The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-02


Why. when the remedy is within our control
should the United States continue to suffer from
the labor disturbances which have wrought so
much mischief so recently. and which the Sc |
verities Of winter may probably reproduce and |
perhaps aggravate2
Let us regard the Mississippi river as the |
very best mode Of relieving these difficulties. |
because it affords the best access to a ready |
market. and opens the avenue leading to less |
costly Transportation. Let us specially invoke |
the attention of the general government to the |
best means of removing that obstacle OF com
merea non intercourse to which referen
has already been made.
Now It Is an historical fact that from tbs nd |
min straton Of Washington up to the com
menrement Of the late nternecine war every
effort had been made to secure n trade with the
British and Spanish possessions in the seas
and mainland of America. and It is also notori-
Gus that this trade is now surrounded with the
same restrictions as ever. Tho commercial
policy pursued towards the republican powers
Of the continent was apparently more liberal
but it has scarcely proved more fruitful In
good. Eighteen Of these States have adopted
as the basis Of their treaties Of amity and COM
merce "the most perfect equality and reeip
rocity." Many have declared that mo other or
higher duties shall be imposed on the imp,rt1-
tion Of any article the produce. growth or man
ufaeure of the United States of America, than
that which the same or like articles the pro-
dues. growth or Manufacture Of
any other foreign country do now
or hereafter may pay nor shall articles. the
growth. product or manufacture of the other
contracting State be subject, on their introduc-
tion into the United States. to higher or other
duties than those which the same Or like articles
|
hereafter pay' These stipulations should have
insured u free interchange of commodities. and
yet the results stated show n failure in this re-
spect. The formula quoted only subrogates
| either of the contracting parties TO any advan-
tage given by either to any other party As no
| other nations are parties to this contract.
| nothing therein contained could prevent
special rates on foreign products. An
| intsxibe tariff imposes 81 rate OF
duties on all provisions and live
stock imported into Spanish America. This
tux, though impartial. falls exclusively upon
| the United States ms she is the only country
which supplies those products. Spain is not
under the same obligations Of equality and re-
ciprocty. yet the rate Of duties In tho port of
Cuba protects the farmers Of Catalonia ut the
expense Of the grain growers Of Missouri, Of
Illinois. of Minnesota. etc. Our own revenue
system makes no distinction between nations,
| but applies tho same rate Of duty 10 oil, with @
few insignificant exceptions. That this iron
uniformity may be advantageously modified
has been demonstrated by our former treaty OF
reciprocity with Great Brita u, as applied to
our trade with the Canadian colonies. for the
values exchanged between the two countries
we're nearly doubled during tho eight years that
the treaty existed
| Strenuous efforts have been made on both
sides OF the line to revive this treaty: but these
attempts have not received the cordial support
OF tho West. because their effect would be to
admit Canadian provisions FREQ into the East
ern States in which the Western produce IL
considered to have monopoly IT, however.
the government could succeed in opening the
markets of Cuba: If facilities could be supplied
for sending the surplus goods and mauufac-
| lures Of the Union into the tropics this system
| of reciprocity would soon embrace all the coun-
tries Of this continent and supersede all an
tagenisms
| With q revisal Of our own and foreign tariffs,
however. there would still exist obstacle to
the perfect organization Of this ommerce It
is The want of facilities Of access by railroad and
by ocenn steamers to the countries and ports Of
the continent. To the lack of these facilities we
of our trade with Spanish America. We have
no direct conmuni ication between the United
States and the Empire Of Brazil. except by one
private line of steamers. while there are twenty
regular steamers. monthly, connecting that
country with the ports OF Europe. The valley
has no o regular % pos @ @eoPpmnneation pr ,, vi the
New Orleans, save one to which Mexico has
given small subvention. and that which com
ing from eastern ports to New Orleans. touches
When therefore. the vast values involved in
this commerce. and Its probable importance in
rei wing the difficulties with viii h we find
currency, capital and labor surrounded are
taken into consideration. it will be ascertained
that Congress cam do better in reference to
bc m ~ rna ap m tplp
matte and commercial obstacles to which atten-
tion has been directed
American iDdustry has attained and which 1t is
sure to attain in the near future, giving large
SURPLUS OF products In excsss sei Of domestic con-
the rhcapness of European labor. with the cost
Of trans Atlantic carriage renders the prospect
Of an adequate ma ket for these increasing
supplies very unfavorable: the task devolves
upon Congress to consider and act effectively,
by using the national agencies Of common
government to protect these vital interests and
give relief to the whole country. and particu-
larry to the industrial poor;
What then, under such circumstances, would
wise craftsmanship teach; what would sound
political economy advise as indispensably
necessary to consummate these measures Of
tain suceessf I Let the Executive and Legislative
departments Of the government bend all their
energies and power IN the following direction,
and the country will then be placed on the high
road to pro sperity and take rank rs first among
the nations of the earth:
l. Remove every impairment 10 the Tree
navigation Of the Mississippi river from it's
source to its mouth. that the capacities Of water
TRANSPORTATION may be adequate, to the moving
Of the surplus products OF the Mississippi
Valley.
q Open negotiations with all the governments
having political dominion over the States of the
American continent and the islands adjacent
thereto, with the view OF securing equal and
recipr ocal interchange Of all articles, the growth
or product of one Of the contracting parties i'm
ported for consumption into the. territories of
the other; and see that American Ministers and
Consuls to these countries be appointed strictly
and to represent thoroughly these interests.
8. Foster and develop this Diplomatic and in
! dustrial agency by promoting the construction
of the Southern Pacific Railroad and other roads
into countries co-terminus with our own.
4. Aid in the establishment and maintenance
, land and sea between each of the commercial
and manufacturing centres Of the United States