St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-02
THE THREE AMERICAS.


the congress of the Three Americas as
sembles. The Central and South Amer
lean states have sent able, practical and
distinguished men to represent them in
this congress, while the delegates from
the United States are likewise Well-in-
formed and practical men. The delega-
ton from this country consists of JOHN
B. HENDERSON, of Missouri; CORNE-
LIUs BLISS and CHARLES r. FLINT, of
New York; CLEMENT STUDEBAKER, of
Indiana; ANDREW CARNEGIE, of Penn
sylvania; T. j. COOLIDGE, of Massachu-
sets; HENRY G. DAVIS, of West Vir-
ginia; JOHN F. HANSON, of Georgia; W.
H. TREsCoTr, of South Carolina; and
NJ. NJ. EsTEE. of California -four Demo-
Gratis and six Republicans.
Mr.. BLAINE claims the credit of hay
ing originated this convention during
his first administration of the state de-
partment, but his term was cut short by
the death of GARFIELD before he had
the opportunity of putting his ideas into
execution. To Mr.. BAYARD belongs
the credit of having pressed the matter
upon the attention of congress and hav-
ing really pushed the scheme to a sue
cessful issue. 1t was Mr.. BLAINE'S
good fortune to return to the head of
the state department as Mr.. BAYARD'S
successor, and he is now in position to
reap whatever hOnOrs may be realized.
The prime object of this convention is
to establish closer commercial relations
between the various nations of this hem
isphere, and to restore to the United
States at least just proportion of the
trade with the South and Central Amer
lean states. Last year the nations south
of the United States imported mer-
chandise to the value of S450.000 900;
yet only 10 per cent of it came from this
country. Notwithstanding we are
heavy purchasers of sugar from the
West Indies, and of coffee and hides
from South America, SO per cent of the
trade of those countries is ell
joyed by France, England and Ger
many. There is too great dis
parity between our exports and our
imports, and it is mainly to correct this
abnormal state of trade that this con-
gress has been convened. More sensi-
BILE conditions must be established in
order that the elements of trade may be
equaIiZed. Central and South America
need the manufactures and the cereals
which we have in abundance, and we
can provide a convenient and profitable
market for the raw materials which
they have to sell; so that surely an eX-
change can be accomplished in man
ner and t. an extent which will prove
highly advantageous TO all the Ameri-
can countries. America has been
mich COW for Europe long enough, and
the time has come to reverse this con-
dition.
Incidental to the establishment of
closer commercial relations must come
stronger political union of the Three
Americas. While this is a secondary
object of the congress which assemblies
to-day, it is no less important to Ameri
can interests, and particularly to the
interests of the United States. The
destinies of the countries to the south
of us are linked with our own, and in
the fullncSs of time there must be
Joining of these destinies into one.
Giant events are awaiting the ripe ming
process of a few eventful years. The
greatest acts in the drama of Ameri-
can development are yet to come,
and if our delegates perform their
duties wisely, the congress which as
sembles in Washington to-day will play
a conspicuous part In that develop
ment. The interests OF all the countries
of this hemisphere are wrapped up in
the destiny of our institutions by the
great God whose hands shaped the con-
tinepts of the South, and scooped out its
oceans, CULTS, and harborS. The great
law of self-defense and national secu T.
ity-a law of nations paramount to ali
other law5-calls imperatively for the
recognition of this fact by the repre-
sentatives of the Three Americas who
assemble together to-day.
1t is misfortune. however. that the
promotion of private interests was taken
too much into consideration by the
authorities at Washington. and there is
not likelihood that this splendid OBJ
portunity for unifying American in
terests will be improved as it
ought to be. The steamship sub
sidy people and the protectiOnists
seem to have control of the con-
gress, and will probably influence its
action in behalf of their particular in
terests, to the exclusion of higher and
more important matters. Still, there is
a hope that some good may even come
of this selfish manipulation of great
international affair, for it will be better
to have the tariff reformed by treaty
than not to be reformed at all. 1t is
absolutely certain that the South and
| Central American states will never
agree to be handicapped by an iron-clad
tariff such as we have; and in order to
gain concessions from them in other
matters, our delegates may be willing to
make some concessions on the tariff.
At all eYents,w shall hope for the best.