Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-05-01
Mexico and Ourselves.
San Francisco Chronicle.

Late ,advices from Mexico state that
+" English, French and German mer-
chants are alarmed that the United
States and Mexico will enter into
commercial treaty, The alarmed mer-
chants arc those doing business in that
country We hope they have good
cause for their alarm, and we believe
they have. A commercial treaty offers.
a much better method than war of
conquest for Americanizing and utiliz-
ing Mexico, and there is reason to be-
ieve that the initial steps have already,
been taken to that end g
Four years ago the entire exports of
Mexico were valued at $25, 500, GOO; her
imports 81. 100000 greater OF these
imports, considering that. the frontiers
of the two countries touch each other,
for q distance of ,S05 miles, and that
for many years the people and govern
ment of Mexico have entertained
toward the people and government Of
the United States the utmost good will,
this country should have supplied by
far the largest quantity. Yet what are
the facts This table, which is made
out in round numbers, will show the
nations who rule in that trade, which
lies right at our doors: inviting us to
take it, and how significant a part.act-s
-ually falls to our share: ,....
United States 30 5, 90, Q o
France bitterly hated). 1900, 600
Germany. ........-....-...-. 2,OOO, COO
Spain .............. .............-.... !. ooU,UO
CUBA ....................... = !, az, o 00
l.UU
Belgium. ...... -........... y........ 500, 900
All others. 80 49,. T.. + g., $4,000
The United States, by geographical
and Typographical relations as close and
convenient to Mexico as to Oregon or
Nevada, serves that country with one
sixth of It's imports, while England,
separated by 1000 miles of sea, supplies
nearly one-half, and France, Germany,
Spain, Cuba and China over one-third.
The causes of our practical exclusion
from the trade lie very close to the sur.
face. They are in part due to our navi-
cation laws, which are little wiser than
the wisdom of semi-barbarians, but still
more to the want of commercial
treaty by which the two nations, with
respect to each other, should mutually
agree to substantial free trade; and also
by which Mexico should pledge herself
to the protection and security of Amer
lean capital and emigrants for a long
term Of wears. Such treaty would
soon result in the construction of inter-
national lines of railway, new lines of
steamships and a rush of our people
into the Northern States of our sister
Republic. What transpired very few
years after the Americanization Of Cali
fornia would happen in Sonora, Sinaloa..
Durango, Chihuahua, New Leon and
farther south. That is to say, the ma
terial developments and wealth of the
country would be increased hundred
fold, and the United States would secure
forever nine-tenths of the trade. On
our part we can produce and supply
illimitably every article which Mexico
needs. Agricultural implements, ma
chinery for her mines. cotton and
WOODEN goods, boots and shoes and hats,
bacon. lard, oils, and, above all, skilled
labor, which is the greatest want in all
Spanish-American States. On her part,
she can SEND us back her zinc, tin, cop
per, lead, silver, sugar, oranges and
other fruits, coffee, tobacco and fine
woods. Why should we exclude the
sugar, coffee and timber of so close
neishbor, or she our manufa ctures, by
discouraging tariffs, when it is so per-
fectly clear that free trade between us
must inevitably rebound to the interest
Of both?
We hope the rumored commercial
treaty will soon turn up as a fact, and
that its terms will be liberal to the eX-
IRENE. 1t would enliven business all
along the border, but more especially on
this coast and in the Territory of Ari-
iona, which ought to be commercially
i'll as close relations with Sonora as with
California