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8
There is, as we have seen in the Ha-
waiian matter, a strong element in this
country who argue that our national des-
tiny points to further territorial absorp-
tion, and that the constant expansion of
American trade demands depots of supply
throughout the world.
The strategic and trade advantages of
the Philippines are manifold and substan-
tial, and in a few years the influence of
America in the far East may become large-
ly augmented.
It is probable that the Stars and Stripes
will forever float over Cuba, Hawaii and
the Philippines, some sort of a government
being established over each of the posses-
sions suitable to the complex make-up of
the people of the different islands.
. Again, there is a sentiment here which
is purely continental, believing that the
; United States should not seek outside ter-
ritory ; that we have many trying prob-
lems ahead of us, which will require all of
our powers to successfully meet. That the
policy of the United States should be to at-
tend to the development of our internal af-
fairs, leaving the other portion of the globe
to the European and Asiatic powers.
Recent events, however, show that cir-
cumstances have placed the United States
in a peculiar position. The victory of
Dewey has changed the political complex-
ion of the far East. With the partition-
ing of China among the European powers,
America, holding as she will the Philip-
pines, will be in a strong position to reap
vast commercial benefits from having pos-
sessions in that part of the world.
The Philippines are said to be the richest
islands in the world, and when once as-
sured of a stable government there would
be a rush of Europeans and Americans to
them who would rapidly develop their
almost illimitable resources. There would
be at that point a great demand for Amer-
ican manufactures which would keep the
wheels of our factories spinning, also
there would be a tremendous emigration
to Hawaii, Cuba, which has been depopu-
lated, also to Porto Rico. New colonists
will require all sorts of material and outfits,
and America will be in an excellent posi-
tion to supply them. Hence, viewing the
situation as we do to-day, it seems that
when this war shall have closed we will
enter upon an era of prosperity which will
last a term of years.
The Americans have just had a little
bite of territory and they rather like the
taste—their appetite is growing and they
want more. Possibly the next absorption
will be the Canary Islands, followed up by
the Carolines; and soon Spain will be
pretty completely divested of her territo-
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
rial possessions, which will be in the
hands of the Anglo-Saxon race, who are
the greatest colonizers on earth.
The future for business looks brighter
than it has for years past. The present
war has brought the different sections of
the nation closer together and has devel-
oped more of a fraternal spirit than has
existed for years.
Business, too, this
week has shown considerable improve-
ment. We are getting used to this war,
and are not so panicky as we were at the
outset.
OUR POSITION.
T H E Review is not inclined to enter into
the petty little quarrels which seem
so entertaining to some of our brethren of
the trade press. We are not opposed even
to Blumenberg because he is Marc Blumen-
berg, but because in him is crystallized a
principle which embodies, among other
things, a sort of competition which we are
unable to meet, a competition which we
consider obviously detrimental to trade
interests—therefore Blumenberg occupies
antipodal relations with The Review.
As far as the spiteful little feuds go, we
pay but little or no attention to them.
Life is too short, and we are seriously
bending our energies, with excellent re-
sults, too, to the production of a paper
which thoroughly represents the best and
most advanced interests of the trade.
When we fight, we fight fair, but do not
neglect, in the meanwhile, to produce a
paper that contains something—something
more than mere news, or the exploitation
of particular wares, but rather a paper
that shall be the exponent of ideas, or
of principles which lead to the advance-
ment of the industrial affairs, where our
particular interests lie.
The Review is moving straight ahead
" For the future in the distance
And the good that we can do."
T N another part of this paper appears a
communication from Henry F. Miller,
president of the National Piano Manufac-
turers' Association, stating positively that
the national convention will occur in Bos-
ton next month.
This sets at rest effectually all rumors
which have been circulated recently that a
postponement of the convention would
take place. We are also enabled to present
in this issue a list of the various commit-
tees.
TUST to think of those Chicago papers
all luxuriating in new and elegant of-
fice accessories after the Renaissance,
Queen Anne and Elizabethan periods,
while our attenuated purse has only per-
mitted us thus far this chilly month of
May to remonstrate with the landlord with
direct reference to the frequent visits paid
by his emissary—to invest in three second-
hand cuspidores—to reseat the torture
chair—buy a fresh box of sapolio for the
boy to polish his brass buttons, and put a
new patch in the prayer rug.
T H I S week Receiver Mills has opened
the New York warerooms of Alfred
Dolge & Son for business, and the factor-
ies at Dolgeville have also started, so that
the regular patrons of the house will suf-
fer no delay in the shipment of their
orders.
Cheering Commercial Report.
The better feeling which has prevailed
in trade circles since Dewey's great vic-
tory is set forth succinctly and clearly in
Dun's last commercial report. It is good
reading:
'' A state of war was so greatly dreaded
by those who have seen nothing like it for
more than thirty years, that its coming has
hurt worse than its apprehension. Es-
pecially since the victory at Manila,
which indicated the superiority of the
American navy, gun for gun, expectations
that the war will not last long have influ-
enced all markets, and stocks have ad-
vanced, the average of prices for rail-
roads $2.70 per share. The general con-
dition of business has been materially
improved.
"One day's work by the officers and
men at Manila has given many days' work
to thousands of people at home of whom
they knew nothing, and has placed all
American industries and interests on a
stronger footing.
" The fact that gold is now used almost
exclusively between the treasury and the
clearing house indicates the entire free-
dom from apprehension about the currency
or public credit."
Boston Piano Supply Co.
•
Among the concerns granted certificates
of incorporation by the Secretary of State
at Albany on Wednesday was the Boston
Piano Supply Co., to do business in New
York, with a capital of $10,000. The object
of the corporation is to manufacture pianos
and other musical instruments.- The di-
rectors are Karl Fink, Edward Schedler
and Herman Leonard.
Music is an exclusively Croatian art, ac-
cording to Herr Huddow, a Croat, and all
melodies by other than Croatian composers
are merely variations on Croat national
airs. He has discovered that Haydn,
Goldmarck, and Zingarell were Croats, as
well as Hummel, whose real name^is
Bumbarevic, Suppe, who should be Sup-
pancic, and Tartini, properly Totis.