, 1875-03-10
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH SPAIN,


consider during the present executive session
proposition to amend the old trcnty with
Spniu, whicl, datcs from the last cen
tury; but the outline Of this arncntlment3 rs
published only includes provisions as to the
right of search on the hfgl, seas, md tho pro-
lection Of property belonging to citizens Of
tho United Statts, but stuato in Spanish
territory. If this is tue entire project for re-
adjusting our relations with Spain, it is coll
spicuously deficient. It ID high time TINT VIC
have now treaty with Spain, but 1t ought to
covor primarily otr commercial relations
with that power. The United States
Government has permitted Spain to
plunder tho people Of this country
by tue most shameless discrimination
against American commerce. a system Of
import and export duties Inns beon devised
for Cnba and Porto Rico whereby We pny ex-
orbitant prices for the staples Of those islands,
and aro shut out from fair competition
with spain in furnishing Cuba with tie prod
ucts and manufactures Of this country which
the island requires. 4 simple statement of
tho exports and imports to and from Cuba
aud Porto Rico nttests this condition Of
th;rh. t,or t1,o H,,o1 wan, o,,<1;,,., r,,.. a.,
1c-a 49,. .,,..s -, ..,,a,s s' ~e '""o wv
Cubs. cubs.,..........s.....'.'. M ..a' e.H *77 i'm nm
Porto ntc0..,...... 7sss.sll
To,o1. "a, AZ, ~
c,,, EXPORTS TO cunA AND Fonzo nice: ono
Torto ii,co. n5s1i
ro,,, :,,ssc...
Difference in goll. ss2Si97
In round numbers then, we aro forced to
pay about SIT, 900, 600 a yoar in cold for thu
sugnrB, cot1oos, tobaccos, fruits. etc. which
wo buy from Cuba over and above tile yalue
Of ali tho flour, grains, md manufactured
articles which Spain allows ,1s 10 ciye in er.
chnnRe. This il wholly unnatural, NJ wa arc
the nearest nciRh5a=a c..f Go best cusso,ners
of these islani1s. I'D 3in,,7 wo produoe In
great quantities and can furnish at cheancr
prices all the primo commodities which tho
inhabitants af .l,e islands aro forced 10 mr.
chnso elsewhere The cxactions of Spain cnt
both ways. She IMPOSES export dutics m MI
the articles wo buy from her west
rndia possessions; whom tho dntv IN
DoGeo was removed in this country.
Spaln put On an Al{4ltlCnNl GxDOtt thx.
80 that American consumers should INV aa
much "a over, with the difference that the taY
now goes into tho Spanish Treasury instead of |
,ur own. The import dutics levied upon
american commodities sent 10 Cuba oro nj.
most rrolaibitory, mud vastly greater than tho
import duties on commodities sent to Snain
The whole system has been framed with tbo
express purpose of sustaining tho snaniah
Government out of the proceeds of rn1on
axes, and tho peop1o of tho 11nfted states
ire made tho suecinl victims of tho ;mros;.
ion. There il no other arcot nation IN eorth
Which would endure the oxactiona mt unon
IS; tliero is no other 1lrst.c1oss nat;on ,rl;ol
;pain would dare to treat in tho same fashion.
1t is in tho powor Of tho United statea
Government to exact from spain ot 1enst
mir trado. Great Britair allows III to tratle
rith Cauatla apl other colonies of hora ~,
ho same terms nho trades with thom herself
Yl,y should not Spain 10 REQUIRED to do like.
riso ~ regards Cuba and Porto Rico ? snnin
aa no moral or lnwtul right to maintain this
ersistcnt discrimination acainst tbe un,te7
tates, and sho could not onforco it II onr
Government Should rot ont to resent II. Sin
ou f,p<. s;,,o fa~e,,.l ....1 - !