Page:The New Protectionism.djvu/139

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THE OPEN DOOR
115

own behalf a complete boycott of German goods. It is his desire to impose his policy upon other firms and other persons, who may still wish to seek their advantage by buying and selling in the best market that is in question.

The adoption of a State policy which, by stopping all healing intercourse between the members of the belligerent groups, would keep alive and exacerbate all the bitterest memories of war, would be nothing short of treason against the cause of civilization. For commerce has always been the greatest civilizer of mankind. All other fruits of civilization have travelled along trade routes. The caravans which crossed the great Asiatic plains, the boats which conducted the earliest commerce up and down the great river courses, carried the first seeds of science, religion, art, law, and of mutual understanding and good-will, among ever-widening circles of mankind. Cut off commerce, and you destroy every mode of higher intercourse. Substitute commercial war for free

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