The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-04

this rart to be forwarded to foreign ports we |
mention, as a peculiarly Of the trade that last |
week wa announced the clearing from North |
Carolina port of a vessel with 400 tons OF cotton
seed for New Orleans. consigned to one OF our
large milling companies.
We have already made mention OF CONNER
eial convention to be held in the city oil wash
iugton on the 22d OF the present month. The
subject matter TO be considered ts the securing
from the government of the requisite encour-
agernept for the establishment of transporta-
tion lines between ports Of the United States
and those If South and Central America and the
West Indies.
A formal invitation has been sent to the mer
chants OF New Orleans. through the Cotton Ex-
change to select three delegates to attend that
convention. In view OF the important subjects
which will be brought UP for consideration. and
the great interests at stake-in which we are
most nearly Commemorative hope that New Or
leans will be fully and ably represented.
The st. Louis Times. in its review OF the past
years business. observes that 1t seems to be the
universal fashion to Rroan and lament ever the
hard times. debt, taxes, waste, expense and
ruin, and one runs risk of being considered =
hereto who dares to wear cheerful face and to
suggest that possibly the country Ia not going
to the demnition bow bows. But there is
brighter side to The situation, and In spite OF
many drawbacks, national matters are not going
on badly. The national debt is under steady
process OF reduction. and most Of the States are
also able to reduce from time to time the debts
incurred during the war and Immediately after.
The crops have been unusually good for three
years; the farmers are paying of their debts
and beginning to feel themselves once more on
their feet and the year 1873 is probably destined
to mark the revival of that prosperity for which
we have waited so patiently. We in Louisiana
have a slight drawback in the curtaiment Of
our sugar crop, but we hope and believe this
will not amount to az much as some anticipate.
We have on several occasions adverted to the
heavy and really prohibitory duty imposed by
the Spanish government on the flour sent hence
DO the Island OF Cuba Several years ago the
monthly expectation of that commodity from
New Orleans to Havana amounted to some
10000 barrels per month. Now 1t has dwindled
down to most insignificant figure, owing to
the excessive tax of 81 80 on each barrel OF Hour
landed at any port in the Island of Cuba. This
duty is OF course. imposed for the benefit OF
Spanish flour, which for two years past has
been poured into Havana from the moth Ell
country In such quantities as to glut that
market and exclude, to q great extent the In
PRODUCTION of -four from the United States
In doing this the spanish government has done
we'll for self preservation Tor proteetion) is the
FIRST law of nature" But 1t is a poor rule that
does not work both ways. Ii Spain exacts this
duty ON -four exported from this country why
should not our government impose an equally
heavy and onereus duty on all sugars brought
here from the Gem of the Antilles ?" Tha
species OF reciprocity" would bring the Span
ish Dons to their senses. and reopen trade
that was formerly source OF great profit and
advantage to this city in particular and to the
country in general.
II our Congressman would press this matte
during the present session. we do not doub
that they could accomplish much that would b.
advantageous to their mercantile constituents
The West the great producer OF the eommodi
ties which Cuba requires, is equally interested
In this subject and her representatives at tn
national capital will no doubt join with those c
the Gulf States in adopting such measures o
will serve to remove the barriers which SPANS
exclusiveness and intolerance have erecte
against the free and fair introduction OF th
products OF eur soil If our -four ia exclude
from Cuban ports by exorbitant imposts. VIII
should not Cuban sugars for the same rea or
be kept out of our MARKET