Morning journal and courier., 1885-07-07
COmmUNICATIONS.

South and Central American Trade To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 My former communications on South and Central American trade and commerce ap- peared, with few exceptions, in your journal many years since. Those articles were based on facts obtained by personal observations made during years of residence and travel in those rich and interesting countries, occupy ing the same continent with ourselves, geo. graphically our neighbors. They are not heather, or barbarians, but understand and appreciate the value of culture and education to develop the principles that underlie and establish permanent and wise governments for the people. Perhaps such class, if not as highly cultured and educated as the higher classes of old Europe, may yet be bet ter fitted to lay the foundations of new nation alities that have for their aim and purpose national and individual freedom for all. Let us hope these living principles planted on this continent may ever prevail and prosper.
 Under the date of my last articles to your paper advocating more intimate business re- lations with our South American neighbors, we had advantages we now have not We then could with labor-saving machinery man ufacture and compete successfully with Flu ropean cheap hand labor in all the markets of the world At that time I urged immediate action Gas far as the South Americans were concerned) to secure this (to us) very impor- GAlG UfdOo DclOfe (quick to discover anything that interferes with their. interests) could adopt ours, or their own machinery, and with their cheap labor to handle this machinery again under bid us in the marts of the world. This they have done, wisely and quickly accomplished. We. so energetic in all the marts of foreign trade, let this important advantage slip from our hands, impairing what little trade we have in the South Americas, so important to in this time of manufacturing depression. Had the energy and enterprise marking our action to obtain commercial advantages in Asia and Europe been displayed to secure the traffic of our neighbors of the South Americas, would our languishing factories be idle? I think not The neglect of this trade is 8 standing loss to us and great gain to Europe.
 The magnitude of European commerce with the South Americas is evidenced in the large number of mail steamship lines in suc- cessful business for many years past. All first-class, with frst-class apartments, trav ersing east and west coasts, also to all the important West India islands. We have the advantage of cheap rates of freights and insurance if carried out in our or any traffic we may have with those coun- tries. With the exception of mail and ex press matter cargoes could be transported by clipper built ships, having steam on board to handle freights in ports, also adapted for propulsion at sea in calm or head winds. The navigation in South American waters is much less difficult than in North American or European waters. Such vessels could sue cessfully meet the requirements of com me ce between North and South America in time, saving of insurance and good condition of cargo, important saving in freight charges over steamer charges. European transportation to and from South America must be in steamers. They must traverse the northern Atlantic with it's storms and dangers, ever present to steamers and sailing vessels as well, from which we, from geo graphical position, are exempt in our south ern and South American transportation, with the exception of the West Indies at certain seasons.
 I am not disposed to pass judgment on the commission sent to obtain information and commercial statistics of these countries until I read their official report to Congress. Will they report on the abilities and efficiency of our diplomatic and consular officials who have gone there to represent or tnisrepresent US The latter, with few ex- cepti6ns, has been the rule Had we in Chili and Pert ab1e diplomats sttstaitsd by 6tt government, w6Hld Pett ha76 been in P6fstisfits,att .r, md no st8tti 9f her 6Hf Heti6ti Wis unworthy 6t t Rteat ii8ti9t atia disstaeetHi t8 6tit aiPf9thA ~. WheH stit e6tHtfy takss het b6siti6R atnBns ttfs Hatt8ts 8f tts eSrtfHshts St tight bei9nettf6 t8 HeFl atla Ws, tie Be9Bfe, hays estabfished th8se s8eiat, P9z Htieat and commercial Feiati9ns tbat sh9nta exist betWeeA e9Hntriss geographically sit grsssiYe prosperity Hpknown an9ng nations pr peoples. Beeause t is vigorous growth qt new countries and young populations adapted by their antecedents and surround ings to rapidly develop their heritage;
 IT Tulxy