New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-17

their grain or hog prOductst would nOC
Philadelphia and Lowell also ind . demand
for their manufactured Would not this
specie permeate the whole interior and con-
stitute the West money centre, based, not
on q telegraphic credit from other cities,
but upon substantial possessions of their
owu1 The whole of this continental trade
may be safely estimated at $3.50 ,OO0, 900 an
nually. 1t may be contr oiled by the United
States to the extent at least that we have
commodities demanded interchangeabiy by
the two great lObes of the American CONT
nent. And of these imports into Mexico is
there none which we can producer Every
one of them Can be now made in the United
States. from steam engine down to box
of matches, for if we have not the work
man to finish specific article. we can i'm
port him by the next steamer and set him
to work here at once.
1t is not the province of this address TO
speak of the immense and exhaustive drains
upon the specie of the United States occa-
stoned by the want of regular and ade-
uuate foreign market for our surplus pro-
ductions. Taking q series of years the
specie exports from New York will average
more than the annual specie products of
California and Nevada. The difference paid
Cuba and Brazil is not lionidated in bills OF
exchange but in gold Ii these balances
could be paid in the products OF our coun-
try it would aid to dry up that drain which
has weakened us so much. The appeal IL
made to you, manufacturers Of the East ami
consumers of Western provisions; to YOU
prod cers of provisions and manufacturers
in the West. Should not the treaties be
tween the United States and the States OF
this continent, and those European powers
which still hold American possessions, be
reviewed and placed on a footing more
favorable to the commercial intercourse be-
tween the United States and those conn
tries We may add to this commerce that
OF
ASIA AND EUROPEAN AFRICA.
The value of the Mississippi river route
as a mode OF access to Asia may be readily
demonstrated. The teas and tissues of Asia
can be imported into New Orleans as cheap
as to New York, " lille they can be distrib
uted from New Orleans far cheaper by
water and by rail than from New York or
San Francisco The railroads Of the Miss
sissippl valley being shorter, constructed at
lees cost and without grades. curvature or
obstruction from snow, can be worked to
more advantage than any others on the
continent.
The trade Mes between the same in
terror and the southern continental and
insular provinces of Africa are shorter aud
more favorable for mails, passengers and
express goods than those by way of San
Francisco There is but short obstacle
of fifty milee of railroad across the Isthmus
of Panama, against a railroad OF nearly
5000 miles from San Francisco to New
York. The association will remember at
| this point that the lsthmus of Central
| America is the last bar across the mouth of
the Mississippi. This removed by the ma
tional government as work under Amer
| lean control exclusively, and 1.-The value of
| the Mississippi route" az an uninterrupted
| communication with both sides of The
| American continent is established.
This address neither pretends 10 be an
essay ou the geography or commerce of the
! countries referred to; it is but intended to
remind this association that the intercourse
with the regions indicated has been always
among the objects of civilized nations, from
| the voyages of tasco de Cana and Column
| bus. the enterprises of Raleigh aud Haw-
| kins to the present. But no naval arma-
ment is now needed tn open this commerce.
| The republic Of the United States has es
! tabished the liberties of man. Under its
| broad and FURNISHED shield the feebler pee.
pies crouch for shelter against the despot-
isms of the Old World. Should it not
strengthen the empire Of freedom against
it's foes: And how can it better do
50 than by opening its farms, its ports.
its schools, It's workshopss BY invit.
Ing the disciples of the doctrines of
Washington and Adams and Jefferson,
| to adopt q more intimate intercourse with
| freedom. ana the model republic that pro,
| tects them2 You have required of me to
| present before YOU. "the value of the Mise
sis,ippi route" This has been done in its
domestic effects, and in its foreign agencies
| IL will conducts the produce of the West to
the workshops Of the Eastern part of the
Union, and TO Europe, and at all seasons,
cheaper and in larger bulk than any com
peting route! 1t can convey immigras
ton from Europe ty the coast add i'll.
terror States, on cheaper terms. and with
less rick Of life and health than any
other route. IL can alone open the great
Southern markets of this continent to the
productions OF the Western farmer and
| manufacturer and to the Eastern manu- fac
facturer and ship owner. The Mis-.
sissippi route leads TO the tropics, and it
will furnish channel always open and al.
| ways adequate to conduct the ever iucreas
ing commerce between the United States of
America and the States and nations OF this
continent. 1t may be added that the com
pletion Of the ship canal projected at the ont
let of tho Mississippi route will bring all
American shipping in the south seas under
the protection Of American ports, and con
stitute it's lower section harbor of refuge
which will have no equal in the world.
This, then, Mr.. President and gentlemen
of the American Cheap Transportation Con-
vention, is summary of the advantages to
result from the complete preparation of that
great natural highway, whose value You
have presented to me as a theme. May it
not be hoped by the friends Of that great
highway that You will regard it as work
so important in all its attributes as to COM
mand the personal and representative
influence of your association. The compile
ton of the physical and political measures
referred to, will realizs all that has been
predicated of The Value of the Mississippi
Route" and to the interests represented By
your association will the American people
be principally indebted for their enjoy.
ment.