The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-20
SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE.
The Opportunity Given by the war to
the United states.


the United states.
To THIS EprToR or THE sur-sr: I
have recently returned from an extensive
journey which embraced Venezuela, Co
1 lombn. the Canal Zone and number OF
the islands OF the Caribbean Sea. ON
this journey, through our sphere of in
tlucnce," L. like all Americans who travel
there, regret the absence of the nag of
the United States. We see IL flying over
our legations and consular offices. but
with one exception nowhere else.
War news reached us first at Colon
We found Jamaica under martial law, our
steamer ran dark all the way home from
Colon. but we did not sight anything In
the way OF war vessel At Puerto
numerous GermSn steamers were tied up
at neutral wharves. but the English YES
sells went on about their business.
10 was n pleasure to learn that bill
was before Congress to reestablish our
merchant marine, and now the President
has signed It, to the delight OF all who
travel, especially In the Caribbean ana
the coast of South America. IL only
seems a pity that the coastwise steamship
owners and other interested parties can
not AT this time put aside their pety
jcalousies and all work for the commerce
OF the seas that Is rightfully ours. Every
where abroad you see American goods in
tN'l iHtItdFlIE Dul til
In foreign ships. DO you want to Navel,
YOU pay the foreigner for the privilege.
DO YOU want to do business. you must do
IL through foreigners Why. with this
wonderful opportunity caused by the Euro
pean war. do our people not awaken to
the opportunity that Is theirs for the TAX
Ing? BE sure that England, stlll mistress
of the seas. will not neglect to grasp the
enormous German trade. at least
share of this II ours. All we need Is the
ships, and We now have the chance TO
secure them. Why all this pettifogglng
about neutrality and coastwise shipping?
II is foolish In the extreme and arises
either from supreme Ignorance OF the
situation or from selfish personal reasons.
Can we Americans never rise to an In
tcrnational viewpoint; must We, a world
power. stu be colonials?
There Is hut one American steamship
llnc trading to Venezuela and the Carib-
beam and its fleet is composed OF four
vessels. the largest OF 1900 tons and
twenty-five years old the second OF $500
tons. thirty years old: then two of $500
tons and one OF $50 tons. 1t vas my
good fortune to see at Curacao three Of
theSe with the combined capacity OF
1880 tons, In the harbor OF Willemstad,
all flying the American flag AT the same
time. This line has n United States mall
subsidy and Is old In the service Of the
nag and the almighty dollar. 1t Is
well known fact that since its inception
this line has made fortunes for every one
who Mas been Interested In II. Yet the
cry goes up continuously. they almost be-
leve II themselves. that IL costs too much
to run an American ship. The boats go
heavy laden with freight and passengers
II they would purchase some OF the fine
ships now for sale they could and would
grasp and hold the largest part OF the
traffic OF tho Caribbean Sea why not?
They have the money and here is the
chance. South Americans West Indian
ISLANDERS. all want us to como TO them
with ships and goods. The business
people who understand welcome us. the
ignorant hardly know us the politicians
hold VIZ up as bogy man for their own
purposes
There are vast opportunities in South
America. especially In the countries least
In the public eye. Brazil, the Argentine
Chile. have been exploited and financed
"a death. But Peru. Venezuela. Ecuador
and others offer golden chances for bank
Ing and trade. They want us to come to
them. to know us not ms the Northern
bully hut as = helping friend Can We
not stop talking and attend TO business
Let us sell them the goods direct not
through England and Germany, for our
southern noighhors use American goods
In quantities. but they are shipped first
to Europe and then to South America in
foreign ships
one instance domino sugar rotails
here at cents a pound, In Caracas AZ
&c cents a pound, and that within sight
OF local sugar mills whose product Of
brown sugar retails at II cents pound.
And 50 with other American goods
We have the greatest opportunity In
IN" world now IL the time to act. Send
out mon who know South America the
people and their ways and who speak
spanish Send many hut send them now.
Buy ships, put our flag on them and 10
IL now. stop talking and get busy. The
greatest chance in the world Il ours
our Minister'S and Consuls are alert and
glad TO help: n better class than the
representatives Of any other country.
=. WALN MORGAN DRAPER
NEw YORK, September ls.