OCR Text |
Show PROGRESS OP THE NATION. The great event in the United States of tho year just closing, has been tho Presidential oloction, with its upturn of politics, its rampant and unrestrained unre-strained clamor, nnd the tremendous victory of the Democratic party over the divided runka of the Republicans. It is not to bo expected that thero will bo any such ovil conscquoncen follow fol-low this upturn in politics aa followed tho election of President Cleveland in IS02, for conditions aro vastly different; differ-ent; and whereas, at that timo the consternation con-sternation bogan almost immediately after the people found what tbey had done, there Is this year no consternation conster-nation at all, but on tho contrary not tho slightest interruption in tho prosperous pros-perous business conditions that have prevailed. The United States has been vexod with troubles on tho Mexican border, but has dwelt in amity and friendly relations with Mexico, as with all nations na-tions of the oarth. There is in the recent ultimatum sent to President Madcro an indication that somo vigorous vigor-ous action may be takon unloss American Amer-ican interests nro bettor preserved In Mori co th an they havo been during the insurrections. And it is pleasant to noto that this ultimatum is fully approved ap-proved by tho incoming President and tho Democratic leaders. Our relations with oriental countries havo continued peaceful, with good trade and friendly feeling. The United States has beon tho great bulwark of China in preserving her terrltoriel integrity, in-tegrity, and in tho policy which has declared' for letting China alono to work out her own salvation. We have not recognized the new ropublic of China, to bo sure, but this is no doubt because of the agreement we have mado with the other five powers In interest to act in common. Tho word is given out that soon after tho New Year our recognition of the Chinese republic will be officially proclaimed. Our relations with tho European powers aro becoming moro and more intimate, this largely by reason of the immense roturn emigration from this country of foreigners who have beon hero long enough to imbibe the American Amer-ican spirit and tako on Amorican ways. In all countries of Europe roport is that tho Amorican spirit haa made changes within a decade greater than thoso which centuries have brought about beforo. Tho Balkan uprising is directly imputed to the spirit of independence inde-pendence imbibed by Greeks, Bulgarians, Bulgar-ians, and Montenegrins who have been in tho United Stales a greater or less time, and takon on the spirit of liberty lib-erty which is universal here. And in all the communities of southern Europe and Poland, respect for America has grown tremendously within a decade. American clothing, American goods, are called for ton times moro than ever before, and better than all, thoro is a fooling of national spirit and of independence in-dependence which is directly traceable to American inculcation. In tho settlement of tho Balkan war there havo even been suggestions that the United States might lako part in the deliberations; this, of course, being out of tho question, but the suggestion shows the growing respect for and in- liuence ot tho united btates among tho nations of Europe. At homo wo havo our contentions, our differences, and " at times bitter rocriminations; but thoso things, whero they are important, aro sottlcd at tho polls, and when they are so Bottled, tho conflict is over for tho time, to bo renewed, if important enough, in somo other campaign. The philanthropies have been on a grand BCalo during tho year, and all educational and boncficial endeavor havo beon on a magnificent basis. Tho year's prosperity has been of an astonishing character. Tho opening of the year was not especially propitious, but as the crop situation developed, showing that wo were to have a greater great-er harvest than ever before known; as tho mineral product began to loom up in tho enormous proportion of over two billions of dollars, and as tho general prosperity began to dawn, founded upon tho great crops, the rich mineral production, and the vast industrial activities ac-tivities of tho country, all business began be-gan to take on a rosy tinge, and the year is closing in a glory of prosperity and profitablo industry and invest-amcnt invest-amcnt over known. Tho imports of this country for tho yoar will approximate approx-imate $1,800,000,000; the exports $2,400,000,000, breaking all records in each, and showing an aggrogat foreign for-eign trado of $1,200,000,000 Of the exports, manufactured articlos roach ovor a billion dollars, nnd cotton ox-ports ox-ports more than ever beforo, with a value of $600,000,000. Tho year 1912 will go into tho auuals of tho country as a bright nnd shining period. |