Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-10
A General Survey of Commercial Countries

40 NJ uSe, OiCh, the DOyS are lOT JOnnSlOus
A General Survey of Commercial Countries
Baltimore Sun.
In seeking a correct view of the relative
strength and resources Of nations we are
hot likely to go far astray If we Judge
them by the evidences of their CONNER
cial life. Their imports and exports tell
the story of their standing in internation-
al trade, and by inference indicate their
general condition. There has been re-
Gently compiled from the official reports
of the twenty-five leading commercial
nations of the world series of most In
structive tables. showing the changes
which have taken place In their foreign
commerce during the eleven years from
1888 to 1893, inclusive. These tables bear
testimony to some remarkable changes
in the currents of trade between nations.
1t appears, and the statement will be
surprising to many merchants, that,
while both as to her imports and exports,
the volume of Great Britain's trade is
considerably larger In 1898 than 1t was
In 1883, yet their value has decrea Sed,
owing to the large decrease in prices all
over the world in the last ten years. Her
imports in 1883 amounted In value to
1914, 100000, and in 1898 to $108, 900
less. Her exports within the same period
were reduced in value by s14O,O00,000. We
shall use, for convenience, only round
figures in quoting these reports. France
shows still more marked decline in the
value of her foreign trade, for whereas
she held the second place among the ma
lions in the total value of her commerce
In 1898, she now only holds the fourth
place. Germany standing second to Great
Britain, and the United States third.
The largest percentage of gain shown by
any country is by japan; Mexico comes
next and Holland follows Mexico. The
total imports and exports of Japan in
creased in value from S62,OO0,O0O in 1888
to $149, 900, 900 in 1898. Hollands CONNER
cal development, too, has been extraor-
binary. Her imports increased in value
in the period stated from $494 100000 to
$587, 100000 but much more astonishing
was the increase in the value Of her ex-
ports which rose from 1924, 900 900 to $685.
100000 At this rate of progress the
sturdy Dutch people will rapidly regain
the front rank In commercial position
which they held in days of old.
Mexico appears to have made only
slight increase of $4,000. 900 in the annual
value of her imports in these eleven
years, but she pushed the value of her
exports of domestic products up from
s12,O0O,000 to $31,0000O0 Germany Is
among the advancing commercial coun-
tries. The advance Is being most marked
In the value of her imports, which has
increased during the decade from $685.
900 900 to 1881, 900 900 a year The value of
her exports has concurrently fallen Off
to the extent of SAG, 100000 year. 1t is
SURPRISING, dlteT all we nave ulcdlu odio
about the assumed perfect recovery OF
France from her disastrous conflict with
Germany, to find that country declining
in rank. both as an importing and export
ing nation. Within the eleven years the
value of French imports has declined
nearly 5000, 000, 900 and the value of her
exports by $53,000.000. This argues badly
for the ability of France to stand the
shock of that war of revenge" which
her Jingoes are constantly goading her
on to undertake against Germany. The
nation that shows most commercial ac-
tivity and growth in time of peace is
likely to show most military strength
and staying power in time OF war
Russia is another declining quantity.
for the time being. at least, in the COM
merce of the world. The value alike on
her imports and exports has fallen off.
and in 1893 her total foreign trade was
less in value by about $50, 100000 year
than it was eleven years before. The
foreign commerce of Belgium shows
slight increase in value, indicating the
maintenance of steady average level of
prosperity in that industrious and thrifty
little country. The, value of Italy's for
eign trade has declined to the extent of
$64 ,000, 900 in the period taken for compar-
ison. Sweden, Norway, Denmark and
Portugal are all shown up to be coun-
tries with increasing commercial trans
actions, though the gains they are max
ing are not startling. Spain, once the
premier commercial nation of the world,
now occupies only the eleventh place.
Even Australia takes precedence in the
extent of her foreign trade of the grand
nation whose merchantmen. in a former
age, swarmed on every sea and in every
port and whose colonial possessions, like
those of Great Britain today, girdled the
earth Spain In 1898 had a foreign trade.
imports and exports included, of the
value of $254, 900 900, which was less by
$57 900 000 than its value in 1888. The ag-
gregate value of the imports and exports
of Australia are nearly 100000, 900 year
in excess of SPANS, yet Spain has far
larger population than the Australian
colonies, and there is no explanation of
the difference between their commercial
showings. except that the one Is young.
virile country, whose people are living
under poplar forms of government and
who are full of the modern go-ahead
spirit; while the other is an old country,
but little touched as yet by the spirit of
modern progress, content to live along IN
a condition of stately and senile decay
Coming to our own country and conti-
nent these comparative tables or the
worlds commerce show the United States
TO have advanced as an important nation
from the fourth to the third place, stand
ing now next to Germany, with total I'M
ports and exports in 1898 of the value CT
81. 700. 600. 900, as against $1527. 100000 in
1888. OF course, this country is among
the growing commercial nations. and 1t
is significant that In 1893-whle we were
still living under the Mckinley tariff, re-
member-the value of the imports of the
United States showed an increase of $143,-
900, 900 over 1883. though high protection
had held unbrolSen sway throughout that
PERIOD From Metropolitan standpoint
this was great misfortune, but not so
from the standpoints of sound political
economy and true commercial wisdom.
The prosperity of country is mea sured
by its imports rather than by its exports;
or. to put it in a better way, country Is
prosperous in proportion as the value OF
Its imports indicate that 1t is able to buy
and pay for more goods from other ma
tons than other nations are able to buy
and pay for from 1t. OF course this prop
ostion needs to be qualified by a consid-
Grafton not only of the imports and ex-
ports of merchandise and goods of all
kinds. WHICH the figures we have quoted
alone show. but also Of the concurrent
exports and1nports of bullion and specie.
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