The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-04
OUR FOREIGN TRADE.

The American Nation is very properly |
congratulaiing itself just now over the
proportions Of our total for
eign trade as disclosed by the recently |
published statistics in the premises for
the fiscal year ending June so last.
For the first time in our history the
figures for imports and exports aggregate
considerably over s2.OOO.OOO 900. The to-
tai imports exceeded $40. oOo. 0O0 in value,
while the total value of exports was ST.
1874 .o00. IN round numbers OF these
exports the manufactured goods comprised
1892 ,2S4'oOo In round numbers. against
$3.50 $4,000 for the preceding year. The
export OF manufactures, therefore. showed
an increase hut little short OF 500 600, 900
while the total increase OF exports over
the preceding fiscal year amounted to
sometime above 1857 900, 600. The total
Increase OF the trade. as whole, was more
than sSl90Oo.ooO over that for the fiscal
year Guiding June 30. 1899 The excess o.
exports over imports amounted to $685.
600. this being the balance of trade"
in our favor
This vast trade which has caught that
lands had practically the whole world for
its held. 1t went everywhere md our
exports to every point OF the compass or
quarter OF the globe showed an increase
The causes OF this commercial expansion
are plain and simple. We are making
the best goods In the world and are sell
Ing them abroad as cheap as any nation
can sell similar goods in It's home markets.
As a matter OF fact we are selling TO the
foreigner at much lower prices than to
our own people. Then again vast ouanti-
ties of our food products must be had
abroad and the demand for these is stead
lily growing
The EFFORT OF the republican marty 70
make political capital cut OF this great
trade showing is without the least basis
A high protective duty on imports is, OF
course. no stimulus To exports Such a
stimulus could only be found in a specific
bounty upon exports. which we do not
have. protective wall against others
would naturally, too, reduce the others
ability to engage in a fair exchange and,
therefore. reduce the volume OF our e1-
ports. We have In fact met with an oh
staele to foreign trade in our tariff, but
have grown commercially In spite OF this
republican restraint upon trade. with
free trade more liberal commercial poi
icies. our exports would have increased far
more rapidly than they have done.
We can al last stand side by side with
England, the greatest OF exporting nations
In the successful competition for frelgn
trade, there being only a few millions dit
ference in the value of tho exports OF the
two countries. We therefore need n,
longer "protective" tarif--it has nov
: become but an unnecessary and unJustnec
contribution to the manufacturing class
at the expense OF the many.
l And II Is worthy OF note. too, that tue
, smallest fraction OF this Increased for
elgn trade has followed the nag" This
great bulk of It has gone 10 countries un'
der other flags. The largest per cent o
increase was in directions where we hav'
never dreamed OF acquiring territory. The
=, gun was In no case the advance agent o
q this "expansion." The magnificent re
sources OF America coupled With litti
: quickened enterprise were alone responsi
A BILE for the results. In the last twenty
: I'VE years. in word. we have actual.
doubled our foreign trade without addlnl
. a square mile to our terrltory--for "
il are selling no moro to our new terri
tories" now than before they were 80
;. quired.
a Does It not look like we could discon
/ tinue our contributions TO the ckissee
q and safely remain at home. attend stricJ
ly to business and yet become in yea
l. or 50 more the leading commercial Ma
J. ton OF the worldy
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