Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-04-28
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THE MEXICAN TREATY.

Senator Morgan has a very inter-
esting paper in the May number of
the North American Review on
Mexico. The Alabama Senator is
graceful and pleasing writer and
his paper contains much of literary
interest aside from its political.
bearing. He reviews the history
and institutions of Mexico, shows
why this Southern republic and our
own government should be united
by bonds of the strongest sympathy
and why common interest should
make close allies of these two great
opponents of popular government.
The main purport of the paper, it
can be readily seen, is to urge the
adoption of the proposed Mexican
treaty on the next Congress, though
that point is not particularly pressed.
A covert design of the Senator may
also be to soften the feelings of the
Mexican government and to say
something that may palate the
neglect of the last congress to adopt
the treaty. Serious fears have been
entertained that the Mexicans
would become offended at this neg
lect and that their congress would
withdraw the proffered treaty.
1t is much to be regretted that the
treaty was not adopted. The bene-
fits to be derived from a closer COM
mercial connection with our South
ern neighbor are so apparent, and
so great, that it is very shOrtsight-
ed and selfish policy that can oppose
the treaty. The wonder is that
such a treaty has not all the time
existed, and the railroad connections
between the two countries that are
now being built, make some better
understanding and more intimate
trade relations, an imperative ne
cessity. The treaty would have
been adopted at the last session of
congress but for the sugar refiners
of the North and the Louisiana
cane growers who lObbied against
it.
The United States should be on
better terms, not only with Mexico,
but the countries of South and Gen.
trail America. Our commercial IN
terests have suffered greatly by not
having a freer intercourse with
these nations and their trade has
been monOpolized by Great Britain
while the United States, by virtue
of geographical proximity and ties
of political kinship, should have
controlled it all. This is to some
extent due to the ineficiency of our
merchant marine, but could be
easily overcome by an arrangement |
of commercial treaties. 1t is hardly |
credible that Mexico should import |
S3,72S,912 in cotton goods from |
Great Britain, while from the Uni
ted States, where the staple is |
grown at her very doors, she inn
portes only Sl,1I9,2 68 in the same
material. Yet this is true, and the
aggregate of all imports from the
two countries is still more dIsprO-
portionate. England imports into
Brazil, annually $32,OO0,O0 in mer-
chandise and manufactured goods !
while we send that country only
S9,OO0,0O0 in our products. There
is something wrong about this-an
old maxim says u6i Just i6i renledi-
am and the United States should |
look after her rights in this matter.
So far as Mexico is concerned the
remedy is easily OWNED and can
be as easily effected. 1t lies in the
adoption of the proposed treaty,
which will put an end to the present
abnormal state of affairs. 1t is a
very narrow mind that can't see the
great advantage we would derive
from exporting to Mexico Sl5,OOO,-
900 in goods that she now receives
annually from other countries, and
importing from there the rich and
varied products of that very fertile
country. But this is only viewing
the matter from the standpoint OF
the present. Mexico is now on the
royal road of progress and develop
ment and her future commerce will
greatly exceed in value what it is
to-day. The next congress will be
very remiss in its duty and deal
stunning blow to our commercial
prosperity if the Mexican treaty is
not ratified.
ROSCOE AND CICER0