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


ranted putting steamers into the business (;
but the slim return trade Of only $1,000 900 did
very little toward supporting the steam line.
With an Increased export trade from Brazil
to this country, and assurances Of better re-
turn cargoes, the time seems propitious for
developing our South American trade. AL
ready one firm in this city, which conducts
trading as well ns a transportation busi-
ness, has put some two or three small
steamers into the South American trade.
but they do not run beyond Pernambuco
and Bahia. We mention this circumstance
as tending To show confidence on the part Of
individuals engaged in the South American
trade of paying cargoes both ways, without
Government aid
We believe the question Of ample steam
ship facilities between this country and
South American ports can be solved, IL our
merchants, manufacturers, and capitalists
but exhibit something OF their Old-tinC
enterprise. without going cap in hand to
Washington to solicit favors, which the
Government has no rightful power to grant
We arc already pushing our trade with
Venezuela in this way, and there is no rea-
son why we should not also take in, by and
ny, DlltlSH i)ialils anu NAO ANANti
Plate.
The Quebec and Gulf Ports Steamship
Company, u new company, intend despatch
ing frst-class iron steamships semi-mUnthly
to Bermuda, St Thomas, aud Venezuela, com
mencing on Dec 3. 1t must he discourage
ing to the believers in paternal government,
who are going to Congress for steamship
subsidies IN order to promote foreign COM
mcrcc and stimulate our domestic indus
tries" to see the private enterprise of Cam
ada as it were, even while they were talking
about 1t, taking the wind out OF their sails
The Alexandra, Havana and Vera Cruz
line affords all the facilities with Cuba and
Mexico that We need ut present. as likewise
the British line, which connects this port
with the Bahamas and other West Indies I;
the Clyde line for Havana, Turk : Island
Puerto Plata, SANTANA, and San Domingo
city, and the Ward line to Santiago de Cuba
These lines are all maintained without ono
single dollar Of subsidy from the United
States Government. and there is no reason
to believe that they are Improbable to their
proprieturs.
4 movement Is now on foot in this city to
secure better mail facilities between this
country and the South American States, and
a petition has been prepared, to which the
signatures of the leading manufacturers of
the country will be solicited, asking Con-
gress to furnish such aid in establishing
postal facilities as will meet the grave him
ORANGES now in the way of our South Ameri-
can commerce. and thus 10y placing US upon
an equality with competing nations. stimu-
late the speedy revival and extension OF our
industries" This apparently means a sub
sidy, aud to this we are opposed. especially
If the self-supporting steamship lines run
ming from this port To the West Indies, Mex
leo, and Venezuela are to be- Disseminated
against 10y subsidies granted elsewhere.
Our domestic industries must be fostcred
and foreign markets developed; but. IT can
not be too often repeated, this can be most
efectaally accomplished by individual en-
t"rprise, and not by swelling the Treasury
budget in the interest OF particular corpora
lions. The way to get trade is TO make il ;
and if it is not to be had AT our own doors, it
might be q good plan to go and seek for It,