, 1880-03-14

o~'N
| mercial relations with Mexico. But the
"boom" waned; the fire ended in smoke,
and the chief dampcr on the bright prospects
was probably cast by United States
Minister Foster, who, in letter to MI.
Carlisle Mason, took a gloomy view OF. the
prospect for aiding the Mexicans to develop
their agricultural, commercial, and mineral
resources. The obstacle i'll the way-the
great barrier between the two countries
was the practically prohibitory tariff Of Mex
leo. Mr.. Foster cited facts and figures to
prove the truth of his position, and was
satirical and pungent in his ridicule of the
Mexican policy. Ham costing II cents
pound in New York cost 81 cents in the City
Of Mexico; a barrel Of flour in New York
cost Sc, and in Mexico SEQ; barrel Of beer
in New Orleans cost S13, and in Mexico
s33.61; oilcloth in New York, per yard. 45
cents, and III Mexico S3.oS. These are but
few of the examples cited.
Naturally enough, Mr.. Fosters communi-
cation evoked an equally sharp rejoinder
from Mr.. Romero, who made better show
ing for his Republic. But in some respects
AS Mr.. Brooks states-he proved too much.
Mr.. Foster assumed too much in the first
instance, when he supposed that special
legislation was directed by the Mexican
Government against Americans, and Mr. Ro-
nero errs in supposing it to be unsafe to trust
Americans with franchises without TAX
ing excessive precautions. There is no valid
reason why the two Republics should not
work together harmoniously and in accord.
"Their fraternal accord would replenish the
Treasury of Mexico, sustain her chosen Execu-
tive, put an end to revolution and dissension,
relieve the poor, and enrich the rich. II
would open the vast treasures of that coun-
try to the commerce of the world and furnish
a new and inexhaustible field for the young
and enterprising Of our own race and Nation"
But before any practical steps can be taken
in this direction Mexico must at least amend
her tariff. Who will send clothing for trade
where it is taxed 1872 per cent? Reciprocity,
strict reciprocity, may do for a while, but not
treaty reciprocal only in name Minister
Romero says:
Fix upon q few articles produced by either
country and consumed III the other: reduce the
duties ou these, or remove them alfogetner;
and, taking into account the amount Of duties
paid By theee articles during some period prevt-
ous1y. arrungB the matter SO that the amount Of
duties from which each country will be ex-
premium on the expectation Of certain national
products
This, or something similar in principle,
would do as compromise measure. The
difficulty seems to be to get commercial In
tercourse started.
The United States when claiming changes
in Mexican import duties must be willing to
make concessions herself. The most certain
way of fostering and advancing the indus
tries Of country Is to place it In competi-
ton with the countries most advanced in this
respect. Mr.. De Tejada is right when he
says that the Mexican policy is to "prohlbit
not only the actual products and manufact-
ures Of our country, but such even as might
be produced in it, and this systeln-con-
demned by the soundest doctrines Of eco
nomic science and by experiments firmly
upheld by private parties whose interests are
considered paramount to those Of public
convenience and the voice of reason" Let
manufacturers think this question over
again. "Thercs millions in it."