The Washington critic., 1888-04-07
WASHINGTON, APRIL I, 1883.
rME 1NrEnNATIONAL CoNGREss.

THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS.
In commercial and industrial
point of view the International Con-
gress to be held in Washington next
spring viii be the great event of the
Centennial year, as it will be of the
century.
Though not in itself part of the
anniversary celebration, but havinga
distinctive purpose of its own, the
time for the meeting of the Congress
will be so nearly contemporaneou
with that of the Centennial that it
viii practically form one of the
features, and very notable feature,
Of that illustrious occasion.
Its members will be the guests of
the Republic, and join with all our
other guests in commemorating the
growth and success of republican
principles in the New World.
Not all of the readers of TnE
CWfIc, perhaps, are aware of the
magnitude of the interests which this
gathering will represent.
We have heretofore called attention
TO the fact that the blessings Of free
government, first constitutionally Sc
cured TO the United States in 17SD
when our population was less than
100000, are now enjoyed by over
one hundred and ten millions. So
much for the people to be represented
here.
II is true that not all of these have
reached an advanced stage of enlight-
cnment, but what civil liberty has
done for our country, it assure sooner
or later to do for all whose govern
ments rest on the same foundation.
II is also true that many of our sister
Republics are behind the United
States in material development, but
they have immense and varied re-
sources, incalculable elements ofpros.
perity and foreign trade relations that
in ndue time will bring them well to
the front in wealth and power.
IL is with difficulty that trade Stats
tics, carefully estimated and brought
up 10 current fiscal dates, can be oh.
tanned from all of the Central anl
Sontb American States, but it appears
from the most authoritative and re.
cent sources that while their total ex.
ports Of merchandise, not including
gold and silver, approximate very
nearly to $500,000,000 year, theil
total imports, leaving the West India
Islands, excepting Hayti and San
Domingo, out of the enumeration, ag
gregate considerably over $400, 600, 600
IT is safe enough to say, therefore
that the International Congress oI
1889 will represent clearinghouse
transactions for the year of not less
than one thousand million dollars
Yet even these figures are but small
compared with the possibilities of thu
future, when enterprise shall have
4. opened new avenues Of wealth, en-
larged the facilities of exchange and
multiplied indefinitely the producing
power of the people.
But il further appears that Of tn,
annual import demand of the coun.
tries mentioned the United State
supplies only about l6 per cent; anC
Of their exports receive but 50 pc
cent. Europe gives and takes th'
rest.
Hence viii the questions comt
prominently before the proposed Con
rress, how to bring about greater re
eiprocity of commerce between peo
pies OF the same continent and samt
political kinship; how to best utiliz,
their resources for their mutual ad
vantage, and how to reconstruct tn,
channels of trade in more natural ant
neighborly directions.
in view of the facts and figures pre-
scented, il is impossible to over-esti
mate the importance of these ques
tons, or the value of their discussio,
from AN international standpoint.
The House passed the bill March
and the Senate passed it March p
with AN amendment fixing the tim
Of meeting lin or near the month 0
April" and adding Hayti and Sal
Domingo 10 the list. 1t is now il
conference.
IL provides, among other things, TO
devising some plan of arbitration TO
The settlement of international dis
pRtes.
There is no better way to make sur
and Sasting the bonds of peace tina
10 make lasting and sure the bonds O
trade.
With an interchange Of manufaC
tures and products goes an inter
change of IDEAS.
Upset the barriers TO commerce an
nations which are neighbors on tn
map will become neighbOrs in fact.
Adopt common system of eX
changes, customs union or whateve
you please TO call il, and the NeN
World becomes, 10 all iistents and pun
poses, one people, eclipsing all othe
continents in riches and resources, a
in the grander reali2ations Of liberty
c0nstitutionally fortified.
II is 10 inaugurate this new fra
teinal era that the conference is TO b,
called, and the best minds of tn,
Three Americas will be here 10 hell
on and consummate the work.
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