New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-21
FINDING FOREIGN MARKETS.

Our manufacturers will make great blunder
if they fail to turn the success at Paris to
account. The awards and the favorable I'M
preston which our EXHIBITS have created, form
a substantial basis for the development of our
foreign trade. At home, most of the COM
mended articles have an established reputation.
but In other lands the verdict of the Paris
Jurors will deservedly carry great weight.
There are. however, conditions connected with
foreign trade which cannot be neglected IL
our merchants would attain permanent success.
We submit some points for consideration,
which apply to nearly all branches OF industry
seeking foreign markets:
/. Establish Agenci,s.-The development OF
our foreign trade must mainly depend on
our own exertiOns. 1t will not do TO manu-
facture superior articles at fair price, and
expect that traders win come from distant
nations to buy them. Still less Will it do to
send goods on consignment, calculating that
they will sell on their own merits. In the
present state Of trade, with European nations
connecting in every accessible market, 1t will
be found impracticabIe to introduce our goods,
except we do so in person boldly and perse-
veringly. Where foreign traders refuse to
deal in American goods we must be prepared
to go direct to the consumer. and thus bring
our commodities into general use. The chan
nels of trade are not easily diverted, but they
yield inevitably to energy and seli-rehance.
II. Sell Cheaply-Thc bulk Of the people in
Asia, South and Central America, are poor.
They cannot afford to buy good articles al
though they may know that such are intrin-
sically cheaper than those offered at less
price If we try to sell them the goods IN
general demand at home, we shall inevitably
fail. Onr producers must endcavOr 10 adapt
their products TO foreign markets, and not
expect that the habits aud customs OF cen
turtles will give way before Yankee novelties.
Thceproduction Of cheap goods has been car
ried to demoralzng effect abroad, but such
abuses consist mainly in incorporating the
quality of wares and fabrics rather than In
adapting them in price 10 the scanty means oil
the wrctched lahOrer in IIindostan or China.
III. Encourage Imports. Notwithstanding the
great development of our own industries We
shall always be large consumers of foreign
products, especially such as are articles OF
food or serve as raw materials. In order To
sell American commodities we should render
the course OF exchange cheap and convenient.
This can best be done by discOuragIng
indirect trade, and by securing the
foreign producer fair return for his
commodities. II he, or the merchant
who acts for him, is constrained 10 rely
on European markets for the sale OF his ex-
ports, he will turn inevitably to the same
quarter for the goods he needs IN exchange.
It must, above all, be held in view that sue
cess will depend on earnest systematic efforts,
directed by experience. The manufacturer
who sends his goods abroad, and makes a
valiant effort to sell them, does more to hasten
the revival of our foreign trade than the hun
dreds of theorists who wait idly for the re
moyal Of imaginary barriers.