The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-17
South American Markets.

Thore is in these United States no union
between commerce and craftsmanship
While the British politician is a path
finder FOR the British merchant the Amer
lean politician Is too often disturber OF the
peace and levier OF tolls on the enterprise
Of his constituents. Wherever you go in
Central or South America, the vigor OF the
British mercantile character is seen. Ger
man traders are steadily following. and
are now the leading retail merchants in
Mexico, Havana, aud other cities All this
is absolutely an anomaly The United
States are lifted to occupy the leading posi-
tiUn in the trade with South America both
by geographical position and the inventive
energy Of our people All the things or
nearly all the things which South America
purchases abroad can low be bought il the
United States as cheuply as anywhere in the
world but American merchant, have SIM
ply neglected those markets, and the conse-
quence is that the United State do not now
send 70 the whole continent of South America
and Mexico over 100000 worth OF goods
IN the course OF year, while they buy S15,-
O0o,ODO worth from that region OF the world
annually. In ls7i England solo to Mexico
and South American countries Peru, United
States OF Colombia Argentine Republic,
Chill, Uruguay. BRAZIL slOj,9J0.G9j, and
France SG2,596j+3 And yet the United
States are NOW no longer beaten in the mar
kets Of the world in respect to the prices or
the excellence OF things which the peoples
south OF Us require in any quantity.
But il is Of little use to seok to extend our
trade relations with South America mar
- AZ. IA ltfpf, iflgn b.,
same steamship facilities that are pro-
vided by our British rivals. and moro re-
cipr0cal tarifl which would encourage those
countries on their part 10 extend their COM
MERGE win US. In comparing our export
trade With Brazil and the River Plate coun-
tries On the east coast, and the republics OF
Ecuador, Chill, and Peru on the west coast
Of South America, with that Of those coun-
tries with which We enjoy the necessary
steam communications, such a. Cuba. Mex
leo, and tho United States Of Colombia, we
discover marked Inference in the pro rata
consumption Of our manufactured goods in
favor of those coultries with which We have
suitable steamship connections.
The secret of the supremacy Of England
ard Franco In the commerce of South
American countries resides IN the existence
OF their splendid steam lines. 1T is useless
to attempt TO compete with Europe on a
large scale until tho merchants OF the
United States take hold vigorously of the
work Of securing good steam COM
nlUnicatiOn 10 those southern coun-
tries. Il viii he much TO havo limo
running 70 Rio Janeiro; but by going OH TO
MonloSidrO and RGencs Ares, We TAP an
immense foreign ira be-, and there should be
no stopping place short Of theso ports oar
/ BuenOs Ayres Consul, IN recent cOmmuni-
cation to the State Department. after dwell
Ing upon The desire Of the people Of the Ar
| gentine Republic for closer commercial in
tcrcOursc with US, says that loud calls
/ are already made for the abolition of the dis
eliminating tariff against United States
products and the modification Of all laws
on regulations which can in any way inter-
| tcre with the fullest commercial intercourse
| between the two Countries" We also find
/ growing desire in other South Ameri-
can countries TO purchase our goods on
account Of their superior quality and style,
as we'll rs our ability and readiness TO fur
nish them as cheaply as European manu-
lacturcrs; but we are ellectually dcbarred
from dying large part Of these foreign
consumers chiefly for want Of suitable COM
munication with such countries.
While the Garrison line was running, that
is, from l5Cj to 1878, the United States was
exporting to Brazil only about 100000 a
| year. 1t was thu inportation Of from s3i.-