San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-15
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY, IS, 1888.
SOMEWHAT ENCOURAGING.


While England and Germany are
making inrosds upon our South Ameri-
can trade, 1t is gratifying to know that
this country Is making reprisals In some
directions and recovering ground prop
erly her own which has been largely
lost to her until very recent period. 1t
has not escaped the attention Of Eng
land that her island colony just of the
southeast coast of Florida has been
growing away from the mother country
altogether too rapidly to be agreeable.
or late more particular enquiry has
been instituted and England seems
amazed to find that these islands, the
Bahamas, have been rapidly American
lied and are today far more American
than English. The parent country is
making great efforts to recover her lost
ground In these islands, as they would
be very convenient and necessary as
coaling and refitting stations in case Of
trouble with any OF the American re-
publics, United States, Mexico or Cen
trail America. Judging from the re-
ports made by United States consul at
Nassau, T. J. Nolan, Jr.. the pros
poets are not very favorable for the &C.
complishment Of the object upon which
Great Britain has set her heart, viz: The
recovery Of the trade OF those islands.
Mr.. McLain says:
American goods have gained strong
foothold In the colony, the merchants
and their customers having become &C.
quainted with them and having found
them more suitable than English goods
OF similar kinds. Our prints. denIms,
drills, woolens and cottOns are popular
on account OF their fine qualities and
eheapness, being better tinisbed and
more stylish than the English fabrics.
For American hardware, tools, rope,
paints, canvas, ETC., the demand Ia
steady and growing. Our -four, corn
meal, bominy, potatoes, sailed meats,
petroleum, lumber, canned goods, etc,
monopolize the market altogether. 1t
will be difficult for the mother country,
with all her steamships, accommods.
lions, to win back this trade. Add to all
this the proximity Of the New York
market to the Bahamas, and the greater
fact that the United States consumes
nearly everything exported from the
Bahamas, and ii will be at once appar-
ent that 1t will cost England three dol
lars for every dollars worth OF trade
which she will take from u.s."
What is true Of the trade OF the Bahia
mas is very largely true OF the trade OF
the central and southern American re-
publlos. The trade OF these countries
naturally belongs to the United States
and would fall to US without question II
commercial energy was directed to that
quarter rather than to remote sections
with less remunerstiye trade. The feel
ing Of affinity grows with commercial
relations, and trade exchanges properly
established between this republic and
those lying to the south the whole net
work Of American republics would be
cemented together in one commercial
union that would greatly strengthen the
bonds ofpolltical affinity between them.
The advantages OF this trade have often
been pointed out, and the sooner this
country takes active steps to secure
this trade and put her commodities upon
that market, the better will 1t be for our
trade, and the more will 1t strengthen
the hands Of the republioanism OF these
weaker countries. Out OF this In time
would no doubt grow general alliance
among the republics Of the new world
which would forever settle this question
OF monsrchical influence by destroying
the very possibility Of monsrchical In
reference with any of the countries rep
resented In the great union OF American
republics.