Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ... vn THE UNITED STATES AS A WORLD POWER THEIR ADVANTAGES IN THE COMPETITION FOR COMMERCIAL EMPIRE Having defined the nature of the economic problem which confronts the nations in the struggle for commercial empire, it remains to consider the means for winning supremacy in this struggle and the advantages and disadvantages under which the United States enter the contest. The fact that the shutting up of markets, diplomatic intrigue, and even the sword are factors in the contest takes it beyond the purely economic field and sets it on a stage where the play of the great forces of passion, patriotism, and race conflict give surpassing interest to the drama of world history. We have seen that intensity of competition in a world-wide market is the dominating note of modern industrial life. We have seen that the highest efficiency of every factor in production is the only means of winning in the economic field, but that states which fear to trust their forces in this field may throw the sword into the balance, as Brennus tossed his blade upon the scales which weighed the gold to ransom Home. It behooves the nation, therefore, which would succeed in the economic contest to be prepared also for the final test of force, which has not ceased to be a factor in the world's affairs. In dealing with the position of the United States in this contest, it will appear that they enjoy many advantages inherent in the character of the race and the development of republican institutions, but that the very breadth of these advantages involves some impairment of the unity and force which belong to absolutism. The question of the relative efficiency of the United States and their industrial rivals involves the factors of political organization, natural resources, ..
