Huntsville gazette., 1886-02-27
SENATOR FRYE'S BILL.

and Financial Questions, and the Best
Means of Presenting a United Resista nee
to Encroachments of European Power.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-Senator Frye
will introduce in the Senate tomorrow a
bill proposing to call congress of dele
gates from the Republics of Central and
South America including Mexico and San
I Duninsu, 10 meet IN washington in Uc-
tober, 1885, with delegates from the
United States to consider and decide upon
commercial and financial questions of
mutual interests and for the common vel.
fare of the American people. The princi-
pal provisions of the proposed bill pro-
yides that the President in forwarding the
invitations shall set forth that the con-
gress is called to consider, first, meas
ures that shall tend to preserve the peace
and promote the prosperity of the Amer-
can nations, and to present a united re-
sistance against the encroachments of
European monarchial power, and to pre-
serve the integrity and present territorial
condition of each against forci-
able dismemberment; second, meas
ureS looking toward the
formation of an American customs union
under which the trade of the American
nations shall, so far as Is practicable and
profitable, be confined to American
waters; third-the establishment of di-
rect, regular and frequent lines of steam
ship communication between the ports of
the American continent; fourth-the eS-
tablishment of uniform system of Gus
toms regulations in each of the independ-
ent American States to govern
the expectation and importation of
merchandise; fifth-the adoption of a
common silver coin, issued by each gov
ernment in such amounts as shall be pro-
portionate to the population of each, the
same to be legal tender in commercial
transactions between citizens of all the
American nations.
The bill also proposes that the dele
gates attending the congress shall be
guests of the Government, and appro-
PIRATES 100000 to entertain them 1t
provides for the appointment by the
President of twenty-foar delegates, Sc
lected equally from the two political par
ties. to represent the home Government
in the congress, who are to serve without
compensation other than their actual ex-
penseS.
In an interview yesterday Senator Frye
said that the object of this bill, as shown
in its several sections, was to bring the
nations of the American hemisphere into
closer political and commercial relations;
that while he did not advocate any poiiti-
cal compact which might involve the
United States in complications with our
sister Republics; he Believed that con.
vention could be entered into under which
the good offices of this Government could
be exercised so as to preserve the peace
and encourage the development of ma
tions that have been formed upon the
model of our own, and are striving to
initiate US in the features of our National
greatness.
"If," said the Senator, "twenty or more
of the leading men of the Spanish-Ameri-
can States could be brought to the United
States as the guests of this government
and made familiar with the advanced
civilization of this country; with our in
dustrial development, political and edu-
cational progress and the economical con-
dition of our people, it would be to their
advantage and ours. One great obstacle
to the extension of our trade among the
Spanish-American nations is their ignor-
ance of us and our ignorance of them,
and believe an increased
commerce would naturally follow more
intimate acquaintance. Commercial in
timacy is a natural and necessary result
of those friendly relations, and the ex-
tension of our markets upon this hemi-
sphere is the most important problem
which now confronts the American peo-
ple''
In reference to the common silver coin,
he said: eve are now paying from sew
enty-fve to one hundred millions of gold,
as balance of trade to countries that
have no coin but silver in circulation.
They do not want the gold, and it simply
passes through their hands into the pock-
cts of English and German tradesmen.
AS matter of fact, although this gold
is given in payment for merchandise
purchased in South America, it
does not go there at all, but is shipped
from New York to London. 1 am con-
tident that treaty could be made with
each of the Central and South American
nations under which this balance could he
paid in silver. The value of the products
of our mines would thus be increased and
perplexing question settled.
''Only three of the great South Ameri-
can nations are producing silver in any
quantity, and every one who has been to
those countries and to the West Indies
know that these are the hospital in which
all of our mutilated coin finds refuge"
~ am" continued the Senator, 'In
favor of customs union-an American
Zollverein, if you please - reciprocal
concessions by each of the American
nations We now admit free OF duty
nearly all of the products OF Central
and South America, while high duty
is levied upon all Of our products that
go down there. l am quite sure
we could get some valuable con-
cessions by asking for them,
the report of the South American COM
mission proves this. But beyond every
thing else in Importance is the establish
ment of direct and regular steamship com
munication between New York, New W
leans, San Franciso and other ports o.
this country and the rest OF the henl-
sphere. Upon that everything fesls.
We can not expect to nave any
trade with countries we nave no
means of reaching, and as long
their lines of communication are.aiiiioss
entirely in the hands of foreigners, We
may expect thae those who controi .hes,