Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-03

tuttously set our doors more or less widely
ajar and permit more freedom OF importa.
ton, in the hope that other countries Will
set their doors more or less widely aJar ana
give us greater freedom Of expectation.
Some of you gentlemen are importers. and
after this meeting ad5ourns would like to
inquire whether you. in making your pur-
chaseS abroad, give preference to those
countries which favor us with an open door.
or do you buy where you can obtain the
desired article to the best advantagef do
you purchase your silks, for instance, in
Great Britain because she buys 6OOOOO,OuV
of our gross exports without the imposition
Of customs duties; or do you purchase In
France and Germany. notwithstanding tar
III exactiOns upon goods coming from the
United States? We have tried this expert
ment with Brazil. We annually buy of her
more than $7OOOO.OOO free merchandise,
more than 40 per cent of all she has to sell.
and sell her $1O,OOO,OO0. 10 per cent OF what
She has to buy.
Another way suggested is to trade COM
pliments-to exchange trade privileges-to
set our doors somewhat a1ar for the special
advantage of one country on condition that
1t shall set its doors a1ar for the special ad-
vantage Of our people Considerable has
been said along this line but not very much
has been actually accomplished.
A Third Method.
either of these methods but I do wish to
only method by which we will ever get our
share of the commerce of South American
and South African countries and of the
islands lying south of the equator. The
policy which resulted in creating the COM
merce of the Pacific slope was subdizng
lines of communication with the Pacific
slope. When the first transcontinental lines
of railway were built there was not Suf-
fcient commerce to pay operating expenses,
to say nothing of dividends on investments.
Few business men and fewer politicians OBJ
jected to government aid to transconti-
mental lines during the development period
of the commerce along these lines. These
railways need no assistance now. No bust
ness man objects to government aid to the
commerce of our navigable rivers, and no
political party objects to large expenditures
on non-navigable streams. Improvements
to rivers and harbors Is subsidy to the COM
merce of rivers and harbors. If we ever
secure the trade Of the countries to which
l have referred we will first secure regular
lines Of communication with these coun-
tries, and If we ever secure these lines as
sistance must be afforded. Who of you,
owning a steamship. would divert 1t from
participation in transatlantic commerce
where there is much to be done. and send
1t on regular trips to countries where we
have little or no commerce?
Do not misunderstood me. 1 am not
mourning the defeat of any ship subsidy
bill, but shall mourn exceedingly the de-
feat Of a BILL II any such shall ever be in
regular lines Of American ships, flying the
American flag and carrying American
merchants and commercial travellers, with
their wares and merchandise. the product
of American labor. into those countries to
which I have referred Such a bill must
offer special advantages to ships plying be-
tween our ports and countries where our
trade is undevelOped.