The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-01-13
ALL AMERICAN UNION.

In an able article on a Pan
American Union, Mr.. Willard S.
Isham, in the Mexican Trader
says:
A commercial union of the Ameri.
can Republics has, for long time. en-
crossed the attention of politicians of
these countries, but how to obtain this
end, and lend the mutual assistance
sought, does not seem to have been yet
discovered. The different propositions
brought forward have in general been
on the lines of the commercial treaty
between the United States of Amer
lea and Brazil, and have sometimes
embodied an international coinage.
These projects, although very favorable
to the U. S. A., do not offer common
surate advantages if any, to the coun-
tries with which such treaties are
sought to be made, as the Latin Ameri
can Republics can now purchase in u.
5. A.. without treaty relations, what
ever they desire. and have an equally
good selling market in Europe; cOnse-
quently nothing is to be gained by
these countries by a commercial treaty
with the Z. 5. "A. upon these lines.
The Spanish American Republics are
all on a silver basis; any general re-
ductiOn in the ratio between silver
and gold is benefit to them, as it as
sists in meeting their European Obliga-
lions to the amount CT such reduction.
Can Trade Union between these Re-
publicS and the U, 5. A. lower this
ratio without prejudice to any of them.
Let us suppose a commercial union
were formed between the American
Republics under the following condi-
tions and investigate it's probable effect
upon each Of them and upon Europe.
The countries belonging to the Union
agree: Cd TO maintain a duty on i'm
ports % per cent. Cor as might be de-
cided) higher against other countries
than against themselves or other cOun-
tries which might thereafter join them;
(2) to recOln their specie or a portion
thereof, conforming it to common
standard of weight and tneness; 81 to
appoint delegates with full powers of
representation to meet annually for
the purpose of liquidating the balances
of trade. by means of bonds. guaranteed
by all, but charged direct to the coun
try having the unfavorable balance; (4
TO issue bonds in favor of country
in exchange for the specie which might
have accumulated in that country, be-
longing to another, and to apply this
coin as bullion. to liquidate directly
the indebtedness of the country issuing
said coin to other countries not in the
Union, or as a sinking fund for the
same purpose.
Let us take the statistics of the year
1890. tue latest to hand, and formulate
hypothetical case deducing the prob
able effect upon the Republics of a
commercial treaty. Let us suppose, 70
simplify matters, that Us coinage
was accepted as standard and that the
other Republics were to recon a por
ton of their specie, sufficient for trade
purposes, charging a coinage fee, large
enough to cover the increase in value
given by such recoinage.
The imports Of the Latin American
Republics the West Indies excepted)
in round numbers were in that year
$5O9,OOO,OOO, of which the U. 5. con-
tributed the insignificant amount of
ss5S,347 1854. In this figure is included
$l6,OOO,OOO, of cotton cloth manufac-
tured in and shipped from England to
Brazil. This is a refreshing subject
for New England and Middle States
manufacturers to reflect upon during
the present panic. The same coun-
tries exported merchandise during the
same year to the value of $444 ,OOO,O
of which the us. A. received 1870. 749,
463, thus proving that the U. 5. is
heavy consumer OF the products of
these countries; in fact for every dollar
of exports she receive 1918 in imports
from them The raw nrOductS of these