Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-02


greater uneasiness IN regard to what may
be the result. Look, for instance, at our
trade relations with Brazil. We sold TO
Brazil last year various articles 10 tne
amount of $S,645. 261. We bought OF her
various kinds of her own productions 10
the amount of $40, 265, $50, leaving SAL
62s,52S as the balance against US. NOW,
how is this large balance lquldated! NOT
by gold. but by the sale of our farm pro-
ducts, for which there is a large demand
in Europe. 1t is our cotton, our wheat,
our petroleum, our beef and pork, which
can be produced more cheaply in the
United States than anywhere else, which
create the sterling exchange that enables
rs to carry on this One-sided trade
with Brazil. Now, if by the
failure of our cro-s, or very favorable
seasons on the other side of the Atlantic,
or, what is more probable, by retaliation
our exports Of these articles should mate
rally decline, what then wegld be the
condition OfOur Brazilian trade? Instead
of depending upon the exports to Europe
for the means to cover the balance IN IA
vOr of Brazil, ought not an effort be made
to eCUaliZe that trade by our manufac-
tured goods? Ought we not to endeavor
to verify the prediction of Golden by be-
coming competitor with Great Britain
in the Brazilian markets? Ought not this
manufacturers?
WHY REFERENCE Is MADE Te TRADE
WITH BRAZIL.
Reference is made to our trade with
Brazil because ii is much larger than that
with other South American States, but
our trade with all of them is of the same
One-slded and unsatisfactory character.
Ought il so to continue? The South Anne
rican States are our neighbOrs. With the
exception of Brazil, their institutions are
nodded UPON ours. They would be glad
to establish close trade relations with us,
which could not fail to be of mutual adj
vantage; and yet so little intercourse
have we with them that supplies for our
ships-Of-war in South American ports
must be paid for in sterling exchange.
Drafts on Japan could be as easily negO-
tiated in their ports as drafts on the
Treasurer of the United States.
When the real condition of our foreign
trade and the character of the competition
in which we must sooner or later engage
are fully understood, it will be found that
our inability to make that trade as free as
our best interests require lies in the
necessity which exists Tor heavy import
duties, which, although they may be
levied for revenue only, must be in large
degree protective.
1t is upon such taxes, therefore, that
our government must mainly rely for its
large current expenditures and The reduc-
ton of the national debt. Large revenues
will be derived from the taxes upon
whisky and tobacco, if the tax on the
latter article should be retained, but our
chief revenue must be derived from i'm
port duties. To show how these duties
may be imposed and distributed as to
neither imperil our manufactures nor
Obstruct our foreign trade, while the
Treasury is kept in an easy condition,
will be the task of the commission. That
the task will be very difficult one is GER
tain; that il may be successfully per-
formed ought to be certain also.
In competition with Great Britain in
South American markets. Great Britain
will have the advantage by being already
in possession Of the trade, but this advan-
tage will doubtless be counterbalanced
by the abundance and comparative cheap
ness of our agricultural productions.
Tha5 we are to be a competitor with
Great Britain in foreign markets, espe-
cially in the markets of the South Amer
lean States, is as certain as anything in
the future can be. The steps which may
be needfulito make this competition sue
cessful it will be for Congress to
determine after the commission has per-
formed its duty. To me it seems certain
that it cannot properly be done before. A
nation with 100000 of people, doubling
every twenty-five years, a people distin-
guished for enterprise and inventive pow.
er, in possession of a country of vast eX-
tent ana rich beyond comparison in de-
YelOped and undevelOped resources, ought
not much longer to be prevented from
having a full share IN the honor and the
gain of international trade.
In the commemorate of its WORK the
q Il s,,lr .rl Aho
following points as being settled:
First. That the public revenues are not
to be in excess Of what may be required
for the support of the government, and the
gradual reduction of the public debt.
Second. That our manufactures, which
under the fostering care of the government
have attained such gigantic proportions
and whose prosperity is essential to the
welfare of all other interests, are not to
be put in jeopardy by radical and sweep
ing changes in the tariff; and that all
reductions of import duties should be
made with a view to their ultimate adj
vantage by opening to them markets from
which they are now in a large degree eX-
cluded.
As to the persons who should consti-
tute the commission there Will be various
opinions. 1t might be composed of per-
sons who have no connection with the
government, or of Senators and members
of the House, bat / strongly incline to
the opinion that it should be composed of
members of the House only, because, in
the investigation of the subject Of our
foreign trade, questions affecting the pub
lie revenues will necessarily be involved,
and that members should be selected
from those who have been reelected to
the 49th Congress, in order that its work
may be explained and defended by those
who have performed it.
If such a commission as has been sug-
gested had been appointed, and its work
could be performed at an early date, l
should not be disposed to say anything
bearing directly upon the tariff; but as re-
lief from the present burden of taxation is
urgently and Justly demanded, / deem it
my duty to suggest that something in this
direction should be done without delay.
Owing to the shOrtness of the time allowed
to me for the consideration of the subject,
am not prepared to name the articles
upon which duties should be removed or
reduced. This much, however, it may be
proper for me to recommend:
1. That the existing duties upon raw
materials which are to be used in manu-
facture should be removed. This can be
done in the interest of our foreign trade.
>. That the duties upon the articles
least able to bear the burden of taxation
should be reduced. This also can be
effected without prejudice to our export
trade.
The tax upon whisky could not be re-
pealed without disregard of public senti-
ment, nor without creating a necessity
for higher duties upon imported goods.
EXPORTS,
The value of exports from the United
States to foreign countries, during the
year ended June so, 1884, was as follows:
Domestic merchandise ............ 1924, 1854, $50
Foreign merchandise ............ I5,54S,75
Total merchandise. ....-..-...-. $T4O, 5l3,699
Specie OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. &C.. 81, l33.3S3
Total exports of merchandise and
specie .-..-----.---. .---.-.-----. soUfs O4o,95z
During the last fiscal year the value of
our exports of cotton and manufactures
of cotton was $2OS, 900, 415; of breadstuffs,
S162, 544, us; of provisions, $114, 416, 547;
and of mineral oils, $47, 103, 24S. These
commodities and classes of commodities
constituted nearly "a per cent. of our en-
tire exports of merchandise.
The value of our exports of products Of
agriculture, of manufacture, of mining.
of the forest, of the fisheries, and of gold
and silver coin and bullion during the
years ended June 80, 1888 and 1884, were
as follows:
Year ended June 80,
Products of agricul-