Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-01-18
TRADE WITH MEXICO.
Estimates Of lis Nolume-Geueral Grants
Views on the Subject.

views on the SUBJECT.
Senior Romero, an old diplomatist of
Mexico, of the first part, and General
Grant and Mr.. Prescott, of the United
States, of the second part, have met in
Washington as legally authorized
commissioners to devise treaty for
lettering the commercial relations of
the two republics, which are con-
fessed to be as bad as they possibly
can be between such near neighbors.
But these commissioners have under
taken a task which is far beyond the
powers granted to them by
their respective governments.
The reciprocity treaty between the
United States and the Sandwich
Islands has worked so badly in con-
nection with our protective system
that the question of its repeal is now
before congress; so that this device for
improving the commercial relations of
the two countries is not to be thought
of. Under the treaty with the Sand
wich Islands the islands get all the
benefit. They send free TO San Fran
cisco their sugar, for which they get
prices that are ruled by high protec-
tive duties, while with the proceeds
they buy the cheaper manufactures of
England and France. Reciproc-
ity with Mexico would work in
much the same way. 1t only re-
mains, then, for the two Commits
sioners to recommend the removal by
Mexico Of the open door for smuggling
on the Rio Grandc, known as the
Free Zone, and liberal revision of the
tariffs OF both countries. AS long as
these barriers against reciprocal com
merce stand i'm the legislation of the
! United States and Mexico all the eff
! forts of the commissioners will be
wasted. But il they can persuade the
people and governments of the two
countries that there can be no natural
and profitable exchange of products
while this protective system exists
| their labors will not be in vain.
| According to the latest annual re-
port of the bureau of statistics the
share of Mexico in the foreign trade OF
the United States for 1882 was less
than per cent. The trade with othe
near neighbors to the southwark doea
not make better figure IN the reportl
This country exported to England M
1882 upward OF $400,000,000 of pro
ducts, mostly provisions and raw
materials, and received from these
nearly 5000, 100000, which togethel
constituted nearly 30 per cent. of the
whole foreign trade of the year. Fol
the balance England paid largely with
! the sugar, tea, coffee and other pro-
ducts of tropical and semi-tropicai
countries, including Mexico, with
which this country has very
! little direct trade. In many
| respects it would be convenient and
| profitable for Mexico to trade directly
with this country, but thei protective
system of both governments forbids it.
| Under this system it is impossible fol
this country to supply a near neighbor
| like MEXICO with the products of it,
skill and industry when the same
| kind of products can be bought else
VIII ere Oh better terms. In order to OBJ
! tain EMeXican products, the country
must sell wheat and provisions te
Europe at such prices as they will
command, instead of being enabled to
carry on directly an advantageous
trade with our neighbor in such artt
Giles as each can best supply. In the
roundabout trade produced by ex-
cessive taxation and pernicious
navigation laws both are the
| losers. Whatever false causes may be
assigned for the commercial prosperity
( Of the United States, 1t is manifest that
protection has done no good for Mexico
Gen. Grant has been convince.l fol
some time of the great advantages O
more intimate trade relations with
Mexico, though he did nothing e
speak of in their behalf during hi
eight years of presidency. But sine
then he has said that if trade ver
| properly cultivated many millions u
sugars and tropical fruits could be inl
ported from Mexico in exchange III
products of the skilland industry ofth
/ country. This direct trade betwee
the two neighbor republics he though
would be far better than to impose Il
! fruit raised by slave labor in the We
Indies. But before this change q
take place General Grant must p
ceive it will be necessary for both g
ernments to remove their restrictis
upon trade in the nature OF protecte
tariffs. The small quantities OF cofi,
oranges, bananas and other prodtrs
| of Mexico consumed In this couny
| are purchased with the whs,
pork, petroleum, etc., "
are sent 10 Europe. lis
country has foolish protective dnss
4 ,,,on trontanl fruitg and very Slnt