National Republican., 1884-06-14
spnnish-hm,rlcnn Statistics.

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spBnish-Bmerican Statistics.
Absolute and exact facts concerning the
general condition of things in largo commu-
mites arc always difficult Of attainment !;
more especially so in those communities
where as yet but little attention has been
given TO tho great science and significance Of
numbers. Hence tho Importance of frequent
and correct censuscs and the still greater
Importance Of a proper presentation of such
statistical and tabular actualitlos as are now
usually exhibited in connection with tho most
perfect summations of the chief industries
and characteristics of republics, empires,
| k ingdoms, and other forms of statehood.
Among the many peaceful and progressive
developments of civilization, commerce is q
matter Of most expansive and almost univer-
sal interest. To this worldwide interest
railways, steamships, canals, tolographs, and
numerous other ingenious and powerful in
ventons of mankind have beon rendered un-
ceasingly and forever subservient. Com
merce itself, domestic and foreign, as now
carried on for the most part by steel roads
and tho sustainor of civilization. The reality
Of this fact is becoming more and more OBJ.
vious every day, and tho fact itself is con-
stantly acquiring great strength in both
fxedness and magnitude. This being so, it
is proper that the people of the United States
should ascertain, with rs precise accuracy as
possible, tho commercial and other material
capabilities, latent and developed of all the
nations of the earth, but more particularly Of
every neighboring nation of the new world.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen, our present secretary
of state has displayed much commendabl @
energy and prudence, and strong purpose,
in this regard. His patriotic and admirable
action in this respect is especially definite
and conspicuous in the letter which he re.
! 1854, to Senator Miller, of California, chair
man of the United States senate committee
on foreign relations, in support of the con-
gressonal proposition to send to Spanish and
L OIbubuCbS lhIcO COLuulbslOutTo 10
promote more general and friendly CONNER
cial intercourse between those countries and
the United States. Ono of the many impor-
tant reasons, or rather a series of such reasons
why the proposed commission should be ap-
pointed at once may be found in an elaborate
and very interesting document of earlier
date from our able aud distinguished
premier. This document is entitled, "Tho
Commerce of the World and the Share of the
United States Therein" issued at the govern
ment printing Office, by direction of congress
and the secretary of state, and bears the
broad date Of 1885, though tho statistics pre-
sented in it are, in fact, for the most part, for
tho years 1850, 81, and 's2.
OF the fifteen distinotively Independent
spanish-American countries, namely Mex
leo, Guatemala Honduras, Salvador, Mica
rAgua, Costa Rica, Colombia Venezuela,
Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay,
the Argentine Republic, and Chilli, only
three (the three last mentioned) furnished
full and reliable figures exhibiting the true
conditions of material progress as regards
themselves respectively. Brazil the only
distinctively independent Portuguese Amori-
can country, is also sadly and provokngly
defective in matters numerical. Railway
communication, at no distant day, between
all these countries and the United States is
now contemplated with the fullest conf
dence, and when such communication shall
be we'll established, mutual and innumerable
advantages will doubtless soon afterward
result to every nation so connected.
Were it not for the seriousness Of the sub.
iect (for dry and simple facts affecting com.
merce are but seldom tinged with spirit oi
merriment), it would be almost amusing, in
perusing "The Commerce Of tho World and
tho Share of the United States Therein" tt
seas, for example, may be plainly seen OIL
pages Ga, II, 76, rs, 20, So, so, 90, Id, 1l6
and 11s-how frankly and frequently secre
tary Frelinghuysen bewails the stubborn
absence of tho facts which he has manifested
such an active and honorable desire tC
f present,