The San Francisco call., 1896-08-01
United States Gets Only 6 Per
Cent of AustraIia's Big
Trade.
SUBSIDIES AND FINER SHIPS
He Said San Francisco and the United
States Have the Advantage of
Location.

states Consul a. Sydney, New South
Wales, on leave of absence to his home
country. addressed an audience at the
Chamber of Commerce yesterday after
noon at o'clock. A number of ladies
were present.
Colonel Bell is very tall and very bald.
He is native Virginian and speaks in the
lelsurely modulated tones peculiar to SO
many Southerners. When he was ap-
pointed Consul by President Cleveland he
was resident of Willipa, Wash. Colonel
Bells eloquence has been heard by many
convention in that State. He will leave
this evening for Portland, Tacoma and
Seattle, where he will also deliver ad-
dresses to the Chambers of Commerce of
those cities.
a guest of the occasion was General
Manuel Barillas, ex-President of Guate-
mala, who was accompanied by Pedro A.
beunl, president of the Guatemalan Rail-
road, and the generals secretary and in
terpreter, Mr.. Riyes.
Consul Bell was felicitously introduced
by PRESIDENT Hugh Craig. The Cons ul
spoke substantially as follows:
Time and muscle were never so precious as
now. In1s is the grendest generation ever in
existence. believe the world is Improving.
Grafton.
This is a commercial age. and we are in the
pawn OF lt-not at the high noon. Commerce is
the basis OF civilization. We are the greatest
commercial generation OF the ages. Commerce
always meant freedom. When Greece, Rome
and the ArsbIans became the commercial CEN
Ter OF the world they became the intelligent
center also.
What brought about this age of ours? Great
commercial activity. If America had not
been discovered there would not have been a
teamooat or railroad to-day. All nations
are trying to push their commerce into other
countries Compare the conditions of the non
commercial nations of Europe with those OF
the commercial nations. Compare England
with 10000, 600 people with Russia and her
1z5,00O,OOO OF people. On the books of the
world we do not appear as a great commercial
nation, but If all that comes into and goes out
o. tne ioTty.hve States OF the Union are con-
s1oered as imports and exports as they are
considered in the twenty countries OF Europe
we would be the greatest commercial nation.
The productive machine is the greatest
machine in the world, and we need commerce
TO equalize production and Consumption.
There can't be an oTerproduction till all the
people OF God are satisfied. We need adjust
menu and more commerce. Wants increase
with the ability 10 buy and more labor is re-
quired 10 supply the want.
The prophesF OF Seward is already coming
true-that the Pacific Coast is TO become the
commercial center of the world. Il was
thought that China and Japan never could
wake up but they have been shocked by 6 new
idea. That is the commercial idea. China
and Japan, asleep for centuries, now awake
and appropriate what we have done in CEN
turles. IEey are now stepping across into
civilization.
San Francisco lies al the gateway with TO-
100000 people behind her. We are the great
est manufacturing Nation in the world. Aus
trElia is as large as the United States. Aus
traIla per capita is the greatest commercial
nation in the world. America has more of
what Australia wants than any other nation,
with the possible exception OF England, and
we ought TO have share in her trade. But
we are faulty in pushing our products.
The Americans have not catered for the Aus
tralian trade nor any other trade. Americans
have the advantage of location. Why are
these things so? II is q sad thing for US TO
see American ships sail out of sydney harbor
in ballast.
Our trade is in proportion to our ability to
get there. Transportation is as great a ques-
OF the trade Of Australasia and less than per
cent of the trade of sydney. The Australians
are more like Americans than any other peo-
pie in the world, and / tell you there is no
prejudice in Australia against Americans, and
they like American goods
Why don't we get there? Ten great steamer
lines run into Sydney and fourteen TO Austral-
asia. steamer for America leaves only once
q month, and here we are on the opposite
shore only 1000 miles away, with San Fran
cisco and 20, ,000, 900 of people. The ships to
England are much larger and finer than those
that come to this country. There is good
deal in appearances. Appearances are our
first impressions. II IAmeTfcan ships were finer
half of the Australian traffic would come this
way, and acquaintance leads to commerce.
The English, French, German, China and
Japan lines are heavily subsidized. If one
great nation subsidies ship another nation
must do so or the first nation Will carry the
trade To-day we are paying foreign ships
1900, coo @ year to carry our trade and we
are keeping alive foreign nations. If the
United States would subsidize her ships per
cent of the sum that foreign ships are subsi-
died we could carry the trade think this
is worthy of consideration.
Thirty-ive years ago we carried third of
the tonnage of the world. To-day we carry II
per cent OF our own trade We are falling
little behind the procession.
We can change the commerce OF the world
by building the Nicaragua canal and make
New YORK It's center. [Applause.l If America
does not construct the canal some other nation
will, and then where are We?
1 would that we had the purity of municipal
politics that they have in Sydney, but would
not say that over there.
The American people must arouse or they
Will fall behind the world in the struggle for
commercial supremacy.
vote of thanks was returned to Con-
sui Bell for his address
General Barillas was then introduced
to the audience and he held short recep-
tion.