Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1880-10-23

THE experiment of reciprocity between the
United States and Hawaii has resulted so sat
isfactorily to the mercantile and industrial in
terests OF the former country, though on
comparatively small scale, yet none the less
conclusiveIy that the press, particularly that
of California, is improving every opportunity
to advocate reciprocity with Mexico and with
the governments of Central and South America
| There has also been some talk in the East
about the desirablity of reciprocity with
Canada, but the apparently fixed policy of the
Dominion is at present one of protection, pure
and simple Recently, Spain has made a move
ment looking toward a treaty of reciprocity
with the United States as to the productions
of Cuba. The Spanish minister ut Washington
has presented to the Department of the Treas
ury memorandum. setting forth the state Of
the commercial relations between Cuba and the
United States, with view to showing what
concessions Spain desires from American tar.
| iff Legislation for Cuban and Porto Rcan
sugar and molasses The minister, like his
predecessors it is said in letter from Madrid
to the New York Herad) desires to prepare
the way for a general treaty of commerce and
navigation between the United States and
Spain and the colonies on the basis of rccipro-
city. But the Spanish government, knowing
the difficulties presented by such policy in
the present state of opinion in Congress, and
in American commercial circles, would readily
accept convention fixing certain privileges
for Cuban sugars and molasses in the Amer
lean market, if the Washington government
was prepared to accept and demand this policy
before Congress as an equivalent for the con-
cessions the Spanish Government is ready to
make in Cuba and Porto Rico tariffs OH -four
and other imports from the United States. The
latter country is the largest customer of the
Cuban export and import trade.
| This proposition was sent in early last
month, and a later telegram announces that it
was rejected by Mr. Sherman, Secretary of the
Treasury, on the ground that the advantage
that Spain offered of free importation Of wheat
and -four was a very small one, and what she
demanded in return was very important one.
The duties on Cuban sugar yield Il very large
revenue to the United States the free admis-
sion OF wheat and flour with Cuba would DO
more of benefit to the Cubans than to the
American farmers. What the friends of reci-
procty in the United States want, is free ad-
mission of all the products of their soil and
ordinary manufactures therefrom, in return,
for the admission of all products of the soil
from tropical and semi-tropical non-manufac-
turing nations. The proposition of Spain in
no way comes up to these requirements. But
MIR. Sherman is only an executive officer; the
power to make treaties is in Congress. To
quote Mr.. Shermau's own language: at is my
duty to gather every dollar into the Treas ury
l can it is the duty of the Secretary of the
State to examine the policy of making aud sns-
tanning treaties like that with Hawaii" Says
the San Francisco Merchant in this connection
Mr.. Sherman's great object at present is to
get hold of every dollar he can for the purpose
OF reducing our national debt. 1t is the poll
cy of Congress to tighten all those burdens Of
internal revenue and Custom-House taxation
which are impeding the manufactures and
foreign commerce OF the country. Therefore
we place no value on this statement from
Washington. Moreover, on the 4th of March
next, it is more than possible that Mr.. Sher-
man will cease TO bo Secretary of the Treasury
of the United States, and it is quite probable
that gentleman Of the Democratic party will
succeed him.