New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-06

fruits fish vegetables seeds hides, furs, wagons,
carriages lard, ores. lumber, pitch. ice, OIL; rec
flax sugar and tobacco. This plan, whcther
with longer or shorter list, proposes an agree
ment of all members of the customs UNION u
classify and rate a certain er OF artlceS
and to subject them TO uniform lnlpOSl p"S'"
mainly on weight asked Mr.. Sears whether MS
eight years of experience as a merchant IN rara
justified him in REGARDING this plan taVorahN as
one that would be calculated to promote the IN
teTests o1 American ,om'icI,c: ny EP"t"
promptly that he considered 1t lmpTactlcabe TO
bring about such an international agreement, ana
even if il could be done, the United STATES Wouu
Gain nothing by it, but only he embarrassed by
committing itself to such scheme what we
want TO do he remarked, is TO hold on To- our
tariff system as il is. American trade WITH South
America has made progress during the last elSh'
wears and we shall gain nothing by making CON
cessons of this nature and hampelln9 ourselves
with a customs union.
This is the Judgment of an American mcr-
chant who is convcrSant with all the con'N IONS
of trade in the Amazon Valley, that mgh'N
waterway with 40 600 miles of naNlgaDle wafer
Tarif-tinkering, either by an INTERNATIONAL con
gress or by American fTce-tradcrs. Will not pro-
mote the development Of trade with bIaZH nor
build up the commercial marine. 40 Ions as an
imports and exports are heavily taxed there re-
ciprocity is all on one side and concessions are
made without an equivalent IN KIND Anieflcdf
commerce with Brazil is now showing Signs Oh
improvement under the tarn as 1t is; ana us
interests lie Systematically promoted WI'hone
revision of the few customs schedules III 'ilc
United States hearing upon IT, go
some of these phases of the subject will he
considered in subsequent letters; but since | nave
quoted Mr.. Searss comments upon customs union
/ cannot fOrbcar adding another OF MS remarks
"What will he most helpful 10 American com
merce? ?" had asked The international i\hlni-
ton in 1892, if held in New-lork," WIS ms
reply. Then he went on 10 explain at lchglh
that the Portuguese merchants of Brazil were
invariably attracted by worlds fairs. This year
they went to Paris in large numbers, ana re-
turned delighted with what they had SEEM ana
predsposcd TO 90 10 the next exhibition ana re-
peat their experiences. They all know where
New-lork is. but comparatively Few OF 'nrm
have been there. In 1892 if they have the
money to spare and business is good they VIII
go to New-Iork They are not preJudlced against
them The Exhibition. by attracting these mcr-
chants from Brazil will do wonders for American
trade. 1t will show them what is made IN our
country, and how cheap everything IS men
they return they will I've more ready TO look al
American samples and To order American goods.
Then Mr.. Sears went to illustrate from his
own, experience the facility WIN winch trade
Fan be promoted If pains arc taken TO make known
the merits of the wares. The calico that Is sold
throughout the Amazon Valley is Of the cheapest
and poorest grades. Many of the Portuguese mcr-
chants inscriptions, and bent upon taking
advantage of the natives whenever they can.
They have prevailed upon German manufacturers
to produce for the South American trade calico
of narrower width than the ordinary prints.
These pieces they buy al IS inches anu sell
for a. inches. The calico is. moreover, inferior
TO anything that is manufactured in America,
and consequently is very cheap, and II enables
them to make a good profit Mr.. Sears, finding
that American goods were thrown aside as 100
expensive. obtained samples Of both kinds and
proved the inferiority of the German goods by
having them washed The merchants 10 whom
he showed the samples were greatly impressed
by the result The colors of the German goods
together and blurred. while the American
samples were not affected by water. In Con>c-
quence Of this practical demonstration of the
superiority Of the American goods he began To
introduce them. and the trade has increased
year by year until good many are now
sent out by every steamer This incilc illus
trates what will hc done a large scale by a
Worlds Fair at Newly Industries manu-
features, and lines Of merchandise. with which
the Brazilian and South American merchants are
now unfamiliar. will be brought conspicuonsiv
under their notice, and they will return to their
homes impressed with the superior advantages
OF the American market | convinced that
Mr.. Sears does not ovcrstatc the when lc
asserts that the Worlds Fair will offer the
largest and most effective opportunity for in
creasing American trade with Brazil and all the
southern countries But in order 10 attract
the merchants it must he held in NewYorli. a
port which they readily reach by steamer
The great majority of them do not know where
. chicago is. and the neccsstv for IN inland
journey Of a thousand miles will deter Thorn from
visiting America INF