New-York tribune., 1901-11-17
SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE.
A GREAT FIELD FOR BUSINESS CRU
SADIE FROM THE UNITED STATES.
o the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: i read with increasing interest and sats-
faction the articles South American trade Which
appear from time to time In YOUR editorial columns.
and In particular have been greatly struck with
your leader-"Progress Of Reciprocity"-ln to-day
issue
You cannot repeat often nor with too great
emphasis the fact that the great and peculiar neIo
for the extension OF American commerce hes direco
ly the south Of us. The Central and South Amer
ican States-broadiy the Spanish speaking coun-
tries in this acknowledgements immense ana as
yet very imperfectly developed resources both as
ricultural and mineral, in the widest acceptatohs
of these terms. and at the same Time cohSioeiiiis
their large aggregate population. they are as yet
but small consumers. These two things go To-
gether small production and srnaH consumption
These countries might be made to contribute enor-
mously 10 the total wealth and wellDeins OF Ihe
world by throwing into 1t their vast stores OF ia"
materials and receiving back the equivalent III
manufactures, of which they themselves nave
scarcely any 1t is quite immaterial by ana
through whom these resources are opened up anu
got into the market 1t would be TO the adVantase
of the whole world that they should be so py the
nation best fitted by natural Quaificat atlons TO 90
the trick The essential point Is that the develop
nnent shall be rapid and extensive as possipie-
Now ii hardly seems necessary to enter upon an
argument to show that the natural agent In the
matter the United States. So far Europeans nave
been most active relations in these coun-
tries and the very small results ensuing from thelr
operations when compared with what these results
should be prove that they are not the ones sulteu
for the task.
Everything points the way for a vast business
crusade the part of the United States into this
promised land. Europe, now on the anxious bench
in regard TO the dreaded American invasion and
planning combinations TO resist IT. would gladly see
our attention diverted in other directions and the
more prontabie TO US thls traGe len. = oe 'e IIb
customers. and has use for those who have no
money 10 spend Our wealth means her wealth
Reciprocity is one important factor IN the game,
and il appears to me hat rt6p
between nations. 1t is impossible TO frame a uni
modities with ali countries What would be a fair
and mutually beneficial tariff for one class of inn
ports would be irks9me and obstructive for an
other BY not committing ourselves to either
eiectye one we allow scope to the highest efforts
of commercial craftsmanship and skin. such a
leaders study the science OF trade as has never
hitherto @ oeen ooe nor Is The 10 oson ne Would
be. for INSTANCE not whether sugar Shonia enter @
what American product-four. for example.shoud
countries as consideration All this involves the
grand tactics of trade, which II is high time we
ReciEroeit not the only factor Of the I, Prob i
The more enterprising of these States money is
a premium. and be loaned in small amounts
at a very high rate and on excellent security-the
the smaller South American business centres it IS
safe to that even the principles of banking are
unknown. A very intelligent business man in a
uela centre of shipment OF coffee and hides.
asked me what was the object in putting money In
when told him that bank was the practical full
fment of communistic principles. in that it took
money from the rich and distributed 1t tn loansl
the poor. He then wanted TO know what would
happen If the depositors whose money was thus
scattered among the poor should all simultaneously
want IL back again. ] told him the bank would
h. / told him. moreover. that the reason why
this state of affairs did not occur contained In
single d-confidence-and that this same word /
lay at the bottom of all commercial prosperity l /
not II he fully understood
Cheap transportation and system of through /
Sreights also important factors but believe If
reciprocal treaties and banking facilities
:eblshed that transportation would take care Of /
Itself.
/ mentioned above. illustration, reciprocity |
In connection with Cuban sugar. OF course. pres
ent and until Cuba has established independent |
government treaty be made with her But |
the Cuban question is too vast to be entered into
e the end Of already lengthy letter and must /
somewhat reluctantly be left
F. SHERMAN GOULD.