The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-08
STEWART STARTED IT.
The Texas Congressman Blazed the
Way for Blaine's Plan of
Reciprocity.
He Saw That the Balance of South
American Trade Was
Against Us.
The Whole situation Told in His Report
From the Committee ON For
eign Affairs.


is faultless, and he wears black silk watch
guard. He is not socially inclined, nor has
he a convivial disposition. He seems retir-
ing and reserved. You never hear him tell
ing stories or retailing "reminiscences. He
listens with apparent interest to discussions
in the house, but rarely rises unless neces-
sary to. elucidate proposition befogged in
debate. When he does speak he commands
attention. The friends of this usually
quiet man esteem him for his real worth.
He is Charles Stewart, of Houston, Tex.
This is his eighth year in the house. He
was born in Memphis, Tenn, and has lived
in Texas since the year in which James K.
Polk was elected president.
In the interest manifested in James G.
Blaine's proposition fer commercial recip-
rocity with the Central and South American
republics, Charles Stewart is overlooked.
Yet he may be said to be the pioneer in that
movement. Secretary Blaine has only am
plifed his views and given them fresh
color. Attention is concentrated upon
cal moment in the history of his party.
They would never have attracted so much
attention, were it not that the Mckinley
tariff bill is before congress-. The secretary
has ambuscaded that bill with his North
American reciprocity negotiations. He
boldly takes issue with the republican ma
jority in the house, and is endeavoring to
make it appear that reciprocity is the
strongest kind Of protection. His actions
look like an effort to thwart the plans of
his great rival in Maine, both men being
prominent candidates for the presidential
succession.
However this may be, certain it is that
Charles Stewart blazed the way for Blaine.
1t was done during Mr.. Stewards first term
| in congress. He was member Of the COM
| mittee on foreign affairs. Roaring jim
Belford, of Colorado, had introduced 'a
bill to authorize the appointment of spe-
cial commissioner for promoting CONNER
cial intercourse with such countries of Gen.
tral America as may be found to possess the
most natural and available facilities for
railway INSTRUMENTATION with each
other and the United States" Congress-
another bill entitled "a bill for the encour-
agement of closer commercial relationship,
and in the interest of, and the perpetuatiOn
of, peace between the United States and the
republics of Mexico, Central and South
America and the empire Of BRAZIL
on foreign affairs. Charles Stewart was
chairman of the subcommittee charged
with their consideration. He reported q
substitute for the two bills and was author
lied by the committee to report it to the
house. This substitute was adopted. 1t
sioners, who were afterward sent to South
America by President Arthur to obtain
such information as would aid in the es-
tablishment of closer commercial relation
ship with our sister republics.
In making his report Charles Stewart
of trade was much against us in Central
and South America. The total amount of
our last annual imports fSom these coun-
tries was So, 1857 GEO. Our exports to these
countries for the same year aggregated in
value SIS, ,4So,O 600. This showed balance of
stewart sesnss $ads tabasl
showing that the total value of
the foreign commerce of these ma
tions, including Mexico. with
all the world each year was $752. .918, COO.
The total commerce with the United States
ports of our sister republics was $413, ,094 600
The United States received only $93, BIS. 600
of there exports, and England got nearly
all the rest, The sister republics imported
$338, ,824, 600 worth of foreign goods. Only
$48. 1863, 600 worth came from the United
States.
In his report the Judge asserted that there
ought to be no balance of trade against US
in our commerce with these republics. He
earnestly recommended the adoption of
some policy that would lead to commercial
reciprocity. He pointed to the fact that
for the year ending June 80, 1888 there was
amounting to $7,02l 900. He laid it to our
railroad communications with that country,
and to the liberal and progressive spirit
actuating the Mexican government in en-
couraging American Investments. Like
results, he urged, could be obtained in the
states of Central and South America BY
similar process.
There was no insuperable obstacle to
building railroad from the United States
to the Argentine Republic. He said that it
would meet with but few natural obstacles
in the way of its construction. The dis
tance would not exceed $500 miles. It
could be shortened to 5000 by beginning
construction at the City of Mexico, where
it might connect with the railroads already
built
Stewart alluded to other means and facil-
tiles whereby reciprocal commercial rela-
tions between these republics and this
country could be promoted. While there
was no direct suggestion of the establish
ment of free trade between these republics
and the United States. the report fore
Great Britain had control of more re- than han half half
of the foreign trade with these countries.
while the United States had less than one
fifth of it. 1t did not, however.
60 SO far as to say that with the
balance of trade 60 heavily against us
our sister republics could not get what
we owed them except through British
brokers. Nor did he say that this was due
to Great Britain's policy of free trade. He
did not argue that If all the other nations
in the world pursued protective policy,
payment for their exports must necessarily
pass through the hands of free-trade
nation.
This abridgement and analysis of Charles
Stewards report shows that Secretary
Blaine's proposition is not new. Ii was
from . modest committee to Q modest