New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-05
SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE.

During the last Jew O3yS inc Opuuons VI
Republican Senators on the sugar duties and
the proposed reciprocity have been free
" expressed. Senator IIale's speech iii favor
of liberal reciprocity has been considered.
Senator Sherman argued at length III favor OF
a wider extension of the plan, to include Can
ada as well. Senator Edmunds gave his as
sent to the policy, but not with great en-
thusiasin, pointing out, AS TIE TRIBUNE has
done repeatedly, that the expectations OF an
increase Of Southern commerce proportloncd
to the population of countries to tho south
ward were likely to be disappointed.
Senator Edmunds is right in this and yet
the force of his suggestion may be easily over
estimated. He correctly infers that the fifty
millions of population in countries south OF
tho United States, including The Spanish
islands. would in any event consume much
loss of products which the Unified States has
TO export than ten million American citizens
But there are reasonable limitations to he
fixed for this possible commerce This at
least is known, that the countries in question
do now actually purchase from other countries
goods valued at $500, 100000. 1t is not u
he supposed that smaller aggregate imports
for these countries would result from more
advantageous exchange with tho n!tod Sta'of
but larger imports in the aggregate are cor
tain. On the other hand, it is not TO be as
sumed that the countries in question Will all
make satisfactory arrangements with the
United States, nor thar these which do make
such ARRANGEMENTS will import from this coun
try exclusively.
Much will depend, OF course, upon to lih-
&c oh l.,
able tn make But there seems to be little
ground to doubt that with Brazil and some
other Powers, having at least half OF the
aggregate trade and population south of the
United States, decidedly satisfactory arrange
ments can be effected, through which it may
with reason be anticipated that al least an
equal division of their imports from other
countries may be secured by us. In tha'
event, accepting tho statement OF Senator
Hale, at least twenty-five millions year
should be added to the value of exports from
this country without much delay. with prob
ability that the proportion and the amount VIII
rapidly increase. Perhaps this Is not. IA Son
ator Edmunds suggests. quite a much a. s.m"
have expected But il would be a most well
come and valuable addition to the dorand fox
AulcTNIu .tiiu II "''''' '''.'
sacrifice Of the homo market for products OF
that labor, will not be dicreeardcd.
Roughly. this country ought to add at least
fifty millions year to its annual products by
means of the better defence proposed against
the importation of tin plates, wool, wcolcn
goods, some forms of iron and steel, and Other
products. Reckoning this as tlfe effect Of
better direct protection, aud half as much
moro as tho probable effect Of tho exclusion
| through the Customs Administrative bill, Oh
| goods which arc now frandulcntly imported
we may also hope for an increase in exports
through arrangement with Central and South
| American countries, amounting to at least
twenty-five millions more. 10 appreciate tho
| meaning of this possible change it is only
necessary to consider that in no year for the
last quarter of a century have net exports OF
| cold amounted to more than &G4, 600, 900. \
difference Of S757000,O00 in the balance
would not necessarily imply corresponding i'm
ports of gold but only larger imports OF prod
ucts needed in home consumption or in hom'
manufacture without The risk of proportional
exports of the precious metal. The plan Il
| not unworthy Of the serious attention of Re
publican statesmen, and it is gratifying tina
it meets with the appreciation of so many mer
of large influence.