Wichita eagle., 1889-09-24
THE COMING AMERICAN CONGRESS.

ALL OOM1NG AMGRlCAN OONGhGOSs
All the New York papers are devoting
more or less of their space to the subject
of the forthcoming American Congress.
1t was in the last congress that the law
was passed inviting the republic of Mex
leo. of all Central and South America, and
circumference with our own government,
and with each other. The conference
will soon assemble at Washington, and
the question arise: '.What are its OBJ
jects?" The original idea of the assem-
blage Of Pan-American conference is
probably due to Mr.. Blaine, who pro-
pounded a scheme for such congress
during his tenure of office under Presi-
dent Garfield, and a kind of rowing COM
mission was sent out by President Arthur
to examine the ground. But the law
under which the conference actually as
sembles was passed by the last congress
or President Cleveland. According to
the terms of this law the eighteen Span
ish speaking governments are to be rep
resented by as many delegates as each
government may depute, but there is to
be no more than one vote to each state.
AS the same rule will bind the United
States, we shall possess only one vote out
of nineteen. Still, beyond question, our
delegates, as representatives of the most
powerful and wealthy country, will have
moral weight that can not be estimated
by their mere voting mower
One Of the objects named in the bill
constituting the commission is the Sc
curing for each government more ex-
tended markets for its produce. At
present, as is well known, the bulk of
the trade with the west coast, with the
Argentine Republic and Brazil, is in the
hands of English merchants, who like
wise do very large business and hold
large interests in Mexico, Venezuela and
elsewhere 1t will then be the duty Of
our representatives to devise means by
which the United States can secure a
fair share of this trade, and be able to
enforce their views by argument on the
special delegates. These latter will be
urged to resist any change in the present
conditions Of trade by the influence Of
England and Germany, both of whom
are large exporters to the southern
peninsula, and both Of whom are large
holders of South American securities.
Everything in the way Of Central and
ton in London and in Hamburg, and it
cannot be expected that they will quietly
submit to see their hold on the Spanish
republics diminished. Our representa-
tives, therefore, must be prepared for all
the opposition that Europe can make.
1t is very unnatural state Of COM
merce to find the countries Of this CONT
nent in closer communication, financial
and commercial, with Europe than with
our own country, with its rapidly
increasing industries. We are nearer
to them, III every way, and some
day, perhaps, the Mexican railways may
find way to penetrate southwark and
link the south to the north by the rail
road. That will come. however, only in
the train of commerce. How then can
their commerce be fostered? The most
obvious plan seems to be that Of forming
an American zollverein after the plan of
the tariff compact between the states of
the German federation. The difficulty,
however, in this, is the difference in the
customs duties of the states that could
meet in conference. They are not likely
to adopt our tariff, nor are we likely to
adopt theirs. There must be some COM
promise, and inevitably there must be
some time fixed before any convention
looking towards a real Zollverein can
take effect. Still, however long may be
the period of time that must elapse be-
fore we gain the South American trade,
an attempt may well be made to secure
to us more than we at present enjoy.
Many commodities we could even now
supply as cheaply as any European
nation, andof some of their products we
are perhaps the chief consumers.
The conference will demand in those
assembled not only commercial and
financial experience, but a profound
knowledge of the most difficult branches
of political economy and great diplomatic
tact. We have no doubt President
Harrison will make good selection, and
that the result of the meeting will be
practical basis for enlarged commercial
relations with our fellow Americans of
the south