The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-04
As to the Commercial Delegates from
the Far South.

Our commercial visitors from the great
countries lying south of the United States,
who were welcomed to this city recently.
and made an inspection of the manu-
featuring and mercantile establishments
existing here, are now neal the end of their
extensive tour in this country. They have
been received Hospitality at every place
which they nave visited, and AVE acquired
doubtless much useful information concern
ing our business institutions.
They have spoken freely everywhere of
the methods by which, in their opinion, we
might enlarge our trade and
with the countries from which they came.
They have criticised, with perfect unre-
serve, those American usages, policies,
laws, and business customs which seem to
them obstructive to advantageous CONNER
cial relations with the other independent
and afiuent countries of this hemisphere.
They rave all expressed a strong desire for
the speedy extension of these relations, and
they nave made it manifest that they arc
imbued with good will toward the United
States. For our part, we should have
gained instruction from their speeches, and
we have made them understand that we
" HUI ttoo ucSiIou tlld thcy III aug
mentation of such commercial exchanges
as promise to be beneficial to all parties.
The United States have many interests in
common with those of Mexico and those
of the South American and the Central
American republics. Politically. we are on
the best of terms with all of them. Since
they furnish us with articles which we
need and do not produce, and since we are
prepared to furnish them with articles
which they import from Europe, 1t ought
to be possible to enter into arrangements
profitable to each party. They think so,
and we think so.
Four things were spoken of repeatedly
and emphatically by the delegates while in
New York. We were told that we ought
to establish new steamship lines; We should
supply banking facilities in South America
similar to those furnished by English and
German houses; we SHOULD adopt the long
credit system that exists in those countries;
we ought to modify our tariff laws so that
they would operate more acceptably to our
friends in other American republics.
As to the steamship lines, 1t Is very Ger.
tain that we must provide them. This
country Is the only independent one upon
this side of the sea in which shipbuilding
Is n large industry. In past times we made
II plain that our shipyards could compete
with those of any other country. Bat
American shipbuilding for foreign com,
merce has not advanced much since the
war for the Union, during which our com
mercial marine suffered from England's
hostility, and it Is only within very recen,
years that We have made efforts to wir
back tue place which we once held upon the
high seas. The new vessels for the nava
marine, and such vessels as nave been built
for the mercantile marine, show that the
ingenuity and the energy which character
lied American shipbuilders In other time,
yet exist In full measure, and can pcrforr,
works SURPRISING any everrecordedo of them
AS to the establishment Of banking insti
tutions In far South America, this cannor
be accomplished as socn us the suggestion
Is made The English and the Ger
mans Iorg have had such institutions Ii
South American ports. We had hardl,
recognized the imperative necessity TO
them until 1t was mentioned. There Il
plenty Of capital here awaiting prohtabl
Investment Some time will be needed TO