Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-12-13

4 xhRyTR CommsssSos.
n eomu.usins opon ne trads rsls
tkoas IL he Unitsd stAtss with sousn
$780, eountriss The Secretary q the
Treasury publishes some imporsans
seurs Last year The peopls Of shs
Unit.d STATES sold 70 Brazil various azsa-
clss anaountina 10 vaIss % $50 'bL'
D,rine The same period ws purchased
81 thai country raw and manufactured
produoss 10 the vssue Of 49, -.
Thu The balance Of srads sessns1 ns
80 ell690,628. II our trade had osen
dirsos with tbss counsry this vocld bsve
taken from ~ The last named sam o.
mousy and plaosd u in the pockets o
BrasiIIau subjects. Batshese pafona1s
vers nos paid for b. drafts upos oof
.r,eeznrv or banks. They wers paid ~
sterlIne exchange; b. drafts on The bank
e. roeland. We ssns 70 England oar
.tsulss, cotton, wheat, pork, petroisnm'
bsef. 10, and With the proceeds par.
ehassd Brazilian products. EneIand
cert her sfactursd srficlss 20 Brazil
thereby making that country her debtor.
and lar accouns was paid By sales o.
he products Of Brazil 70 the Unissd
states. In other words, business De-
.vssu the United States and Brazil was
transacted ~ way Of England instead
~ dirscsIv a. ought 10 be she case. 70
oland owed Ne for staples, Bfszil owed
Encland for manufactured articles, and
ths Uuitsd states owed Brazil. We paid
car debt 70 Brazil b. ssndioR cotton,
uork. ETC., 70 her creditor, England.
This syssem works passably well when.
a. vas the case last year. crops were
short il Europe and there vss eood
market for our surplus products. II re-
SORT OF barter arrangement, under which
everything moves smoothly for the
United States 10 long - the saies Of
her staple products equal the balance
against her in the South American
trade. Bat, ~ the Secretary suggests
III By the failure Of our crops. or very
favorable seasons on the other side OF
the Atlantic, or, what Ii more probable,
By rstalistion, our exports Of these arti-
olss should materially decline" the con-
dition wsuid become extremely unsafis-
factory. Instead Of paying Brazil, OF
other South American countries with
ali Of whom cur trade Is In the same
one-sided and therefore Improbable
ststs--by exchange on Earope, We would
BE- compelled 10 pay In csin.
Tbs solution Of the difficulty and the
measure Of protection within our grasp
are apparent. England makes Brazil her
debtor By selling to that nation the
produsts Of Eupiish looms and mann
factories. The United States must do
likewise. Under the system of protsc-
ton enjoyed BY the manufacturers OF
this country for 80 many years they
have become able TO compete With En-
gland 10 the majority Of manufactured
products seeded and imported By the
various South American countries.
There Is no good reason, outside OF the
heavy import duties nov established,
Why this United States should NOT sell 10
the sosth American States yearly manu-
featured articles nearly equal In value 10
the amonut Of imports from thoss coun-
tries. Il Is az certain rs fate that in the
near future We shall become competitors
with fsrsat Britain In South American
markets. To do this successfully, duties
on the articles imported from those
countries must be placed at the lowest
possible rate, which viii, by afordine
adequate revenue 10 our Government,
protect saoh home industries rs are yet
In need Of assistance. Much may be
gained by means Of reciprocity trea-
ties. but, AZ the Secretary remarks, such
agreements are always restricted and
partial.
The question Of revision OF the
tariff, In view Of the fast Increasing
Importance Of the South American
trade, has assumed first rank among
those vital TO our future prosperity and
progress 40 q nation. The Secretary
strongly urges the appointment Of an
ether commission for this purpose, and
gives ooQent reasons for such action.
The United States has become one Of the
foremost among manufacturing nations,
A market, moro extensive than that af-
forded at home, h needed for the pro
ducts Of her varied manufactures.
There IL today plethora Of manufac-
sured goods in this country. The o..
pacity for manufacture Is far beyond
the present or probable future demand
for homo consumption. The sole re.
course lie 10 extend our foreign trade; 10
increase our exports Of manufactured
goods, and at The same time not iniurs
manufacturers, impair the value of theii
investments. nor reduce the wages Of
the artisans employed In the production
Of their wares. 10 do this viii require
wise legislation. A careful and iuselli
GENT adjustment of Customs duties cas
only be obtained By thorouRh study .
all phases Of the situation. A properl,
constituted commission may be able h
solve The problem satisfactorily. Neithe
congreas, a. body. nor lie Commissc'
Of Ways and Means hss time 10 spsr
10 making such Investigation.
TRY no M pscEsr.