The Washington union., 1857-05-23
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS OF SPAIN WITH FOR
EIGN NATIONS

and navigation Of SPAIN Mr.. Macgreggor states that
about 100000 pounds of tobacco is annually SNUG
gled from Gibraltar into Spain, and about 100000
pounds is exported from the same depot to points
along the coast where its elandestne introduction
can be easily effected In view Of these facts, this
distinguished statist observes "Span, in the face
of this contraband, still maintains her royal tobacco
monopoly" This was written in 1912, and is, we
regret 10 say, applicable with equal, if not with
greater force, to Spain in 1851 But few days have
passed since we read in the New York papers an adj
vertsement, from under the hand of the Spanish col
sui in that city, inviting proposals for supplying his
government with tobacco for the next three years
that is, until 1860 Instead of opening her ports TO
the free competition of the flags of all nations and
thus supplying her national factories at the very lowest
prcesthe invariable result of unfettered trade and
commercial rivalryshe still adheres to the runous
policy of monopolizng its purchase and sale and of
prohibiting its admission unless stamped with the
aImutatur Of the consular agents in the country Of
production, and, as necessary consequence, borne
to her ports under the national flag Under such
system it cannot be surprising that smuggling should
be conducted as regular, semi-military profession
employing annually no less than 100000 men srmed
equipped, and thoroughly trained for all the emer-
gencies of their Illegal adventure.
We are happy, however, to be able to announce
that the attention of the Spanish government has,
for some time past, been directed to the manifold
evils inseparabe from its restrictive and ruinous
system of commercial legislation. Statistical soce
ties and lyceums of political economy have recently
L ,tl,ar c;t;
Spain in which the laws of economical science and
the true theory of national prosperity and CONNER
cial progress are thoroughly examined and publicly
discussed Statistical periodicals are regularly pub
lished, and the popular mind is becoming familiar
lied with the principles of free trade and cheap
kets through the medium of weekly journals and
popular lectures One of these societies has been
established under the auspices of NJ Figuerola, an
cient deputy and professor of public law in the Uni
versity of Madrid Manuel Colmero, professor of
municipal law in the same institution; and NJ. Ga
briel Rodriguez, engineer and professor in one of
the scientific schools of the capital The object of
this society is to disseminate among the masses of
the people the true principles of political economy.
Among the journals which are devoted to the princi
ples of more liberal commercial system in Spain,
the Eco,,omstu, edited by NJ. Joseph GARNER, is do
ing noble service, and maintains an admitted and in
creasing superiority such Pyrennean pro-
hbitonis organs as the Revitd Industrial of BARGE
Iona and the Eco de Ia Gdh1dsria.
We have every reason, therefore, to hope that the
day is not very distant when Spain shaking from the
limbs Of commerce the chains which for centuries
have bound it, win adopt more enlightened prin-
ciples of commercial law and recognise the salutary
maxms of a wiser political science and thus put an
end to demoralizng system which "convulseB
alike oil the elements of society, of industry and of
revenue"
The Spanish government publishes an annual re-
port its foreign commerce, under the title of
"Cuadro General del Comercio esterior de Espana;''
but its publication is delayed often nearly year,
and it seldom reaches the United States for twelve or
eighteen months after the period of which it treats
We find, however, in the Gazeta de Madrid, of late
date, an analysis of the general commerce of Spain
in 1856 From this we learn that the total value of
the foreign commerce of the kingdom, including
Spanish colonial possessions, was 1888 Sl5 reals
equal to Sll4l56240, showing an increase over the
preceding year of 415,S74,679 reals, equal to s23
793733, or 20 per cent, on the whole amount,
This commerce was thus distributed.
by national flag reals
Commerce by sea, foreign flag S3i o93166 g 4l7oi65s
Commerce by land 27,9ol918 4" 63g5 oa5
OF the above totals, the imports covered l0237 761
323 reals equal to S5llSs,o65, showing an increase
of 25 per cent. 1854 and the exports amount
ed in value to 1859 363492 reals equal to $62 $685.
l74, giving excess the preceding year of q
per cent
(d111aerce ,ViM Europe and africa.
Imports -596 1872 070 reals$29 s39 103 90
Exports ---- 945, 100, 252 :! Al, ,255, 1852 90
Total ------i ,5+l,s9l,322 " 77,o9I,565 90
Commerce nth 1Hnuea,
Imports 40s TAI, ,2T5 reals, $50, ,43T, ,063 90
Exports 206, ,635 420 " I5, ,33l, III 90
Total ,376, sos q 35, ,S34 90
Commerce tciM Asid.
Imports rs, 23T ,9T8 reals, ,=S9i 1893 90