National Republican., 1877-07-19
OuR FOREIGN CUM!UERCE

Although there has been q steady growth
In our foreign trade for several years past,
il is still very far from being as prosperous
as it ought TO be. This condition of things
is largely owing to the fact that our Gov
ernment has not heretofore made proper ef-
forts TO open new markets for our agricul-
tural products and manufactures by means
OF trade conventions with foreign countries.
The British Government makes the protec-
,tion and extension Of her commerce an oh
ject Of supreme importance. Her trained
and skillful diplomats are well informed rs
to the commercial resources of all the ma
tions of the world, and are constantly
watching for opportunities to make treaties
by which good markets are opened to
English manufactures We are glad to
learn that this subject has attracted the at
tention of the Secretary OF State, and that
the condition Of our foreign trade will be
thoroughly investigated, with view Of
making trade conventions with foreign
Governments to further extend the markets
for our products.
In looking abroad for countries with
which our trade ought to be increased it is
scarcely possible TO name one important ma
ton with which our trade might not be
vastly increased. OF the thirty millions
imported by our nearest neighbor Mexico
we stnu HtT SlAtH IL NbNll bc
easy, by means of a judicions treaty, to in
crease our trade with that country tcniold.
The same state of affairs exists with all the
South American States. For example, the
imports of Brazil amount annually to
eighty-fye millions, of which we send her
only little over six millions. Our trade
with the Spanish American States alone
might by judicious treaties soon Ike made
double the whole of our foreign commerce
ut present Our treaties with all the Eu-
ropean States might be improved, some OF
them very materially. Mr. LOWELL, our
literary representative at the Spanish Court,
for example, might exercise his talents use
fully in deyising treaty by which the re-
strictiOns on our commerce with Cuba might
be removed, a measure which would very
materially benefit the manufacturing and
agricultural interests of this country. On OuI
Northern border our commerce with Canada
might be increased twentyfold by u just
and equitable reciprocity treaty
The African continent is another quarter
toward which the eyes of our foreign SecTe
tary should be turned England is cXplor
ing all the great rivers and other channel,
of commerce, and planting her trading post
all around the coast OF that vast continent
The wealth and resources of Africa are JUS
beginning to be understood, and the sag;lcity
and enterprise of English merchants ar,
quick to avail themselves of the immens.
profits which are to be gained by the haz
nrlous hut profitable commerce of the re
Gently explored regions Of that portion o
the globe.
That field of commerce naturally belong
to us, in view of the fact that our intelli
gent colored population would furnish II
with men for factors and agents there bet
ter adapted to meet and endure the danger
of the African climate than the white me-
upon whom England has 10 depend. TIL
fact is that that country opens up grea
field in which our intelligent and cnterpris
ing colorcd citizens could acquire wealt
by commerce and agriculture, and as piOu
eers in civilizing the population of thei
fatherland. This promising field for on
commerce ought not to be overlooked, an
we hope Mr. EvARTs will lose no time i
dispatching u few judiCious agents to th'
country to examine its resources and repOI
as TO the practicabilty Of opening cOmme
cial intercourse with the regions which n
most accessiable to our trade. II an appr'
priation is needed before this can be dOI
the attention of Congress should be callc
to the subject ut the next session.
In the fact that Mr.. EvARTs is giving q
tention to our foreign commerce We see or
of the most hopeful signs of the ea1ly Z
turn of u reasonable measure of tie pro
perity for which the country has bee
waiting so long. There is nothing visionaI
in hoping for relief from that source, for "
only need to remove unwisc restrictions
order to bring about q profitable cxchanl
of commodities with countries from whil
we are now excluded.