Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1919-04-23

who had behind them generations of cul-
ture and education. They brought with
them the lofty ideals of their race, and
transmitted those ideals and that culture
to their children. The Moth, sab, the
moth, was settled by the scum and the
outcsst of all nations, the Ignorant and
the base and the vile-and their descen-
dants are just the same to-day"
That seemed fairly satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION, if one accepted the premises;
didn't argue the question-not with that
group of gentlemen. Thank the Lord,
North and South have become acquainted
with each others excellencies, and no
longer see only the peculiarities and the
frailties that tend to separation.
There can be no strength so long as
there is division. "a house divided
against itself cannot stand" and a
divided people cannot command respect.
Only when, after the peace at APP
pomattox, it had been determined that
America was a nation and no mere con-
geries of independent states-only when
national unity had been proclaimed to
the world and become a reality to our own
hearts and minds, was this country in a
position to take nations part in world
affairs. 1t required the minor shock OF
the war with Spain to make US realize our
position as world power. 1t has taken
the mighty force of the world war tc
bring such realization home to all our
people as well as to other peoples OF the
world. America is taking her rightful
place in the world to-day - place to be
chauyinism, but by international help
fulness and universal service.
The President, disregarding all weight
Of precedent, is in Europe taking an ac-
tive part in the peace conference. The
powerful aid furnished by this country
gives him prominent place in the pro-
ceedings, yet there are runors, apparently
well authenticated, that Mr.. Wilson's
chief reason for going to France, to Italy
and to England was to carry to those
countries an apology which may not at
this time be written, an expression OF re-
greet that must not now be published, for
the many failures and the serious mis-
takes made by the nations leaders this
past quadrennium. Whether this be more
than gossip, cannot say. 1t may, indeed,
be only q new form of German propa-
ganda.
But the place OF America in the world
has never been primarily on the battle
field, and our interests have not been de-
pendent on peace conferences. The place
of America is to be determined by the
attitude OF our citizens towards the new
problems OF social and commercial life OF
the world. Shall we continue to assume
that the American is a creature OF finer
peopled with "wops" and "dsgoes,"
"chinks" and ''greasers7" That attitude,
antagonizing peoples with whom we
should be on most friendly terms, will go
far towards undoing whatever OF good
may be accomplished by the President
abroad, or what may be done by great
American business concerns in their
efforts to extend our foreign trade.
Never was there SO favorable an oppor-
tunity for a nation to build up profita BILE
business of export and import. We have
something upon which to build, for even
under the unfavorabie conditions of the
past few decades, American goods have
forged to the front in many lands.
American automobiles are gliding over
the roads OF the world, are climbing the
hills and fording the streams OF every
land. American bridges span the rivers
of China and Peru. American locomotives
scale the passes of the Andes and cross the
steppes of Siberia. American electric cars
carry passengers through the streets OF
Buenos Aires and Of Cape Town. Ameri-
can sewing machines stitch the garments
of half the world. American lamps burn
American oil in India and in China.
American monographs cheer the nights
in the arctic and the tropic zones. Amer
lean watches make the dollar famous in
Australia and Korea. American type
writers clarity the correspondence, and
American adding machines and cash
registers simplify the labor of the worlds
accountants. American lard shortens the
pastry and American patent medicines
shorten the lives OF half the families OF
South America and the Indies.
But American foreign trade has been
lacking in enterprise and sincerity. These
exports OF which / have spoken are, al
most without exception, the products of
our great commercial organizations-the
trusts" that, pilloried at home, have
alone sustained American prestige abroad.
Our people might generally have had
large part in the business OF the world,
but they have not cared to get it. The
home market has usually been considered
sufficient, and only our surplus or interior
goods have been sent abroad.
Our manufacturers have scorned foreign
requirements and requests. They have
declined to follow instructions of foreign
buyers.
Law books in buckram-sheep,
Candles in blue wrappers.
We have made little attempt to cultivate
foreign business. Seldom have we sent
capable representatives to study demand