The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-06-22
SPAIN AND SPANISH PEOPLE
ENJOYING PROSPERITY NEVER
DREAMED OF BEFORE BIC WAR
- $50 - -

it merely aggravates some of the dis
concerning circumstances of the time.
Enough has already been stacked,
there to satisfy national pride and
prestige and to lead to some sort of
national financial stability. 1t is do
ing nothing While it is thus stored,
and these 1900, 100000 pesetas laid
up now are already an expansive lux
ury. 1t has been urged that the gold
standard should be put into circula-
ton throughout Spain, and that the
collected gold and what is owing
should be used for the purpose. If
this were done it would lead to many
sound benefits for the country in the
future, in her relations with the ex-
terror. Another alternative is that
the stored gold should be employed
for the development of existing indus
tries and the establishment of new
ones, but against this it is mentioned
that there is ample evidence-some of
it mentioned here-that there is
abundant money in the private pos
session of the commercial and other
classes to carry out all such works
as are determined. upon. Strange as
are the financial vicissitudes of this
badly organized country, contradict
tory as appears the whole story of
Spanish finance and economics, with
this wealth of gold. the enhanced val
ue of the coin, and yet want and pow
erty SO extensive, it is the outstand-
Ing fact that the Spanish commercial
man at the present ime is in a<good
way, and that, with lots of money in
his, pocket, he is thinking upon COM
-mercial and industrial expansion on
his own account, from a point of view
which is as novel to him. as it is en-
thralling
There may be results of the most
important character, apart from mere
material gain, following upon this
new, stimulus. For one thing the
manufa cturer, producer, and trader,
with their new dreams of the future
and the money to help them to come
true, understand that it is of vital i'm
portance that the international policy
of the moment should assist their
prospects, and not injure them. If
they reach the conclusion that in
their new future the world conditions
and resentments will not permit Of
their being all things to all nations,
they must quickly decide on whether
neutrality pays, and where their in
terest lies. 1t is the community that
will decide in this way and, for these
reasons, that. may count more than
any other in the great decision that
is now being presented to the coun-
try. The ignorance of the people may
count for little against it. Commerce
comes up with the church and the
Army, and it alone belongs to the new
period of thought.
AS to the scope for development of
manufactures, it is enormous, for it
is a sad anomaly that even now Spair
is increasing her imports of manu-
featured articles and decreasing her
exports of them. The statistics COW
ering last year, just issued by La Dr.
reccion General de Aduanas are very
impressive. These customs returns
show that the international trade of
Spain rose last year to 2,664,846,2 31
pesetas. The imports amounted to
1881 1, 900. 000,s which was an increase
of $4,000, 900 over the preceding year,
and the exports rose TO 1855, O00, 900
which was about 122, 900, 900 more
than in 1915 This seems excellent,
but the general effect is much mimi
mixed, when it is noticed that in 1915
Spain imported 72,0O0,000 pesetas
more than in the previous year and
exported 10000, 900 pesetas less Here
is indicated an opportunity for the
gold reserves.-Christia Science
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