Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-26
CUE RrLArIoys wIra mFxlco.

We can make no treaty affecting the
tariff question that will not operate to the
present injury Of some. Changes in ma
tional policy always work some individual
hsrdships. TIE manufacturers of cotton
goods, and the Louisiana sugar planters,
and the tobacconists, are the principal
objectors to the proposed reciprocity treaty
with Mexico. That these interests alone,
from among the great mass of our national
industries, are the chief professionals, con-
stitutes one Of the strongest arguments in
favor OF the treaty. At the best the con-
vention gives US but limited advantages,
but it must lead to future engagements.
By recent advices it is learned that Ger.
many has concluded treaty with our
neigbbor, which guarantees to her com.
mercial relations on par with those Sc
cured to any other nation. About QUE
half of the foreign commerce of Mexico is
transacted with the United States. We
send to her annually nearly Sl4 600, 600 in
value of our goods and products. We re-
ceive from her free of duty about So.
300, 900.
From official statistical advices just at
hand we ascertain that for the fiscal year
1882 our imports from Mexico free of duty,
amounted to $40, 796, and included
chemicals, drugs, dye stuffs, hair, hides,
skins, rubber and manufactured wood.
The imported goods subject to duty were
valued at SO, l5l, lO3, and these included
breadstuffs, farinaceous food, fruits, nuts,
jute, lead, sugar, molasses, tobacco, cigars
and precious stones. OF this sum only
Sl04, 374 represent sugar, molasses and con-
fectionery, ard $50, 096 tobacco and cigars.
The export side of the account shows that
we sent to Mexico duty paying merchan-
disc valued at Sl3, 324 sos, including agri.
cultural IMPLEMENTS, animals, beer, ale, por-
ter, bread, breadstuffs, candles, cars,
carriages, carts, coal, cordage, manufact.
ures of iron, steel, leather and cotton. oils,
ordnance stores, paints, paper, provisions,
quicksilver, sewing machines, soap, sugar
and molasses, tallow, tobacco, manufactures
of wood, lumber, masts and spare. Thus
our dutia5le exports exceeded our dutiable
imports by $40 l7S. 4O2.
The treaty cannot affect US SO immedi.
ately and benefcially as it will our sister
republic, for some years. She consents to
admit raw materials used by her manu-.
facturers free of duty, and the result must
be to stimulate her manufacturing inter-
ests, for we consent to omit from the free
list manufactures III cotton, leather, and a
few other articles in which Mexican indus
tries are most largely interested. The de-
tailed schedules are not yet announced,
but we know that there are to be admitted
free into the United States, hard-woods,
sugar, hemp, coffee, tobacco, and various
iron goods and wood and iron machines
and implements, and raw material used in
Mexican manufactures. The schedule on
either side is not broad, but it opens the
door to more liberal policy than has here
tofore prevailed. In our view it should be
thrown entirely opep, and al restrictions of
tariff that are OF protective character
be removed. BE- the treaty ge come
closer to Mexico politically, and to just
that extent neutralize European influences;
the two nations adapt themselves to the
new relation existing between them by
reason of the construction of intercommu.
nicating railroads; the trade between the
countries will be vastly increased, and a
better understanding between the repre-
sentatives of business interests estab.
lished; the injury that may in time result to
cotton and sugar Interests will be more
than compensated in the enlargement of
other business interests and the increased
extent of market we shall enjoy; and,
finally, what the great region of the south
west has so long desired will, at least in
part, be granted-free trade.