Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-07-28
Our Commerce with Cuba. ,

To che United Ststes. the foremost cham
ricn Of the freedom Of commerce, .hs niue.
tcensh. century is greatly indebted for that
general prosperity which characterises it. We
have freed navigation from odious restrictions.
and substituted the principle of liberal recip-
rocity for that of commercial prohibition and
national isolation. Every nation of Europe
has been. more or less, impressed by our
teachings and example, except Spain which
alone has remained iusensibe The same re-
'strictive policy which she adopted more than
two centuries and a half ago towards her
American colonies. she pursues at this day
towards Cuba, with view to keeping that
colony utterly dependent upon the mother
country She entorces regulations which vir-
tually compel the inhabitants to buy all the
necessaries of life not where they can be
bought cheapest but from Spain whatever
their price may be there, and then raises
duties even on the Spanish imports. While
the press of old Spain complain of the made
quacy Of agriculture there. while tbcv urge
the Necessity of inviting emigration from lie
North Of Europe to the Peninsula, while
Spain herself has TO impor. provisions, she
Insists upon supplying Cuba with -four and
other articles of necessity, of course at her
own prices. This system Of stupid cxtorton
crippcs the industry of Cuba. and affects
most injuiiously the commercial interests of
all her customers, and especially the United
States. All the -four consumed in Cuba has
to come from abroad. She produces none.
The nearest and best market for this article
would be the United States. But what are
the facts in reference to this important trade?
While Spain imports into Cuba. annually,
from three and half to four millions of dol
lars worth of -four, the United States con-
:ributci, Of late years, On an average, only
about thirty thousand dollars worth The
duty il Cuba on flour imported from Spain is
s. 90; on that imported from the United
States, IN American or other foreign bottoms.
is $40 81; ths effect Of which is to drive the
American article ont CT the CuJa market.
and 10 produce an artificial scarcity, all the
time bordering on the famine point Nor is
this all TIE tonnage tax on Spanish bottoms
Is G23 cents; that on American 81 so Per
ton. In all other charges similar discrimina-
tions are made against our commerce. The
consequence is that our imports are constantly
declining. In 1857 we sent II 500 barrels
of -four to Cuba; in 1856 only 3 500. vet we
are the best customers OF Cuba. Oar total
imports from that island amounted, in 1855.
TO the immense aggregate of ST. 900, 900
while, under the restrictions imposed upon
our commerce, We were not enabled to return
mere than for s., 500. 900 on our products.
leaving balance of over SIC, 900, 900 against
Us in single year Under treaty based
upon reciprocity, such as exists between Caa-
ada and the United States. the planters Of
CUBA would pay some eight dollars less for |
every barrel of -four. The effect of the dif- |
fereutial duty GA meats, imported il Spanish |
bottoms is illustrated by the following figures, t
showinga steady decline cf cur trade