The New York herald., 1877-11-18
Interesting Interview with the Representative
Of The Madrid Economical Society.
AMERICAN PROTECTIVE DUTIES CONDEMNED
Contrasted LiberaIity OF Spanish and
American Commercial Laws.
EXHIBITION OF SPANISH PAINTINGS.

Scm!-o0icial assurances that tho Treasury circular
OF September Z, winch caused SO much excitement
here, was due to the bunderng Of somc suoaltern Of
Gclal at Washington, have Gained the anger Of the
Spanish press, and II the question bc satisfactorily
settled, as Il ought TO be no narm viii result, but
rather good, as the incident has drawn attention TO
The necessity OF improving the commercial relations
Of the two countries. Az the Treasury circular was
In the beginning very stupid bunder there is reason
10 hope that the Washington government Will have
the sense to suspend its action required by Spain,
until tho negotiations Tor treaty OF commerce can
be concluded. Indeed it is difficult to understand
upon what ground this reasonable request could be
refused the Treasury circular was not merely Ill
lined and uncalled Tor, bu, in view OF tho actual
navigation laws at present in iorce throughout the
Spanish domnions, wholly indeensibe. As carly as
1860 Spain admitted American ships TO all the ports
OF her dominion on exactly the same footing as her
national ships, thus setting example OF COM
mercal freedom. This graceful act was done spon-
tanoously and without any solicitation pressure,
and Congress thought well TO acknowledge it by pass
ing an act admitting Spanish ships to American
ports on the footing ships Although
there was no formal treaty this act OF Congress was
and has always been regarded IN Spain act OF an
International character having tho sanctity of
treaty Obligation rho surprise and anger Of the
people here can therefore, be well understood when
it was announced that tho government of the United
States without previous notice TO either the Spanish
Ambassador or the Madrid government, mad issued
an order which struck at the very existence OF tho
Spanish mercantile marine Probably tho authors
Of the circular OF the act OF Congress
which conferred on Spanish ships the rights as
American vessels enjoy they would not have
dertaken to repeal an act OF Congress without the
sent at least OF the Senate. The demand made that
The Spanish government should give security not TO
lay any diGertntia duties American shipping is
merely childish effort TO UP the bunder OF the
7th OF September, as tho Spanish government never
entertained the remotost idea OF laying any dleren-
tial charge on American shipping except OF
retaliation for the unfriendly act OF the Washington
government II the heads of departments in the ma
uona capital little better acquainted with the
Spanish constitution they would know that the gov
ernment here has no power to impose dfercntal du-
ties on the goods ships OF any nation without the
consent OF the Cores, except where foreign Power
does unirendly act calculated to damage Sp3n,sh
commerce. In this exceptional case the power TO i'm
pose differcntial duties specially conferred by the
constitution
WHAT THE SPANISH MERCHANTS THINK.
Desiring TO obtain the exact views OF the Spanish
merchants this question the HERALD correspon
called Senator Pascual President of the Madrid
Economical Society, which is the mouthpece OF the
Spanish merchants. Tho society has taken up a
strong position In favor OF adopting retaatory
the United States do not Immediately
suspend the excessive diierental charge imposed by
the September Treasury circular. Senator Pascual
received the correspondent politely, and, having
learned the objec. OF his VISIT recommended him to
call on Senor Ruiz de veasco president Of tho CON-
mission appointed by tho Economical Society to
Ter with the government III reference TO the protec-
lion of Spanish commercial interests Senator Pascual
look occasion to express the hope that the question
Issue would be satisfactorily so,tled. Seeking out
Sefor Ruiz do Vclasco the correspondent found
that gentleman busy engaged in his large
warehouse in tho Gale Mayor and hay
Ing briefly explained the object OF his visit.
Sehor Veiasco at entered on the discussion OF
dinercntial duties from the Spanish point OF viow
he said :-'l shall be most happy furnish you with
Ill the Information possess IN relation TO the duty OF
sghty cents per imposed Spanish ships entering
American ports by your government. Tho spanish
chants unanimously look upon that decree as an un-
ustiabe act oil hostility directed against spain, ana
have demanded that our government should impose
On American ships entering our European ports an
equivalent duty to that imposed by tho President orthe
United States our shpplng trading with the ports
OF the Union lsay that the decree OF he President
an unJusiiable act OF aggression, because II there
any country IN Europe winch hos displayed generosity
and II5etaly toward the United States u is SPAN
without referring to the support ana sympathy when
We extended 10 them in lhor struggle Tor inae-
pendcnce.
SPANISH TARIFFS.
"ln 1869 Spain adopted the most liberal tariffs known
In Europe she suppressed the dinercntial duly ON
foreign shipping and all prohibitions abol ished.
the law liked the maximum duties on oreign goods
nj thirty per cent of Their value. How did the Amer
Republic meet tins liberal couductY BY estab-
iishng an exaggerated protectonlst tarin |
peninsuiar pfoducis Some arIc.es being taxed as
nigh eighty per cent OF tneir value Not content |
win this absurd nipost, III 1915 1t was increased
the utmost aud became IN realty pronibitlon as in |
the case OF wines containing more than twenty-lour
degrees Of alcohol
SPAIN HER INTERESTS
elp cars lI!1x xu nj hnp
oi the United states and of some OF the Old |
World hose injuries waich naturally result from tho
inequality produced by Legislation so liberal as that
oi SPAN ana the protectohist restrictions maAained
by The United states In Wow Of the injury
suffered BY spanish commerce our merchants anu the
economica societies throughout the country urged
the government TO establish Tor those nations which
have not concluded commercial treaiics with SPAN
difcrentiai tarn higher than that imposed on the
goods Of the treaty nations. II in consequences of
these petitions ana recanatons that the law oi appro
prial ons Tor lSs7-s was introduced. TINS law de-
ptiycs those nations winch do not put Spain on the
footing oi the most favored nation by means OF
mcrcla roatics Of tho benefits which result the
revision oi the tarh. In addition u authorizes The
government To impose diercnal dulies on the goods
and shipping OF any nation whcu by us customs laws
discrlmnatcs against our products our shipping.
The Spanish people have ever shown themselves
Jealous OF any act which Affects their national honor
and they could not do less than to protest against
Presidents september decree. IL u thus ieclng which
led The spanish merchants TO demand thai gov
ernment should at ohce adopt rclaliatory measures
against the shipping OF .he United States.
EFFhCr or POLICY,
"Rut this policy OF reprsals VIII only serve to in
lure both parties. Measures wnIch have tho charac
ter OF reprisas cannot long continue in force. They
would, however, have the effect OF compelling botn
the Americans ana tho Spanlaids to restore normal
commercial relations Tho American nug would 10
the greatest sufferer by retaalory measures because
It's commerce with tho Peninsula is double hat ours
is with tue states For this reason 1t Is the interest
OF American merchants TO indncc tbor government to
suspend the September decree. Once this Is dono
there Is no doubt tnat the Spanish government
will enter INTO negotiations with tho Unied States 10
make treaty OF commerce. The American press can
be cf great service III tons matter cnghcning the
public opinion oi the United states the rca WISHES
Dl the spanish people and their desire 10 make ali
reasonable concessions which the national interest
wiipcrmit. What spain desires rs to obtain from tho
United states the Same privileges the favored
nation 10 exchange ior the liberal tariffs sEo Wiling
TO adopt"
s.Why do you wish to exclude Cuba anu Porto Rico |
from the action oil tho proposed treaty OF COM
mercer"