The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-02-02
RECIPROCITY WITH MEXICO.

A Washington special to the New
York World tells that the feeling in
favor of a reciprocity treaty with
Mexico is growing. Resolutions
have already been introduced by
some of the Democratic congress
men in favor of such treaty, and
the subject will soon he pressed,
probably by the Mexican govern
ment. In 1876, the United States
bought of Mexico goods valued at
81, 100000, while the United States
sold to Mexico goods valued at
only 81, 100000, but the closer con-
nection of the two countries by rail-
road will change the character of
trade. With 5000 miles of coast
line. Mexico has been accustomed to
look to the sea alone for its trade
with the rest of the world. With
out an adequate river system and
with inadequate roads, its internal
development has by no means been
commensurate with internal wealth,
and having no rail connection with
the United States, it's commercial
relations with this country have
been painfully limited. 1t is esti-
mated that one-seventh of the for
eign commerce of Mexico is with
the United States, while five
sevenths of it ought to be with this
country. Lying as Mexico does
alongside the United States, with a
continuous line of 1890 miles,
with population of 100000, in
habiting Il territory whose area
equals that of twenty-five of the
United States of America east OF
the Mississippi river, rich in mines
of gold and silver and zinc and tin
and copper and iron, and able in
definitely to produce cotton and to-
bacco, chocolate and coffee, Mexico
has commercial possibilities which
have been too long ignored. Here
is a friendly country, side by side
with It's, twenty times as large as
Great Britain, a country which in
cludes nearly all climes and nearly
all products, anxious to trade with
us, the chief remaining obstacles to
this enlarged trade being now legal
rather than physical, consisting in
the clumsy tariff legislation of both
countries rather than in present or
prospective lack of the quick means
of commercial intercourse. The
World correspondent reviews the
situation in this wise:
Mexico has paid out in subsidies
to American steamship lines nearly
81 100000, and her railway subsi-
dies have amounted to nearly $12,-
100000. Mexico does not under
stand that the subsidy system has
not been fastened upon the United
States as a permanent public policy.
IndisposItion to grant subsidies is
mistakenly understood in that cOun-
try to be indisposition ON our part
to facilitate commercial relations
between the two countries. Mexico
says that the policy of the United
States in this respect is in contrast
with the policy of European coun-
tries, and this is doubtless true
The Great Western began Eng
lands Atlantic steam transit in 1888
and III three years after that time
the English had established steam
communication with Mexico. Fol
more than forty years this diligence
of the English to maintain CONNER
cial relations with Mexico has beeI
constant, but until the year 1850 III
steam communication ut all was es.
tablished between the ports of thC
United States and of Mexico. L
did not become a fixed fact" unit
1868, and then through a subsidy
granted to the government of Mex
leo. In the Mexican republic no
body questions the principle of ;
subsidy. The question there is no
whether q subsidy is right on sount
governmental principles, bu
whether Mexico can afford to pay it
And so the Mexican govern
ment semi-officially holds tina
the fact that the United
States government has no
subsidized American lines of steam
ers trading with Mexico makes i
plain that in the way of efforts t,
establish and extend trade between
the two countries Mexico has no
been the least solicitOus of the TIVE
countries. The construction of rail
ways between the United States ant
Mexico will make subsidies les
prominent element in the sca-com
merce between the two countries
even in the eyes of Mexico, Will
Mt the same time they will empha
size the duty of this country to pul
down such legal barriers to this all
important international commerc
as now confessedly exist.
The tariff statutes of both coun
tries are framed without referenc
to the fact that they are neighbOr
and friends. They seem, on the cor
trary, to have been enacted on tn
opposite theory. Some of the dutie
imposed by this country on Mexica
products are almost prohibitor,
and the tariff laws of Mexico are a
most equally faulty and inhospitabl
towards this country. Mexico ha
however, made greater endeavoI
than has this government toward
the reformation of her tariff law
with a view to increased trade b,
tween the two nations, and Mexic
has also manifested a disposition T.
still further improve her tart
schedule to the same end. One basi
for a reciprocity treaty betwee
the United States and Mexico Ia
already been semi annually intima
ed by the executive of the Mexica
republic. That basis is substantial
this: To select a certain hmite
number of articles produced in eaC
of the contracting countries whiC
have some consumption in the otht
and free them from duty, or reduc
considerable that which they no.
pay, whenever, taking into accoul
the amount of duty paid on the sal
effects, for five years previous
should appear that what the Unite
States would cease 10 pay to MexiC
in duties of Importation by virtue
said treaty, would be a sum equi'
alent to what Mexico would cea'
to pay 10 the United States for in
portation of such of her products
were comprised in the treaty. Thi
at all events, is useful suggestion
which ought to lead to discussion
and further suggestions, and out
prompt discussion a reciprocil
treaty with Mexico, ought quick