The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-11-23

per cent. Oriental countries import
thousand millions, to which the
United States contributes only 10 per
cent. Our manufacturing competitors
know where these countries lie. They
have learned their languages, have
studied their desires as we'll as their
needs, and for years have prosecuted
a well-planned and well-executed cam
paign for their commercial invasion,
and with the aid of large merchant
marine they have been very success
full. We scarcely know where these
countries are located on the map. We
do not understand their languages,
their habits, their needs, or their de-
sires, and we send them, all combined,
less than one hundred and fifty mil
lions of our more than thirteen bill
lions of manufactures, and this pit
lance we send in foreign bottoms and
beneath alien flags.
We are told that if we will import
more we will have no difficulty in ex-
porting any and all possible surplus.
Last year we imported $3.50 per
capita, but this liberalUy in purchas-
ing unequaled in amount helped in
no percepitble degree to increase our
exports. We bought Of Brazil, for in
stance, half she had to sell, while Bra
zil sent to us for IL per cent of her
imports. | do not blame Brazil. Bra
I'll, like other countries without ships
or international merchants, buys that
which is brought to her doors. Our
ships never enter her ports. She
never sees our flag. Our consular
reports are filed with information to
the effect that no South American
country has more than heard of the
United States as commercial coun-
try.
We buy of tropical and subtropical
products a million dollars per day
more than we sell in tropical and sub
a million and a half a day more than
we buy from Europe. These facts af-
ford a complete answer to the claim
that if We will but import more of
what we now purchase we will have
no difficulty in selling our surplus
however large it may become. We
sell nearly half our present surplus to
the United Kingdom, but in buying
we select from what is offered that
which pleases us best, regardless of
its origin.
Argentina has just subsidized line
of steamers with which to market her
surplus rather than to send it under
foreign flags in competition with her
neighbors. Where does she send
these ships? 10 Europe, of course,
for of Europe only has she heard in
a commercial way.
II this country ever develops inter
national merchants it will accomplish
il by granting them announcement,
not alone by dredging harbors and
deepening channels, but by insurins
them a merchant marine in which to
carry. under the most favorable
terms, the products of our farms, our
mines. our forests. and our factories
And without international merchants
sustained by merchant marine we
will never put these products into the
ports of countries unable to maintain
merchant ships with which to come
after them. The outlay of $50, 1000, 00C
in the purchase of the right OF way
and 5000. 100000 additional in the con
struction of an Isthmian canal, 5000.
900 900 spent in the last decade on the
revenue cutter service, largely for the
protection of shipping. are all wise
appropriations. A fraction of this
amount would give US what we once
had-a merchant marine-and insure
MS international merchants and the
products of our ever-increasing labol
would then be carried where the Uni
ted States as a commercial country il
now unknown.