Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-31
IMPERIALISM AND LOSS OF
TRADE.


In as much as the new policy OF i'm
perialism Is now sought to be justified
mainly on the ground of commercial
necessity. 1t is not inoppurtune to notice
an incidental development of this poll
cy as brought to light by the proposed
Pan-American Congress. The results
we shall point out are not traceable
wholly to distrust of this country by
its sister American republics, but is
partially due to the unwise tariff
schedules enforced by the Republican
party, still the urgency with which Mr..
Mckinley favors the Pan-American
Congress scheme shows how grave, in
his opinion,is the necessity for allaying
the suspicion with which the United
States is regarded by every American
republic, save only Mexico and Brazil.
For geographical and political reas-
ons. and also because of the ability of
American manufacturers to meet their
competitors of other nations advantag-
eously on nearly every field, 1t would
naturally be supposed that the great
bulk of Central and South American
trade would find itsway to United States
ports. Certainly it would be reasonable
to suppose that our commerce should
hold it's own with the Latin republics,
and even that its increase in those
quarters should keep pace with the
rapid development many of these small
countries have experienced of recent
years.
When we come to examine the fig
urcs we find that this reasonable ex-
pectation of trade increase is so far
from being realized that both our ex
ports to and imports from Central and
South American countries have fallen
off enormously of late, the exports in
fact nearly so per cent. and the i'm
ports considerably over so per cent.
The annual exports of breadstuffs
have fallen from s1s.00o,000 to $780,
coo; provisions from $4,000 coo to sS,0OO,-
600; cottons from SIS, 900, 900 to $4,000 900;
oils and minerals from s5,6Ooooo to s4.-
0o0. 900, while steel alone shows small
gain. In imports, coffee has fallen
from s12O, 1000 annually to s4S,00o00o;
sugar from sS7oOO,OOo to s3S,O0O,oO0
while imports of India rubber have
alone increased.
Thus. our annual loss of trade with
the Latin American republics on the
few articles mentioned has reached the
enormous total of 141.000,O00. where
as according to all reasonable expecta-
tons it should have shown an increase
And the reason for this state OF affairs?
Simply the growing dislike and dis
trust with which the domlneering and
land -gra bling policy of this nation has
inspired its weaker neighbors.
Thus. while we are engaged In coax
ing trade to follow the flag into the
Orient by the humane process of shoot
ing ITilipnos, that benevolent and kind
ly policy is losing us more trade with
our neighbors than the whole COM
mcrce of the Philippines amounts to at
present or can amount to for years to
come. This trade with Central and
South America could be had by the
simple eXpedent of minding our own
business and at no greater cost than
attaches to conciliatory attitude; the
trade in the Philippines is being doubly
paid for, dollar for dollar, by our war
expenditures, not 10 mention the thous-
ands of brave men who fall in battle
or die of disease.
Thus is the hollowness of the plea
that imperialism pays, a plea urged
with manufacturers especially, expos
ed. And SO long as aggression is the
watchword, no Pan-American Congress
can restore the confidence of our weak
or neighbors nor bring back their lost
trade. We are learning to our cost
that trade follows goodwill and conf
dence rather than the flag
----------------
The South has been tolerably free, up
10 ie. 4in,a f..l... .i.a ae4....