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Show WELL PREPARED FOR TEE STRUGGLE CHICAGO, April 1. Presently we shall know what -we shall know; to what extent and in what manner the country shall take part in the war. Never was a country so well prepared pre-pared economically for a conflict, so well conditioned to prepare for a conflict. con-flict. A prolonged prosperity has flooded the land with money, with the token of wealth internationally recognized rec-ognized since the beginning of civilization civiliza-tion with gold. The banking power of the nation is the strongest of which economic history has record, and it is . I ;rir.-l Vnr o crnvorninnnt hnillrinfr SVS- tern of singular strength and of the highest efficiency and efficacy. Everything Every-thing physical man requires is growing grow-ing and made here. The agricultural territory is vast and varied. A possible lack in "ono section is compensated by bountifulness in another. Coal and iron ore, the fundaments of manufacture, manufac-ture, are of an inexhaustible quantity. Mills and factories are now multitudinous multitu-dinous and skilfully operated. Creditor Nation. America is a creditor community for tho first lime. She has no debts to be called. Foreign liquidation of American Amer-ican securities is at an end has been exhausted. For tho government of such a country, the amount of its obligation ob-ligation is nil less than what was once owed by a third-class European power before the war. The administration adminis-tration could borrow $10,000,000,000. if need be, and not embarrass national finances thereby. It may be objected by academicians that ultimately war impairs tho wealth of a nation. The objections are too sweeping and academic. There is the important contingency of what kind of a war is waged. A war like that wnged by England. France, Russia, Germany, Austria and Italy is severely impairing. The war waged by Japan and Canada is not, Japan is becoming wealthier by it, and so in a lesser degree is Canada. There is the important difference of invasion or tho danger of Invasion; the difference differ-ence of where the battles are foughL Closer definitions, however, will be deferred until after congress will have been defined. Whatever congress decides for an aggressive war, a state of war or preparations prep-arations for war industries aro sure to be occupied to full capacity for an indefinite period; the products of the farm and of the ranges will continue to be in high demand; labor will be completely employed; finance will flourish. Always provided in regard to finance, fi-nance, that extromo ideas on taxation do not become prevalent and are realized. real-ized. Excessive imposts on income, individual in-dividual and corporation, would bo markedly reflected on the stock exchange. |