The Washington union., 1857-06-03
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS OF SPAIN WITH FOR
EIGN NATIONS.


EIGN NATIONS.
In a late issue we presented to our commercial
readers very comprehensive analysis of the COM
merce of Spain with foreign nations, compiled from
the official statistics published in the Madrid Gaseta,
and we indulgcd the hope that the liberal prin-
ciples of commercial legislation which the publca-
tons and discussions of the new statistical societies
recently organized in the capital must in the course
of time popularze among the great masses of the
Spanish people will eventually supersede the piles
of restrictive enactments and prohibitory legislation
which, however necessary and polite they may have
been in the days of Ferdinand and Isabella of Charles
V, or Philip H. arc alike incompatible with the COM
mercial progress and the political tranquility of
Spain at the present day. The commercial reforms
initiated in England by Sir Robert Peel and advo-
Gated by that distinguished statesman with great
ability and unwearied zeal until in 1850 they became
the commercial law Of Great Britain met at first with
the most violent opposition and were assailed with
all the intensity of partisan hostility and the fierce
denunciatons Of the protectionists and monopoists
They were discussed, however, in and out of Par
lament through the press and the hustings, un-
til the popular voice demanded their adoption; and
fully justified the farseeng sagacity and exalted pa
trotism of the commercial reformers of 1917 and
lS49
Mr. Alex. Mon is the Sir Robert Peel of
Spanish commercial reform. While Minister of Fl
nances he recommended officially numerous custom
house reforms, and his administration was character
lied by spirit of elevated craftsmanship and great
commercial liberality Mr.. Mon has recently accept
ed the presidency of committee of "Universal Gus
toms Reform" designed to cooperate with the Gen-
eral Association organized for the promotion of the
customs reforms recommended by the Congress of
| Brussels in 1s47 and 1856.
| The influence of these reformatory movements is
already felt in the increased impetus which they
have impaired to the industry and foreign commerce
of Spain, as shown in their official publications and
economical reports. The reform, however, most
needed and without which Spanish manufacturing
industry never compete with that of England Bel
GUM, Holland, Switzerland, the German States, or
even of Austria, is the abolition of the heavy Gus
tom-house duties articles of first necessity--on
raw cotton, wool &c; and to make this reform
complete the abolition also Of the diferential duties
| in favor of her own colonial products as has been
done in England years since, must follow. The fol-
lowing analysis of the tabular statements which we
have already published will show more fully the
commercial progress Of 1855 when compared with
the preceding year
The total value of imports and exports was 2, ,2ss
I24sl reals, ~ STA, ,156,240; of which the imports
covered O23 761 1923 reals H S5l, ,lss066 the ex-
ports amounting to ,259 1863, ,492 reals, = s62 $685.
1T4 The former gave an increase over the imports
of 1854 of 20 per cent, and the latter correspond
ing advance of 27 per cent increase of 26 per
cent on the whole foreign commerce of 1854.
In the commerce with Europe and Africa the re-