The New York herald., 1875-11-27
Our real Interest I'm Cuba.

Our Real Interest In Cuba.
The people Of the United States would
like to see Cuba free /; just as they would like
to see all the West Indian islands ruling and
governing themselves ; just as they rejoiced
when the Spanish colonies in South America
and Mexico obtained their liberties and
began to exercise the rights of self-gov-
ernment Considering our own history,
1t is inevitable that Americans should sym
pathize with every attempt of other Amer
leans to shake off the rule of Europe and
become independent nations This SYM
pathy, however, has never hitherto led us to
fight the battles of people engaged in such
an attempt nor should it now especially
when we find that a considerable proportion
of the Cubans who profess to desire the
freedom of their island live here in peace
when they ought to be fighting the Spaniards
But the people of the United States have
a real interest in Cuba of quite another
kind. Our trade with the island is very
large We are one of the principal GUS
toners for its sugar and tobacco, and the
islanders have use for great many of our
products. But under the present treaty ar
rangements between Spain and the United
States our traffic with the island is 50 seriously
hampered that it has for great many years
been an extremely one-sided affair. For in
stance, in 1871 we imported from Cuba prod
ucts of the island to the amount of
S58, 240, 900, and sold there of our own prod
ucts only $14, 100000 worth. In the year
ending June 30, 1875, we imported of Cuban
products $50, 745, 900 worth and sold in Cuba
only SIS, $50, 600 worth. For great number
of years the discrepancy between our inn
ports from and exports to Cuba has been
quite as great as these figures show, and this
is owing to commercial regulations of Spain
which are antiquated, and which even Span
ish statesmen have been willing to change.
Now instead of going to war with Spain
or threatening her in such way as to bring
about hostiities, which would only cause us
pared, and would derange our commerce
and finances, the real interests of our people
would be furthered by negotiations for a
more liberal system of commercial regula-
tions, such as would enable us to sell Ameri-
can products in Cuba to the same value as
the Cuban products we buy. Nearly twenty
years ago Spain offered us a new commercial
treaty, which, had it been accepted, would
have greatly increased our commerce and
enriched our producers. But the ruling
powers here at that time rejected this offer,
being then busted with scheme for buy
ing Cuba. Why does not the Presi-
dent reopen negotiations at Madrid for
revision of the commercial regula-
tions such as shall enable US to export
our products direct to the island? Spain is
hardly in position to refuse what we could
justly ask, and the opportunity seems to be
favorable for such negotiation as we sug-
gest. treaty with Spain allowing us to
send direct to Cuba and to enter there free,
or with moderate duty, all Of our products
which can find q market there would be
hailed in this country as one Of the wisest
and the most important achievements of the
present administration but a war with
Spain would receive no favor here except
among spectators and contractors.