The Portland daily press., 1870-12-29

| INTERESTS.
There is an industrious effort to misrenre-
sent the Presidents position on this question.
Several rumors have been put in circulation
stating there was an intention of re-affirming
by arother special message, the position as.
sumed at the close of the last session, in fa-
vor OF temporary abrogation of the registry
law.
| 1t happens that am enabled TO deny the
authenticity of such a rumor on direct testi-
mony. In recent conversation the President
stated that he not only had no intention of
sending in any message, but further that he
adhered strictly to the policy indicated by
MIN In the message recommending the meas
ures reported last session by the special COM
mlttee on American Tonnage. The sugges
lion made by the President just before the
last session closed, was in pursuance of pre-
sumed emergency and opportunity then ex-
isting, which in the Presidents judgement
does not now exist. The President watches
the controversy with the greatest Of interest,
and takes every opportunity of informing him
self more and more thoroughly as to de. ails.
He particularly intexs : 8 suggestions
bearing on the restorationOf onr inter-Ameri-
can commerce, especially that with Sonth
America, and is especially intimate with the
Argentine Minister, Col. GARCIA, who is re-.
garded as decidedly one the ablest men in
the diplomatic corps; and one of whose
specaattses IS the bringing of the two Repub-
lies into closer commercial and other recipro-
cal ties. The President also favors the policy
OF encouraging the establishment of private
navy yards, so that government vessels may
be constructed and repaired therein, if need
ed. No special plan has received his endorse
ment, but the idea indicated in the Secretary
OF Navy's report meets his approval
WHAT SAN DOMINGO WILL DO.
The policy so strenuously resisted by Mr..
summer is as strenuously sustained by its
friends. The President especially sees in it
or thinks he does, the rehabilitation of our
American commerce, as lwel as the acqusi-
tion OF territory which will in the main sup
ply US with the articles we now consume, pro-
duced In Cuba and Brazil. The comprehen-
siye character of the Presidents view, may BIZ
appreciated by,an examination of the state of
our trade with South America and the West
Indies.
OUR AMERICAN TRADE.
From 1850 to 1859, zen years, we imported
from Brazil and other Southern American
countries, TO the amount of S272, ,427 074.-
From the West Indies to the amount OF 1872.
75o,0l2, or total of $555,177,9S6.
Ofthis total Cuba and Porto Rico alone
furnished US 10 the amount of S2o5 ,o5e, ,733, OR
very near one half OF the whole.
The exports during the same period were: !:
from South America, s1O7 ,4U3, from the
West Indies, STE, 2,547 1927, or total of s279..
$50 73O.
Of this total Cuba and Porto Rico furnish
ed $50. ,248, or nearly one third of the
total.
The excess OF imports over exports during
this decade was 1906 5Ss, ,246, or s3O,55s, ,s24
per annum. The excess in favor OF Cuba
and Porto Rico, was s176,4729S4, or s17,647,-
29S per annum.
For the decade beginning 1860 and ending
fS69 the results are equally startling.
Our South American imports were valued
at S3l7,O9S,927; West Indies S463, COS, 1924
making total of $3.50, O,797,251.
This is an increase of S1e5,G192e5. o.
the above the imports from Cuba and Porto
Rico were valued at s409, 1885, $50 9,-considera-
bly, more Than one half.
During the same period our exports were
to South America s155,62s,s59; to West In
dies S2S9,37416S; total of $445,OO2,O27; ;
being an increase over the previous decade of
$155 5,413,297.
Of the above total exports Cuba and Porto
Rico received s15s,257,s7s, or an increase of
| s2,274,129.
| The total excess Of imports was 1886, 1884,
"a, or ar annual excess of $33,579 422,-a
yearly increase for the last decade of So O2O..
| 597SO.
The annual increase of export over the
preceding decade was S16,541 ,3S97O, CUBA
AND PcRTo Rico.
The totals of trade between these colonies
aud ourselves are instructive. For the two
decades our exports stood, 1s5O-1s59, $751;
5S3,749; 1S60-1S69-$15S ,257,S7S.
The total increase in the last decade was
S72,674,129 or annually, S7,267,4lo 80.
Our imports for the two decades stood as
follows: 1S5O-59, s265,156,733; 10000,
4O9,1s6,659.
| The increase in the last decade was $144,-
O29,936, or an annual increase Of $14,4O2,-
993 go.
The excess of imports over exports was
from 1850 to 1S59-S179,572,9 From 1860
to 1869 it was $25o,92s,7s1. 1t was thus
during the first tea years annually, S17,957,.
29S 40. During the last ten years the balance
has stood $25,092, ,S7S 10 per annum. Fo,
the twenty years given the balance against
US in Cuba and Porto Rico was $43O, ,501, ,7e5
or $43.050,176 5oper annum.
THE TOTAL BALANCE
During the twenty years given-1S50 tc
1860 our account with South America anl
the West Indies stood as follows: Imports
S1,365 ,975,227; exports, S734,592, ,757; excess
of imports. $631 ,3S2,97O, or an annual excess
Of s31,569,123.
When it is remembered that the island O.
Hayti alone yielded before it's revolution a
larger amount of sugar than is now raised b,
Cuba, while its coffee crop equaled all that i.
now produced by Cuba, Porto Rico, Brazi
and Costa Rica.
Five years after her independence was Sc
cured, (1So9) Hayti,-the island being ther
under one government, though not recovered
from the ruin that had ensued, had an impor
trade of $3,100,OOO. Her exports for th'
same year were $780, ,392 lbs. coffee; 1891
Cotton; sol ,421 Chocolate Nut; 1924, 10
Logwood; 2.522,53s Lsnumvi,a, and A, 90
feet OF Mahogany. Hayti alone exported il
1864 5S,440,555 pounds Of coffee.
Commercially then the President is sus
tanned in his effort. Our possession of Sal
Domingo will virtually give us control of th
Gulf, making it virtually closed sea to al
but ourselves. England and France main
tain several lines of steamers TO It's island
and Central America, subsldizip. to the ey
tent of at least S15,O0O000 per annum. Tn
present population is estimated at about /
100000. while that of the other West India
Islands, all under European control. is $3.50
200, while their area is 50,482 miles. Tha
OF the island oil Hayti is 10000 square miles
OF which the San Domingo portion will.b
about $4,000 miles. The population is one
fourth OF tfe whole West Indian group; tha