least affected of any OF
| the great nations. We have suddenly
| become world bankers. securing a
| position that will not be surrendered
Even should Great Britain recover her
leadership after the war, we will still
be a close second, instead of a distant
! third or fourth as before the war
/
| growth, and while a better balance be-
| tween imports and exports may be
| necessary, still we have gained a foot
| hold in foreign markets that will mo-
| be relinquished. The future Of Ameri
! san export trade is exceptionally bril-
| liant. BY far the most significant re.
suit of tie war to Americans Will be
| the restoration of the United States tC
a fitting position a maritime power
III o
| been a thorn in our national pride
Before the war we ranked close to the
| foot of the worlds sea-going tonnage;
| but within a couple Of years thanks
to prompt seizure of a favorable op-
! portunity, this country may easily be-
come a good second to Great Britain
as a maritime nation. The estab lish-
ment of a big mercantile marine
speaks volumes for the future of
American foreign commerce. The war
brought us two essentials for interna-
tional success-banking power and
our own shipping. 1t is literally up
to our business men and our states
| men to pursue a liberal and construc-
tive policy for developing our foreign
trade and our merchant market. This
cannot be accomplished by any system
of artificial supports, reprisals or dis
elimination. 1t can only be accom-
plished on a sound basis by hearing
in mind that if we want to sell abroad
we must be equally ready to buy, since
foreign trade in the mass is nothing
more or less than simple barter. Nor
can it be too strongly impressed upon
leaders Of industry and politics that
the fewer restraints we impose upon
trade, foreign or domestic, the quicker
and stronger will be it's growth. Com
merce thrives best when least shackled
incidentally, 1T may be said, the best
safeguard against war is a widely dis
tributed commerce, because nothing
will do more to preserve peace than
the open door and equal opportunities
to all.
HENRY CLEwS.