New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-05
OUR COMMERCIAL POLICY TOWARD
SPANISH AMERICA.

formed Tor htty years iau atle'iu'tt Aolne
market in the consumption of the plant
inr States. Now, the incredible increase
in the provision and manufactured pro
ducts of the States and cities Of the West,
can not possibly be taken by the cotton
and sugar planters. The eXportation Of
meat and cereals from our West to
Europe has proved inadequate 70 justify
TIE more extended production OF those
articles The destructive war just closing
has caused no material advance IN bread
stulls, which was no. at once met by the
increased development of food produc-
ton and transportation from Northern
EurODe. Since then the home and
Ftropean markets are insufficient to ab-
solb either the present or prospective
surplus of Western productions. The
question assails every American States
man. What shall be done with The sur
plus productions of the Western States:'
Upon the satisfactory ielly to this m
curry must depend the continual demand
for national land, and the further eXpan-
sion of Immigrant colonization. because
the cost of conveyance is now :" great
that it requires two bushels o: wheat to
carry one bushcl from the farms wet #
the Mississippi to the European market.
There can be 20 doubt hut the best ana
,,,,,S-.e thI.., >,l~ylI,.S
tions of one par. Of the American CONT
rcnt will he found ia the natural eS-
change demand Of another. There are
obviously two lines of commerce. The
one makes the exchange of the produce "i
agricultural products and other raw ma
terial Of the new world. against the manu-
featured commodities and works Of az: Of
the old. 1t is. therefore, Il commerce con-
Quoted on the lines of latitude between
the producer and the consumer. This
line daily approNimateS mathematical d.
rectness, by means Of steam employed on
land and water There is another line of
commerce which conveys the food pro-
ducts of our West to he exchanged
against certain tropical products which
row enter into the use OF civilized people,
and are ranked among the necessities OF
respectable Subsistence. Orr readers
will perhaps be surprised when We pre-
sent the magnitude Of this last commerce
between the United States and TIE tropl-
ca, regions. The aggregate value OF our
imports from the Yves; Indies was. for
the year ending July !. !H.o. s., $40, io'i:
our exports. 50 3"!.: import, FROM.
Mexico. Central and South America.
SCI. $50. 7i,; exports :" TIE san. c"uI-
tries. SIS. GSS. 800. Here then was IN
aggregate of Sl92. SI4. ,ji. constituting.
orr commerce upon lines IL longitude
with orr natural market. y not this an
interes. of sufficient Importance I" Justify
the attention Of the government: i II
no, Of such consequence 10 the West: and
to the city Of New Orleans. rs
20 be far above the partisan conflicts ~
the hour: Should this justify Ii. y, mo-
cratic press and party 10 abandon Their
advocacy Of :enito.ia: .xran-
sion. and fall back with til. F.t..lalists Of;
old time VIII" opposed :le acquisition q;
Iol.isiana. and Of the ''Ee.ler.. HL:..-,'
who. at a la:en day. took ....'i:ll against
the annexation o. Texas:
Bat the magnitude a.: :i.:- .ra,: Lad,
rs TO show is inequality. III" imports
# the United State, :ro:" al Sr-n.S..
America exceeded 4, ..po::, to those
last Year hy the sum a.: SG:..-
t5n.S:,:. That is. the Cni;et STAT. rai,:
.or its tropical purchases ;.i"V: ::t!-"n.
per cc-lt1un III its own products, a'id Il
balance of more than siEty-t.ve millions
n specie, besides the cost o. ,reigi; ana
other charges Of importation. When we
come 20 regard this vas: diam If oDr
lotion. money and other spec: v.':c>. i.
becomes imperativciy important t" as
.crtain the true causes Of >Ich c"n!r'r-
:ial inequality.
The Hon. Mr.. Kelley Eepr''ii"an'. Of
one OF til. mos: ardent
friend, of an adequate market '"r .!lne:-
can commodities. has recently delivered
/ speech il advocacy of the acquisition
If Dominica. After an historical resume
If the vast interests attached to the Span
Sd American commerce by the fathers,
among whom was most prominent the
Father of his Country. he proceeded to
Explain some Of the causes WHICH lave
heretofore prevented the consulnmation Of
heir policy. His explanation - two
old: first
The countries having dominion over these
Stands are careful to so regulate their trade
hat while the American people HAY he the |
thief consumers OF the raw materials pro |
luced By their colonies. their own fields. |
actories and workshops, and not ours. shall
supply them with the cereals and pIodlc |
ions of agricultural and manufacturing |
skill and industry.
The traditional jealousy OF the Spanish
races, against the Protestant religion. and |
the Republican form OF government
which pervades our country. is q sirons |
reason for this policy. five examine our
treaties with Spain. it VIII he found that
they ell contain clauses which cn:it!e the
United States to be admitted into the
ports Of Spanish America on the same
footing with the most favored nations.
This obligation is, however. so executed
IS that excessive duties are imposed upon