Peninsula Enterprise

All negotiations so far having failed in establishing peaceful relations between England and Russia, and the fact that preparations are being daily made for war by the two powers, it looks now as if a European war could not be averted. In view of these facts, the question now, which is agitating business circles is how it will affect the United States. The prevailing sentiment seems to be, that America would be greatly benefited, and the rise, already, before war has been declared, between England and Russia, in wheat and other breadstuffs would seem to warrant that conclusion. In that opinion, however, many prominent business men do not concur. If by the war, a demand is created for American products, of course an advance in the prices will be the natural result and a revival in business will consequently follow. The fact that Russia has exported as much as 100,000,000 bushels of wheat in a year justifies the conclusion indicated above, if by the war the exportation of it from Russia is prohibited as it must necessarily be. If the countries which Russia has supplied with wheat heretofore, have to get elsewhere, why not from the United States? On the other hand, it is said that it is impossible yet, to determine how commerce would be affected by a European war, and it is almost positively asserted, that in case of war English capitalists will draw their "holdings of American securities." Either cause might operate, it is thought to the depression of prices, especially the latter. At all events, the advantages which might accrue to America in the case of war are uncertain. Certainly the benefits which it might bring to us cannot be hoped for, if the evils are taken into consideration, which would befall not only England and Russia, but perhaps all Europe.