New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-05-18
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.,
Reception of Hon. JGhn ". Foster

Reception of Hon. Jehn W. Foster
TIE Chandler of Commerce was fled
las. evening with the p:ominen: merchants
and pablo men Of tie city 20 meet Hon.
JOHN W. Foster. of Indiana. Our new min.
lister TO Mexico.
President Ogleshy. after calling :he nee:.
ing 10 order, said he did 20: know how lie
couid better introi!uce the subject Of :he
meeting than by reading the letter of the
CHAMBER to Mr.. Foster. which inv !ted him
70 address them. TIE honorable minister
has responded that he would 90 30 w..h
pleasure, and was now presen'.
Mr.. Oglesby then presented Mr.. Fos,e,.
who addressed the chamber as follows:
He thanked the prer:dent for the com.
pi:men:ary term. with which ne had
Introduced him. but said he feared the
assembiage would be disappointed with bis
remarks tonight. He had been announced
to deliver an address. but he was no
speeeh-maker. and what he should say
wonld be mainly derived from what
knowledge lie had gained from converse.
ton with prom:nen: merchants Of the city.
and comments upon the statistics gained
from them. He had come to the city TO
gain information rather than to impair. il.
The trade Of this city with Mexico had
steadily decreased during the last fifty
years. From 1921 to 1881 it was SIS .OCO. 900.
From that time TO 1860 it was irregular.
In that year it was S5,905,oOo. l: was no.
nearly as large as it should have been, but
i: was greater than that Of all tie other
cities Of the Union together. Previous TO
1876 and 1917 the greatest Importation was
OF silver bullion. In the first year it was
$6.6S0.t00. mostly from Mexico. Now there
is hone: all is los: to the city and the
country.
You have considerable trade with Cuba.
That trade. as compared with the popula.
zion OF :he island. is $35 per head. Ii you
bad !he same proportion OF trade with
Mexico. it would amount 10 $22s.75O. 900.
BIZ: this is hardly fair comparison. In
1867 the trade was 81. COS. 600: in 1863. $o5s..
0oG: in 1870. $l.3j9,000; in 1871. $o2i.0G0: in
1872, s9l 900. Bat the course OF trade has
changed through the operation of railroads.
The :rade of the West Indies, South
America and Mexico is now Monopolized
by Europe. Their merchants have visited
the country. they are acquainted with ;he
language, they have established steamship
lines, and have influence with :Le au.hori.
:iee.
The prssen: i. 4 mos: auspcioas time for
this city 20 secure that trade. The CONNER
ciaI interests OF :ha: country are revived.
the :;bera, and comprehensive views Of
commerce Of the Presidents message er.
courage it. the commercial committees of
Congress ROW il session. who will! repor: a:
the mex: session are considering it. The
agitation Of the suffice: Of cheap trans.
portat;on viii result IN benefit 20 this city.
There is a rew contract with the govern.
men: OF Mexico to make steamship line
from Vers. Cruz to New Orleans.
The organization OF the line con:empiates
8. s.mt:nonthly trips. with steamships Of 1900
tons burden. !: is subsidized by the Mex.
lean government. L: oug,. to turn Euro
pean ,rave! through ,his city. 1t vii! in.
crease the ;eshipm.n: of European goods.
In ,S6. you resh;pped si2l.Ooo: in 1877.
S3ll .000 to Mexico, with no direc: commuGi.
cation. American travel 20 this country,
which is SO beautifully blessed by nature.
ought to be increased by It. The bullion
trade should be restored: the Min. fe.
opened. # yc, SO desire. we should have
a proper reciprocity treaty with Mexico.
Telegraph:c jmmunica:ion sho.ld be il.
creased.
There are difficulties IN re establishing
this :raGc. !. is now IN .lc hand. cf Euro
pean,. Possession is niue parts o: The law.
l: is more Difficult: TO regain Il trade than
70 obtain It originally. Tho ligi. ta,i:t OF
this country and OF Mexico are obstacles.
Tha: o. the latter is less than this. Europe
has cheaper Tabor. Tnc Mexican govern.
ment is making large strides II liberal
policy. We ws,.: 70 be :G position to take
advantage c: It.
go 70 Mexico. as the representative Of
our government, il. tie interest Of peace
and good fellowship. 0: International
comfy and with the earnes: desire to
promote the eon,n"Ecia! interes: OF our
S.ll-SIo AZ shS.1 SAtFItOtlcS WIKI suds
country. And am gratifeG to assure you.
as can tire government: and people OF
Mexico. Of :ne deep interes. which the
President ard the administration feel IN
the continuance Of peace and increase OF
our commercial relations.
There is every reason why Cur inter.
course. both political and commercial.
should be of the most intimate and friendly
character. We are close neigh boys. with a
long line Of coterminous territory. We are.
in the main. located in different tropics
yielding diverse produces. demanding an
exchange Of commodities. We have the
same character of government. and are
mutually interested il the maintenance
and extension of republican institutions.
We have lad :l.- same experience IN
breaking away from European oppression
and achieving cur independence. We have
both. in the past decade. emerged from a
bloody war, which has placed our institu.
tions upon more secure, liberal and pro-
gressive basis. The political ard com.
mercial interests Of both nations call upon
their people to tanish ali preiudices. iealou.
sizes and suspicious. and in good faith seek
to create comfy o: interests. a reciprocity
of prosperity. and commercial intercourse
which will cemen: a lasting peace and en-.
rich the republics OF America rather than
the monarchies OF Europe.
Mr.. Foster closed amid :he applause Of
his listeners.
President Ogiesby made a few remarks.
saying we must pu: OBJ own shoulders to
the wheel. There was, in view Of the great