The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-12
ouu srANIsu-AMERrCAN TRADE.
An opening for American Enterprise.
TOhicago Times. M

An OPENING for American Enterprise.
/ LChicago Times.lH
/ A Washington telegram says that
Secretary Evarts is making special
efforts to extend our commercial rela-
tions with the South American States"
In his efforts to correct abuses and to
extend our commerce with South Amer
/ lea, Mr.. Evarts will have the sympathy
of all intelligent men, and he ought to
have the cooperation Of enterprising
merchants and ship owners In the sea-
port cities. He ought also, within
reasonable limits, to have the support
Of Congress.
| A few facts tending to show the impor-
tance which our trade with what may
be called Spanish America might be
this connection. The State Department
estimates the total foreign commerce OF
countries lying south of the United
State at $500. 900, 600 In value annually,
and In this the United States shares to
the extent of about $I12,35 900, or not
| much more than one fifth, and not more
than one third of this share Ia trans
ported In American bottoms. The
greater part of this trade is carried on
| total ranges from $3.50, 1000, 900 to
$41o. oeo,eoo year. Great Britain
supplies them chiefly with products
which we could supply to better advan-
| tage under favorable conditions, name
| ly, cotton and wooden fabrics, iron.
tools, machinery, and other manufac-
lures. Nearly everything supplied by
Great Britain we are now producing In
excess of the home demand, and OF su-
perior quality. 1t Ia an important in
uuiry, therefore, why England gets
three or four times as much OF this trade
as we do.
Let us look at the special trade sta
tistics of some of the countries in ques-
ton. Take Mexico. The extent OF the
foreign commerce of that country In
1876 cannot be exactly stated. With
Great Britain, France. Belgium, an the
United States it amounted to about
$24, 4oo, 900, and the share Of the United
States was less than Eli 100000. In
1s73, the last year when the foreign
commerce Of Mexico was fully reported
to the State Department, the total was
nearly 49,. Og0, 900, and the share of the
United States was less than $40, G00,0 600,
or less than one-thfrd. As Mexico Is o
next-door neighbor 20 us, we ought to
have nearer two-thtrds than one third
OF its foreign trade, as we produce in
abundance most of the articles its peo-
pie want.
Take, again, the Argentine Republic.
The total foreign commerce OF that
country in 1876 was a little more than
$1OG, 0Oo, 900. in which we shared to the
extent of only a little more than
100000. Says Mr.. Fish in his letter
transmitting the report on commercial
relations: "Of more than $1F 100000
worth OF woven goods imported In 1874.
the United States does not appear to
have furnished over 100000 worth,
and but little of the material Imported,
of the value Of over $11, 100000. for use
In the construction of railroads, tele-
graphs, tramways and other public
works. OF more than $1,00o,e0e worth |
Of boots and shoes imported, only $4,000
worth was from Our shops and factories. "
It is needless to particularize further. |
Our commerce with nearly all the Span
Cuba being the only important excep-
ton. 1t Ia not half what it might be, |
nor one tenth Of what 1t may become |
when the resources Of South America
have been moderately developed. How |
to increase it is a question we'll worth |
considering. In general way 1t may |
be said that three things are necessary. |
In the first place, we must have con-
sular officers who understand the COM
will seek to promote them in every |
legitimate way. In the second place,
we must abandon tariff system which
greatly increases the cost Of produc-
ton, and renders 1t difficult, IL not i'm
possible, for our manufacturers to CON-
pete with those of other countries In
the Spanish American markets. Ii we
moderate and modernize our tariff, we
can easily induce other countries to
modify their tariffs so far as to not dis
criminate against our products. In
the third place, our merchants
and manufacturers must study the
wants of the Spanish-American markets
ana manifest some of the enterprise
and push that characterzes English
men and Germans. and that they them
selves display In cultivating the home
market. If we take these measures we
can probably double our commerce with
the countries south Of US in less than
ten years, to the great advantage Of all
concerned. In the meantime it will not
be necessary to maintain steamship
lines at the public expense. Ships will
be provided by private enterprise to
keep pace with the growth Of COM
merCe.