Morning journal and courier., 1881-05-28
Central and South America.

Their Natural Resources-Commercia
Value to Us-Exports nd Imports-How
European Traders Work.
To the Editor of the JOURNAL COURIER:
Whoever will, with ordinary geographical
knowledge, study with intelligent care the
latest maps of Central and South America,
understanding their vast commercial and pro-
ductive capacity, their climates suited to
rious products with the ample interior water
transportation furnished by some of the
largest rivers of the globe, having their
sources on the eastern slopes of the loftiest
peaks of the snow-c capped Andes, and giving
the cheapest freight carrying facilities known
to commerce, will be impressed with the
wonderful natural advantages possessed by
these countries for successful social and COM
mercial development and prosperity Such
are the countries we should seek the closest
social and commercial relations with. All are
republics, with the exception of Brazil,
modelled after our own, occupying the same
continent with its fertile islands, interested
with us in maintaining the closest interna-
tional amity and friendship. Although as
old in their settlements as ourselves, their in
dependence was acquired much later-Mexico
in 1878, the others following, Colombia the
latest, in 1921. Since their independence
their social and commercial relations have
been almost exclusively with European mon
archical nations. England holding decidedly
the pre-eminence Canning, Englands most
gifted statesman, was then Premier and was
the first to acknowledge the independence of
these republics thereby securing for Eng
lands manufacturers one of their best mar
kets which has been retained to this day suc-
cessfully against all European competitors.
These nations are behind in their progressive
development. Some of them have advanced
none of them show the decided improve
ments manifest in the energy and enterprise
SO characteristic of the AnglorSaxo race of
our more northern land. We must not make
the mistake of believing them barbarian
With less of our energy and enterprise, they
are not wanting in culture, refinement,
political knowledge and statesmanship. They
have names eminent IN all the higher posi-
tions of State and government and the pro-
fessions, well known and revered by us and
them The value of educational teaching
for the masses is well understood and advo-
Gated by their advanced statesmen in the face
of priestly opposition and superstition.
Perhaps many of your readers may be in
terested in commercial statistics furnished
me by our Department of State from consul
lar and other reliable authorities connected
with what little trade we have with the South
Americas, and t1ving the reader an idea of
| the Importance and value of those countries,
their extent and present resources, yet in
their partially developed condition. The
exports, imports and population of nation
furnish the most reliable basis for intelligent
merchants and manufacturers to estimate
their Importance and value for trade, and
form a correct opinion of their resources.
The limits of this article will prevent fur
nishing more than an aggregate of the ex-
ports and imports, with the populations of
each nation, and their productions.
Mextco-In 1880. population $780, 900.