The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-18
The Presidents Cuba Policy-What ~ :,
DO for Agriculture, Manufactures a.

DO for Agriculture, Manufactures "'
ATrade.
The President has initiated with great caution,
and thus far with perfect success his new policy
for taking the Cuba question out of the hands OF
the fibusters and placing the acquisition of that
island in train of successful accomplishment.
We have been for some time aware, through
private information from one of our ccrrespon-
dents in Spain, that movements were being made
there to induce Mr.. Buchanan to send Minister
to Madrid prepared to "plank down" at once in
case any negotiation were made for Cuba. These
efforts were continued all through last year, and
no doubt had much to do with the delay in ap-
pointing our Minister to the Court of Spain.
Cautious and wary in diplomacy Mr.. Buchanan
refused 10 be led into any scheme by the falla-
cious promises Of hope. He demanded, and we
have reason to believe that he received, some
thing more than blind limitations. His next step
was to feel the public pulse in this country; for
though he has mado his selection for the mis-
sion, Mr.. Preston has gone to his post
without word in his instructions in regard to
the purchase of Cuba. The public pulse will be
felt in the discussion of Mr.. Slidells proposition
to place thirty millions of dollars in the hands
of the President to be applied to the acquisition
Of the island.
1t may be two or three years before the policy
60 cautiously initiated by Mr.. Buchanan can be
worked out to successful completion; but when
it is worked out ii will give an impulse to the
industrial interests Of this country that will far
surpass that given by the discovery of gold in
California. Great as our commerce now is with
the United States and that island is damned and
barred by double line of tariffs and antago.
nistic political systems that have most disas-
trous effect upon it. What this commerce would
at once become when the obstacles that now OBJ
struct and depress it are removed will be evil
dent from the citation of few simple figures.
Cuba contains at the present moment apopu-
lation Of very nearly, if not quite, two mil
lions of Inhabitants. Through the differences
caused by difference of climate, soil and
labor, they produce an abundant supply of
two of the most important necessaries
of life which we require, and they consume, al
though they cannot produce, an immense amount
of the staple products Of our labor. In this point
of view Cuba is the complement Of the industrial
interest of the whole Union. We need not enter
into the sugar and coffee question. That comes
home every day to the cups and saucers of every
man, woman and child in the country But let
us look at the other side Of the picture. Cuba
now consumes, at an average cost Of $lS per
barrel, half million barrels of -four, of which
not ten thousand 60 from this country. Take
away the present duty Of ten dollars a barrel,
and give Cuba -four at cost not exceeding the
present duty on American -four, and she will take
from our grain fields one million of barrels of
-four, with an imprescindable law of natural in
crease. The same thing occurs in meats, butter,
lard, and olive oil, which is used as cheap sub
stitute for the highly taxed lard. Of these she
uses in the aggregate about sixty millions of
pounds yearly, of which not onc-fourth part is
imported from this country. Take away the
fiscal and political restrictions that now turn this
commerce into other channels and their cost to
the Cuban consumer would diminish at least
onethird, and the consumption would Immediate
ly double.
In the trade in our branches of manufacturing
industry similar state Of things exists. The
commercial value Of the annual importations
into Cuba of textile fabrics, metals wrought and
unwrought, leather and other manufactures
amounts now to between twenty and twenty-five
millions Of dollars. The prices of these articles
are about fifty per cent above what they would
cost if the trade with us were as free as it is be-
tween the Atlantic ports and. New Orleans;
WHILE under the existing state of affairs, the pro-
portion Of the imports taken from us is, of cot
ton goods, five per cent; of leather, wrought and
unwrought, ten per cent; Of metals, fifteen per
cent; of railroad iron, sugar mills and other ma
nufactures, thirty per cent. Nearly all of this
trade, if it flowed into its natural channels,
would 60 from us, and give employment to our
shipping, which now in great measure goes to
Cuba in ballast to take away its sugar and coffee
Probably one vessel q week only leaYes the
ports Of New York and Boston the year round
laden with general cargo for Cuba. When Mr..
Buchanan's policy for its acquisition shall be
carried to successful issue, shipload of YAM
kee notions would leave daily for that island.
We have only sketched in the rough the great
natural elements of trade between this country
and Cuba-elements which can never be worked
out until the political problem is first solved
When that is done an impulse will
be given to the Industrial mind, and occupation
to the busy hands of our farmers, mechanics and
merchants, that will act like magic upon our
material interests. Every plough, loom and
forge in the country will have new and con-
stantly increasing employment New manufac.
tories, new railroads, new banks, new mechani-
cal appliances Of all kinds, will be required for
production and trade. The stimulus will react
on every nerve and fibre of society. Present
channels Of intercommunication will be thronged,
dead railroads will come to life and nav