The Portland daily press., 1878-02-13
0Htt I1oEo bffHHf Izu 9fHnK Of II IoIlOCs
Allow me to give some distances:

We have steamship line to Sidney, and are
gradually obtaining. control of the Australian
trade. We exported there last year SIX millions
and imported from there one aud one half mil
lions. We have also line to China, and our
exports amounted to 100000 last year; ou
imports $12,OOO,OO0. My impression is, thai
those are our only steamship lines; that fol
freight passengers and our nails to every othe
foreign country we depend upon foreign steam
ships.
Again, the South American and Centra
American trade legitimately belongs to us; ye
last year only three per cent. of all our export
went to- South America; only one per cent. tc
Brazil From 1870 to 1876, we sold her only
forty-eight millions dollars worth of goods
while we bought of her 275 millions. Insteat
OF paying for this enormous importation in cot
ton goods, boots and shoes, etc., we were com.
PEELED to send our gold coin to Europe in pay
ment. Surely there Is no sense in this. LIE
that country serve as an illustration. Brazil
has about twelve or thirteen millions of people
several great cities, as Rio Japeiro, population
100000; Bakai, population 10000; Pernambu
co, 135, 900; Peru, 10000.
Her inhabitants are great consumers, are en-
tlrely ignorant of New England economy ia
wearing, make no repairs, if hat is smashed
there is no recovery for it, if boot or shoe rips
no cobbler can mend. Where do they get their
supplies? Principally from England WHY
from her? Because there are niue monthly
steamers from her ports to Liverpool. Eng,
land knows her business. She said to her
manufacturers and merchants: Establish
your trade in Brazil, we will furnish you speedy
and economical transportation for your goods. u
She subsidized all these steamers for years
practically does SO now by mail contracts
Trade was established, and the manufacturers,
merchants, steamship lines, and England her
self, are reapiug the harvest Other countries
are competing for the trade. Ti.Sra are sao
monthly steamers from Antwerp and Havre,
two from Bordeaux, one from OpcEte &qd ont
from Lsbon-all subsidized. How s...say from
this great country, groaUing AMI laboring fol
an outlet? Not onei
1T the shoe manufacturers of Auburn or the
cotton mills of Lewiston, would send their sur
plus products to Brazil, they must send them
in an English steamer to Liverpool, thence via
Lisbon and the west coast of Africa, a voyage
of thirty-six days, and il Mr. Ara Cushman
wishes to send a letter of inquiry to his con-
signee at Rio Janeiro. he must send it by the
same route and pay England twenty cents fol
carrying it. The unemployed will remain so
wages will go still lower, stocks shrink still
more, cries OF hard times still continue, unless
we demand and take our fair show of trade
with Japan, China, the West Indies, etc.
We ought to demand and take about all oi
the South America trade. Rio de Janeiro is
only nineteen days from New York. We can
command that market if we take the necessary
steps. Oar manufacturers will cheerfully bear
the losses necessary to the establishment of
trade, but they cannot and ought not assume
the additional burden OF providing steamship
lines by which to transport the goods. These
lines will not be sef-supporting for q few
years, but when trade is fairly set, than they
will be- Dom Pedro was greatly Impressed
with our country, especially with it's wonderful
exhibits last year. He had been paying Eug-
land 100000 year carrying his mails to the
United States. DESTROYS of closer connection
he offered the same annually for ten years to
any American line that would take them direct
to New York. Whether or not the United
States shall linz. hu ~
literally annually for the same time for mail
service is to be settled by this Congress. Re.
membering that Brazil wants Just the goods
that Auburn and Lewiston have to sell, that
the interests of the farmer of my district will
be promoted BY the prosperity Of these manu-
fac,ures; that Bath, Richmond, Bowdoiaham
and Georgetown, Sc, will have their share in
restored carrying business" / shall ceI-
talnlP vote "aye." 1t may be that in my
opinion, another or other lines should receive
like consideration, if yes, shall vote "aye,
right in the face of the subsidy resolution
passed by such an overwhelming vote"
winch l had the temerity to vote against
thus k'msrepresenting my constituents"
1t is a significant fact that our exports to
China last year were $1,000 900, so that in the
two countries to which we have steamship lines
the balance of trade in our favor was over TO-
100000. Japan buys from England six times
as much as she does from us, while we buy
from Japan three times as much as England
does There is no good reason why this proper
tion may not bs reversed. Ii seems to me en-
tirely clear that our prosperity as a nation de-
pends very largely upon our taking and holding
our legitimate share of the worlds trade. The
question is, how best shall it be done? am
aware that Credit Mobilier and Pacific Steam
ship subsidy scandals have made the name
"subsidy" stencil in the nostrls of honest
men. but oughs that to be conclusive? Ash in-
timated, this is is not offered in defence, only
written to give to your readers some exceeding
y interesting and Instructive facts. L wish
further to say that / am opposed to any gov
ernment aid to the Southern Pacific or Texas
Pacihc roads, and a subsidy to them cannot
possibly pass the House. WM P FRYE.