The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-16

Gazette piece of ''petulant insolence."
Foreign Commerce Of the United States.
The report of Mr. Demar, the Director OF
the Bureau of Statistics, ON the foreign com
not making the progress we ought to make in
extending and charging our commerce. The
imports from foreign countries for the year
ending June 30, 1868, were $3.50, $50, 1871,
over twenty one millions of which were re-
exported, and the exports, including specie
and bullion were 1852, 339, $780, AS compared
with 1860 the imports were only about eight
millions more and the exports were nearly
twenty-one millions less than in that year. AS
compared with last year, ending June so, 1867,
the imports have fallen off over forty-One mil
lions, while the exports have increased eighteen
millions. This is not a very fattering condition
of our foreign commerce, considering that more
than three years have passed since the war
closed, and that our population and resources
have greatly increased in the meantime. Rela-
lively to England, France and some other
countries we are not making the progress we
of England and France particularly has been
rapidly increased within the last eight years.
From the reports of the British Board of Trade
we learn that the foreign exports Of Great
Britain last year amounted to over six hun
dred millions of dollars, which, though
falling off from the previous year, vastly ex-
ceeds ours. But in addition to this amount
the exports to the colonies reached about
hundred and twenty millions. The foreign
imports for the same period were over five
hundred and thirty millions, and colonial over
hundred millions. The foreign imports and
exports Of France approach those of England.
The Paris Temps says that during the first
half Of the present year France has imported
merchandise to the amount of l,73S, 600, 900
francs, or about three hundred and forty mil
lions of dollars. This is at the rate of six hun
dred and eighty millions year. The exports
were something less, but still very large
The question arises here, how is it that the
United States, which have population larger
than that of Great Britain and nearly If not
quite as large as that of France, and greater
resources than both, are so far behind these
countries in foreign commerce? Why. the sur
plus Of our cotton and gold crops which we ex-
port amounts to two or three hundred millions
a y,ar, to say nothing of tobacco, rice, wheat
corn and other productions. No country is SO
favorably situated for commerce with the rest
of the world, and none has such resources or q
more enterprising population; yet we are far
behind in the race. This should not be-
There is something wrong, evidently, in our
laws ana in the manner in which Congress
lcgislatcs with regard TO commercial interests.
Nothing should be left undoue to promote the
commerce of the country and to bring il up to
that Of Great Britain and France. This ought
to be the first commercial nation on the globe
and doubtless viii be at no distant day; but
Chat period may be deferred by bad legislation,
and. in the meantime, we may lose much Ivy
ncglecting this great interest aud the opportu-
mites we possess.
THE VorE OF lS66.--The republican majority
in Maine falls some thousands below that of
1866, when they had o majority Of some
twenty-sevcn thousand on the Congressional
policy of the constitutional amendment, article
fourteen, against the reconstruction policy of
Andy Johnson. In that year, however, in
addition TO the direct issue of that amendment,
the republicans made considerable capital out
of those Memphis and New Orleans massacres
and the August Philadelphia johnson Conven-
ton, to say nothing of that famous Chicago
pilgrimage and those immortal speeches of the
President and his Premier on the blessed consti-
tuition and the art of swinging round the circle >"
But still the republican majority in Maine in