The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-07-18
THE ROAD TO TRADE AND
VEAL

Mexico, the purpose being to build up
the country and secure the trade that
is likely to be diverted TO the United
States. There is unquestionably some
basis for these reports, and yet the
United States is looking on with
seeming indifference. The trade of
Mexico naturally belong to us as
does the trade Of Central and South
America, and yet our apathy is per
hitting distant rivals to reach after
and grasp it.
To no people, however, is this south
ern trade of so much concern IS to the
merchants and citizens of our Gulf
and South Atlantic ports. The growth
of the interior towns Is robblng them
oftheir former inland trade, both re-
tai and wholesale; their glory and re-
nown are fading, and if they expect TO
hold their own, to preserve what they
have, to say nothing Of future increase
In wealth and population, they must
seek new markets and foreign trade.
These remarks apply 20 all our Toxas
coast cities, to New Orleans, Mobile,
Pensacola, Savannah, Charleston and
Wilmington. What they can do by
proper effort few figures viii show;
Our total imports from Mexico, Bra
I'll aud Central America last year
were some f5S,CO0,OOO in value. From
Mexico we bought IS, ,607; from Cen
trail America, SG,0OO,O0O, aud from Bra
I'll $H3j3l6l worth OF imports.
Nearly every dollars worth of this
merchandise should, in tho natural
order and convenience oil things,
como to Southern ports and by them
be distributed. But when we look at
tho figures of our exports VIC 400 how
grossly negleotful of our best intereSts
wo are. Our total exports against this
S5S,OOO,OO0 were only something over
Sl9,000,0O0 in value, distributed as fol-
lows: To Mexico, $S,732,S46; to Brazil,
$S,O47 $40, and to Central America but
$1,000 900, leaving balance Of trade in
favor of the countries named Of nearly
S40OO0,00O. Here are rich Southern
States, with splendid gulf ports lying
rig bit alongside Of countries whose
trade reaches into the tons OF millions,
and scarcely an effort being made TO
reach and control it.
Take Galveston for instance. Her
total imports during the period COW
cred by these figures wero only l,Ol3,-
$50. She ought to get $lO,OOO,OOO from
Mexico and Central America. Her ex-
ports were $ls,OOO,OO0, consisting al
most exclusively of cotton from
the interior and bound for Eu-
rope. And yet Galveston to-day
ought to sell to Mexico and farther
south from $lO,OOl,OOO to $l5,OOO,OOO
worth of goods. All our gulf ports
must develop q foreign trade with
Mexico, Central and North America
aud the West Indies or their days are
numbered. Those fields arc tho nat
ural and most convenient markets for
these ports, and unless action is prompt
and comprehensive tho rich commerce
OF tho South will DO monopolized by
Europeans. The foreign trade must
replace that which our ports once Gu
ioyod with the interior.
or course government aotion is re-
qulrod in tho premises. SO long as
tariffs and trade distractions exist the
soapOrts can do but little. Treaties and
commercial alliances must DO made,
and these alone can bo made by the
Federal Government. The MeXicans
and Central Americans are more than
anxious TO meet us half way, and il il
beyond credence that our Legislators
and large merchants exhibit 80 little
interest in the promises. There isn't
q gulf port but can put one or two
light sailing vessels on the gulf, di.
rect to Mexican and Central American
and West Indian ports, II the trade
relations and regulations between
this nation and those justified It.
And they would do IL aud build up 6
magnificent commerce and practically
monopolize the trade il the govern
meut would but do its part.
Every Southern port and Southern
community should momorialize the
president ana State Department TO on.
ter at once into commercial alliances
with the people named and so fore
stall British or European Efforts. AuC
when Congress meets in December
such pressure should DO brought upor
Southern representatives ~ would
ensure the ratification Of the treaties
and their immediate carrying into
effect, II can be done. Not TO act /,
most costly negligence, Not TO acquire
this trade is business stagnation aud
retrogression for tho next quarter of 8
century to all the coast cities, from
Brownsville to Wilmington, and to
mono more directly and ruinously than
to our Texas ports
o-e-----
STEPS TOWARD REVOLUTION.
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