St. Paul daily globe., 1891-01-25
A DEEP DISCUSSION.
Twilighters Talk of Our Rela-
tions With Central and
South America.
What Legislation Has Done to
Sweep Our Fleets From
the Ocean.
Comparisons Of English and
American Commerce With
Southern Lands.
Thoughtful and Instructive
Papers by Gen. Andrews
and Russell Dopr.

The regular dinner of the twilight
club, held last evening at the Ryau
hotel, was we'll attended, and the after
dinner discussions were fully as inter-
esting as they invariably have been
on other past occasions. Russell R.
Dorr presided. Gen. G.. G. Andrews
opened the discussion of "Our Com
mercial and Monetary Relations With
the Central and South American States"
with the following remarks: cit is
perhaps unnecessary in opening
discussion on these countries to
say that they have for the
most part a mountainous surface, rem
dering communication and development
difficult and slow. They are thinly peO-
pied, heavily in debt and financially
poor. Probably majority of their peO-
pie are barefooted the year. round.
Their wants are few; and they do not.
therefore, present such rich field for
commercial enterprise as is sometimes
supposed. AS Buckle says, the richest
countries of the world now are not those
where nature is the most productive,
but where man is the most active.
But while trade with these countries
is in the aggregate worth striving for,
1t is fact we'll known, yet painful to
national pride, that they import about
Five Times as Much in Value
from England as from the United
States. The imports into the fifteen
Central and South American republics,
but not including Mexico, amount an
nually in round numbers to not quite
$500, 600, 900, of which Great Britain fur
nishes $40. 100000, being 35 per cent,
and the United States $50, ,000, 900, or not
quite per cent.
The reasons for the smallneSS Of our
share are not very surprising. In Eng
land and several other European coun-
tries capital and labor are more abun-
dant and cheap than with sand manu-
factured goods as a whole are cheaper.
Owing also to the abundance of capital
in the old commercial cities of England
and Germany, ocean steamship compa-
MES are there content to build and run
steamships for lower rate of income
than is satisfactory in this country.
They are content with return of 4 per
cent and something additional for re-
serve fund. While the cost of materials
for the construction of their ships is but
little, if any, dearer than with US fOr
we admit the Importation of all such
materials free of duty, yet the labor in
their construction is cheaper, and
the wages of their season (aseyery con-
siderable item) are cheaper than with
US. Likewise the employment of ma
tiveS and the principle of permanence
and promotion in seafaring service con-
tribute somewhat to the economy of
their steamship service. Besides, many
European countries, regarding ocean
steamship lines as a source of national
distinction, if not of national defense,
have either directly, by bounties, or in
directly, by very liberal pay for mail
service, materially aided steamships
bearing their flag to foreign climeS.
Hence it is that there are to-day twenty
steamships sailing regularly from
European ports to South America to one
that is sailing there from the United
States. These are tremendous odds
against our country.
Again, owing to the excess of popula-
ton and great competition in the old
European countries, and especially En-
gland and Germany. many of their
bright and educated youth emigrate to
all parts OF the world to engage in COM
merce. You will find them in every
Central and South American port, and
we'll equipped by practical knowledge
themselves with old established mercan
tile houses of their own nationality, and
become active promoters of trade with
their home countries.
There has not been such keen COM
petition in this country as in Europe.
The United States have hitherto
Afforded Ample Scope
for all our young American merchants.
They can trade throughout broad con-
tinent without undergoing expatriation
and without learning foreign Ian
guage. They have been content with
this great field of home enterprise. Con-
sequently. we find fewer American than
European merchants in every leading
South American port.
An American who. from preference
for tropical climate or other cause,
wishes to establish trade with any of
the South American ports, must be on
the spot himself or be represented by a
competent agent. He must expect to
sell his goods at first. and until they be-
come favorably known, at sacrifice;
but it he perSevereS he will probably
succeed. He will find the Portuguese
language in use in Brazil: in all other
South American countries the Spanish.
An important lever for increasing our
trade with those countries, and
especially with Brazil. was placed in
the hands of our government largely it
is understood by Mr.. Blaine's efforts),
by the third section of the Mckinley
act, which imposes duties on sugar, mo-
lasses, coffee and hides from those coun-
tries unless they receive 1.-The agrleult-
ural or other products of the United
States" on reciprocal terms. Another
ground for expecting an increase of this
trade is the interest which is showing
itself for the revival of our ocean ship
ping, and which will afford quicker
communication with those countries.