The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-03-04

They Desire Reciprocity Treaty with
;, 81. lsdy the United States.

There has hardly ever been time when the
attacks of political opponents upon the nation
al administration assumed SO personal acharac-
ter as now. 1t is the President and his person
| al share in the Government, rather than its
public policy, that seem to attract hostile crit-
| cism and even denunciation. His friends some
times complain that such attacks are unfair,
since, in his high office, he cannot reply to
them, nor take any notice of them But, apart
from the question where the right lies, or
whether it lies anywhere, in the bitter political
discussion which have of late wearied the SEN
ate and the country, let us suppose that the
President, disregarding all petty and personal
quarrels, should even now bring forward and
accomplish some great measure of national
policy, which should command the applause
and gratitude of all patriotic people. Would
not this be at once complete reply to his as
sailants and most meritorious service to his
country? e'1b OH iat s.aa. o. %
The President now has an opportunity to do
this. The following extract of letter from
Mr. Bryant, dated Havana, Feb. 3d. will be
read with deep interest: lEa ~
About to set sail for Vera Cruz, on the Mexi-
can coast l sit down to write what may interest
your readers as news of no little importance. 1
dined yesterday in company with several CEN
tlemen who hold important posts in the Gov
eminent of the island, and among them was
the Intendente of the Hacienda. an Office
which, in the administration of public affairs
here, is nearly equivalent to that of Secretary
of the Treasury. After we had withdrawn
from the table, for the Spaniards do not sit sip
ping at their wine, he came to me and said, as
near as can recolIect his words:
why do you Americans Of the North seek
seek to make us your enemies? Why do you,
with your vast possessions, envy US the island
of Cuba? 1t is rich and fertile, but it is ours,
unanimous; free and prosperous nation should
be jealous of its reputation for Justice
Spain is anxious to cultivate friendly relations
with the United States, and at this moment our
Minister Roberts is at Washington, armed with
full powers to conclude treaty of commerce
on the most liberal and satisfactory terms
| interrupted the Intendente by asking;-
With reference to the Island of Cuba? S1zs
Certainly" was his answer, with reference
to the Island of Cuba. We require the pro-
ducts of your fields and workshops; you want
what we can send abroad in abundance, the
growths OF our tropical climate. A free COM
merce in these would be for the advantage of
both you and us; it would encourage and re-
ward our agriculture and would give you all of
Cuba that you desire and substantially all that
you could have IT You annexed her to your pos
sessions. Senior Roberts is fully empowered to
arrange treaty on that basis"
"You may, and you may state also that
you had it from the I1stendente de la Hd-
cie,da at Havana. Such treaty would give
rise to an active and profitable commerce be-
tween the two countries. 1t would remove re-
strictions of which the people here complain as
grievance, and give them surer market and
more certain returns. We shall get rid of slav-
cry, and am believer in free labor. With
better market for our products, the population
of our island will increase. For more than half
OF its fertile lands are lying waste and unculti-
waited; they have never felt the plough With
such treaty to stimulate our agriculture these
would be gradually brought under cultivation
and covered with crops Of sugar cane. tobacco
and pine APPLE = ~ -
Such was, in substance, the conversation
mad Win the lntendente, in the course of which
he grew eloquent, expatating on the advantages
of such a treaty to both countries. and reneat
ing several times with emphasis that the Span
ish minister at Washington has full authority
to conclude it. a-. s.
A treaty providing for free commercial inter-
course between the United States and Cuba
would literally secure to us every advantage
which could be hoped for from the conquest or
purchase of that island; without any of the
disadvantages. The one object to be gained by
acquiring Cuba is free trade with Cuba. But
many far seeing men fear lest even this great
gain would be too dearly purchased by under
taking to secure to the mongrel population of
Cuba, most of it ignorant mneh of it but half
civilized, and none of it speaking English,
hepuDhcan form of government at nome, and
share with us in the government of the whole
nation But here is an opportunity to take the
gain without the danger, to make Cuba as much
our own for purposes of production and trade
az II 1t were state of the Union, and to re-
main as free from responsibility for its internal
condition, and from the injurious influences of
lts lower civilization, as we ever were.
. II Is also impossible to overlook the fact that
such commercial treaty as this would greatly
increase the intercourse of this country with
ing
that island mainly under the control of orr cit
liens. This would inevitably hasten the aboli-
ton of slavery, which at worst cannot be de- |
layed much longer, and the spread of intelli-
gence and republican ideas in Cuba; thus pre-
pairing the way, perhaps, for future incorpor-
alton of the island in the Union, by natural
and easy process, when its people shall be filter
for the duties of free citizens, and when Spain
shall be more ready to do them justice. Nor is
1t, perhaps, of less Importance that the treaty
would at once put an end to the uneasness
which has long characterized our relations with
Spain, and would closely bind to us European