The New York herald., 1877-08-24
CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES.
THE DECLINE OF COMMERCE BETWEEN THE
TWO coUNTBIEs-soME RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR coNGRRss-ADDEEss OF THE CUBAN

The DECLINE OF COMMERCE BETWEEN THE
TWO coUNrBIEs-soME RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR coNoRxss-ADDIEss OF THE CUBAN
LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES.
Messrs Charles K. Graham, Joseph Hayes and Juan
n. Macias, constituting a special committee oi the
Cuban League of the United States last night and
adopted long address for distribution 10 members OF
organization. The address states the history OF the
Gem of the Antilles from the time Of its domination
BY Spain, and reviews tho past and present com
mercal relations between that island and the
United States Of the three departments oi
the island-the Eastern, the Central and the
western-the address states that the two former
have been almost ruined by tho war; as II Is
In them that the insurrection dourishes Tho great
sugar interest, however has always been centralized IN
great part in the Department OF the West inasmuch as
there 10 be found the capital and tho superior
authorities Of the colony and the mass Of pennsuar
Spaniards who compose the shopkceping and com.
mercial interests From public printed documents
which the possession OF your committee we find
that IN tho warehouses OF Havana the entries oil sugar
and hossheads the fret SIX months OF each
one OF the years that are mentioned follows-
1875 Ooo tons; 1915 1855 100 tons; 1877 lS7 800
tons
The expectation for the same period from the ports
OF Havana and MatanZas has been 1S75 23S 4oS tons
1876. 2l, 762 tons; 1877 l47 e24 For the DIS
mixed and SACKS was:-In 1875, los, ,226 tons;
1876, SO OO7 tons; 1877 59sl3 tons. From the same
district the number OF hogshcads OF molasses was:-
In 1873, 80, 900; 1875, 81. 900; 1877, Is, 900.
In every place find the same descending progress
SION, whereas the proportion In which the necessities
the government Increase and Its resources deminish
Is the inverse order The problem which IN this con-
necton presents sefis worthy ofhe serious consider
alton OF the league The accelerated march OF Cuba
toward hor absolute ruin certainly tends to put an end
10 Spanish dominion In tho island But this result
brutal # II be not inevtaDic-cannot accom- pshed
q
TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES
The imports Of the United States from Cuba were, In
1874 $S6272 1885, 1875. 500 7+5 527 1876 $685. 7l76sS
Here We decrease in two years OF almost thirty
per cent nearly onethrd And as for the present
year the result may DO predicted IN view OF the gen.
cral OF the crop in Cuba, estimated by expert
enced persons. at fifteen per cent Not only nus our
own commerce with Cuba been conducted under the
American flag, but we have always carried, In addi
ton. large proportion OF The sugar which that
island SENDS to other foreign natIona The goods
which we export to Cuba bear no proportion 10 our
imports from that island but II is very clear that any
single downward movement In commerce brings
Others in its traiu The mere fact that sugar Is less
abundant has produced higher price In market
and this price Will certainly increase when pass
from nbundancc-be II greater or ess-to an absolute
scarcity OF the article We shall then find less return
from our general productions IN the market Of Cuba
less occupation for our merchant marine as well in
direct traic with that island with other portions OF
the commercial world and an increasing scarcity Tor
45 000 900 OF consumers OF article which has be-
como Indispensable And here the question may occur
What the interests which our government repre-
sents and needs 70 deiendy
WHAT THE ADxNIsrR ALTON HAS DOME
Until II appears that the conduct OF the admin
istrat0u at Washington has had tor It's object a con-
tinuaton OF Spanish dominion In Cuba; partly because
certain high commercial interests deem It tor their
advantage, and partly because the Treasury Depart
ment did not deem IL WISE to diminish, either IN
whole or part, the millions Of dollars which the
national treasury derives from the importation Of fru IL
from the Spanish Antilles. We leave II to others to
estimate this policy according to IT'S truc weight.
In conclusion your committee believe that tho time
has arrived when Congress may Justly recognize tho
independence OF the island or ut least the belgerent
propr,ety repeat the offer OF its friendly mediation
heretofore made, perhaps, at less opportune mo
mcnt And your committee, therefore, recommend
that petition 10 this effect be prepared by the League
and presented 1t the next session OF Congress-