The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-18
oppoRruNITIEs NEGLECTEp.

OPPORTUNITIES NEGLECTED.
one argument for retaining the Philip
pines, and perhaps the strongest one, is
that they will not only afford a splendid
market for our manufactured products,
but will open the way for the introduction
of our products of this kind into the far
East to a much greater extent than the
way is open now. But, as a matter of
fact would it be possible for us to prac-
tically monopolize the markets of the
Philippines except by means of a tariff
that Would prevent competition with us?
We would, of course. have no difficulty
in supplying the Philippine markets with
those articles in the production of which
We greatly excel all other countries. We
do that now We are supplying the world
with goods of that kind. Our exports
of manufactured goods exceed our inn
ports of manufactured articles. What we
are seeking, however, are markets for
manufactured articles of the kind which
Europe has to sell in competition with
us. Thus far We have not been as sue
cessful as we ought to be in finding mar
kets for goods of that kind. Unless we
develop greater commercial enterprise,
therefore. We shall not gain much by re-
tanning possession of the Philippines.
This view is suggested by a recent state
ment Of Mr.. Stuyvesant Fish, president
of the Illinois Central Railroad. Mr.. Fish
calls attention 20 the fact that we have
comparatively little of the trade
of the South and Central Ameri
can states, Notwithstanding the fact
that we are much nearer TO
them than any European country is.
The South American states have about
81, 100000 people, and they import annually
1876, 900 worth of goods. But they don't
buy very much from US. Last year they
imported from Europe $344,OO0 900 worth of
manufactured products, and took from us
only $32 100000 worth. In that same year
we imported from South America $1O9, co.,
900 worth of products. The same condi-
ton of affairs exists in respect to our
trade with Central America and Mexico.
Central America has a population of g.
100000, and during the last trade year
bought from Europe $23OOO,OOO worth of
goods, and from us only $5.32O,OOO worth.
Mexico, adjacent 10 us, and connected
with us by railroad, ought 10 be a good
customer of ours with her 100000 peo-
Pile She is a pretty fair customer. Still,
she buys more from Europe than she does
from us. She spent $42,OOO,O0O for foreign
goods last year, less than half of which
was spent with us.
The point we wish to make is that If We
do not control the trade of the countries
which are comparatively near TO us, what
chance have we for controlling the trade
of the far East, in competition with the
manufacturing countries of Europe?
South and Central America and Mexico
offer splendid markets for our manufac-
tured products. The reason that we have
thus far obtained so small portion of
their trade is that we have not been en-
terprising enough. We have not made
ourselves acquainted with its demands and
responded to them. When we send 10
those countries what they want and send
it as promptly as Europe sends her prod
uets to them, we shall have great IN.
crease of trade with them.
In the light of our experience with the
countries south of us, we do not think
the trade argument for holding the Phil
ippines is a strong one. AS long as we
practically neglect these great markets,
there is not much reason for thinking that
we would make the effort necessary to
control the markets of the far East, or
even to get a fair share of the trade OF
them, even if we should become the pos
SCISSORS of the trouble-breeding Philippines.