OCR Text |
Show BROAD FOUNDATIONS. We are in accord with the opinion advanced by Frank A. Vanderlip at the convention of the American Bankers' Bank-ers' association, that , now is the time to lay broad and deep foundations for the further greatness of the United States. We have the wealth and an opportunity the like of which has not occurred many times in the history of the world. In order to take advantage of this opportunity America must be true to itself and stand erect among the nations of the earth, seeking no undue advantage, but at the same time maintaining main-taining the rights and protecting the property of citizens of tho United States in every quarter of the world. We do not have to swell around with a chip on our shoulder in order to accomplish ac-complish this result. All that is necessary neces-sary to say to those who would encroach en-croach upon our rights and privileges is, "Thus far shalt thou . go and no farther," far-ther," and then back lip the words wdth all the force at our command. No war would result. Industrially the United States now occupies a commanding position. Owing to the war in Europe, all the countries, civilized and partially civilized, have come to our markets to supply their wants. We are furnishing them with foodstuffs and manufactured products of every description, and in addition w-e are supplying them with hundreds of millions of dollars to tide them over until reason resumes its sway upon earth and normal times return. To hold this favorable position after the war it is incumbent upon us to be ready to protect the foreign 'trade that Providence Provi-dence has allotted to us and to maintain main-tain the rights of the Americans who w-ould transact business beyond the seas. It is also necessary that the home industries should be fully and adequately adequate-ly protected while we are reaching out in all directions, for foreign trade would be worse than useless if we were to allow the manufacturers of other countries coun-tries to undersell us in our own markets. mar-kets. In other words, the Republican principle of protection should be applied wherever needed and the American market mar-ket seonrclv held for American manufacturers manufac-turers and the millions of men and women who gain thir living in the factories and workshops at the highest wages paid anywhere in the world. The principle of protection should be the cornerstone of the foundation upon which we intend to erect the temple of i.r.-rcritv which human hinds will be unable to destroy so long as the American Amer-ican people prevent its undermining by legislation based upon economic fallacies. falla-cies. Tf we hew to the line no trade war will result, for we cannot be successfully suc-cessfully assailed from any quarter. Mr. Vanderlip. in declaring for universal uni-versal tcilitary, industrial and economic preparedness docs not overstep the accepted ac-cepted boundaries of prudence. If wo are to be industrially aud economically prepared we must also be prepared in a military sense. There is some inconvenience incon-venience and some cost attached to military preparedness, but our objections objec-tions melt away when we take into account ac-count t"ne hundreds of thousands of lives and the billions of dollars it has cost Great Britain because the government became involved in a world war and the country was not prepared for such a con flict. We need no other object lesson on preparedness, and iinless we intend to forever turn the other cheek when smitten we should set about our task without delay, remembering that preparedness pre-paredness for war will prevent war. |