The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-19
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Reception Of Hon. J. w. Foster.


Commerce, last night, was the occasion OF
gathering of large number of the members
of the Chamber, and merchants and business
men in general.
Before the arrival of Mr.. Foster, the atten-
ton of all present was conferred on magnih-
cent basket of fiowerr, which ornamented the
Presidents table, and which was addressed to
Mr.. Foster, with the compliments of that &C
complished and talented lady, Mrs. Mary
Ashley Townsend, who took the occasion
and this method to express her appreciation
of courtesies extended to her by MIR. Foster
| on her recent visit to Mexico.
At about 7:3O o'clock Mr.. Foster entered
the room IN company with President Bussey.
Mr.. Bussey formally introduced Mr. Foster,
and that gentleman, responding to the ap'
plause which followed the introduction,
said:
| Mr.. President, Gentlemen Of the Chamber dnd
| felLoao-citizens-Two years aud half ago, Oh
nv way to my mission in Mexico, l was hon
ored with reception by the merchants o.
New Orleans, and upon their invitation made
a few hastily considered remarks upon the
commercial relations between our two neigh
boring republics. My residence in that coun
try has deepened and strengthened my con
y,ctions of the Instability and importance o.
that relation. [ have, in every way that
have been able, manifested my interest il
this subject, and have given it more than 6
| casual attention. | trust | have, as conse
uuence, some clearer views of the question anC
a better acquaintance with the obstacles to it,
attainment. You, also, have become more
fully informed in regard to 1t through the
visit of your commission, who have officially
and personally reported their impressions anc
conclusions. The establishment, also, of tht
| line of steamers between New Orleans ant
the Mexican Gulf ports has brought you into
more intimate connection and given new
impetus to the trade.
can not tonight speak to you with the
same freedom as a private citizen upon these
international questions; but, without tres
passing upon the necessary reserve of my OIL
cial position, l may be able to accept you
hearty invitation to address you upon thi
subject in such way as to awaken an in
creased interest on your part, and to presen
an old and familiar topic in asomewhat differ
ent light than others who have discussed it
He then briefly referred to the past poltica
condition of Mexico, and concluded this sub
Ject ny oaylHS 1Aeio oPPooA' Ao" 'iAo e''"A
of better era.
Continuing, he said:
The possession or control of the trade Will
Mexico and the Central and South American
States has been subject often discussed il
the past half century IN the United States
FREQUENT reference to it has been made in tn
diplomatic correspondence; resolutions OF
the subject have, at various times, passes
Iy1- L l1a, 1tra1 sod r
: newspapers; Chambers of Commerce ant
mercantile men have expressed their view
upon it; and some efforts have been made t.
attain that object. But no satisfactory pro
gress has been made-we are apparently no
much nearer the actual realization than W.
we're years ago Il would therefore be pre-
sumptuous in me to attempt to master tn
, problem which has been so long unsolved
But ourinvitation to me seems to presuppos
some ability on my part to at least make use
full suggestions on the subject Allow m
then to suggest three reasons why this muc
desired trade relation has not been more full
established
/. Mexico has not heretofore been in a cor
dition to make commercial intercourse salts
factory or profitable.
, / have already referred to the revolutionar
history of the country. In the past fit
years-the half century following its il
dependence-until the re-establishment of tn
Republic after the fall of Macmillan, ther
, were scarcely two years of consecutive peace
In this period ftty-six changes of govern
ment or rulers occurred. In such state {
public affairs both life and property were S
, insecure, taxes and forced loans and arm
levies and bandit plundering we're so frequ en-
and agriculture and mining so PROSTATE, tbs
all commerce must necessarily have languishe
: and all efforts to revive it been only PARTIAL
> successful. No country can long sustain
> profitable foreign commerce without
reciprocal exchange of products; neithe
should rich agricultural country like Mex
9 co depend entirely upon its mines for thu
q exchange. The total exports for 1873 wei
l S31, 691, $50 3d. OF which amount $25, 1913
673 Is were metals, and only Sc 81, All
were other products and articles. This sma
D export trade may not be surprising in view
t past disorders. But there must be an il
creased production, both from mines and a.
riculture, to make profitable and desirab
3 commerce; and now, more than ever in i
history, is there bright promise of bett
J, times. Peace, let US hope, is assured. III
G mineral productions can be multiplied TEL
fold. The agricultural capacity of the coul
. try is enormous And with the complete
y of the railroad system we may expect Il
i commerce from the interior to be large.
q The government of the United Stat
~ has done very little to promote this trade
~ ~ think am correct in saying that Congre
i has only once, and that more than fiftes
o years ago, made any appropriation to esta
Is lish a line of communication or to aid tho
o who have been bold enough to Inaugural
5 lines of steamers to Mexican ports, and
. doubt whether, at any time in the adjustme
" Of the tariff on imports, has the idea be-
10 considered of favoring the products of o
70 neighbor and sister republic, while we ha
- subsidized lavishly lines of steamers to rea
20 the commerce of the further side of the glo
st in China and Japan, and beyond the Eqr
v tor, in Brazil; have had our treaty OF re-
procity with our monarchical neighbors IN Ca
le ada, and are properly contemplating anoth'
d and with distinguished honors have receiv
" the king of $4,000 subjects living in circul
> scribed islands 1000 miles away from our Il
" off Pacific coast, and formed with him a L
T. eral treaty of reciprocity.
II Let us contrast this with the conduct
g. the Mexican government. There are sew
lines of steamers visiting the ports of Nj