The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-20
He Did Not Consult His Own Judgment, but
Was Governed by Clear and Specific
Instructions from Washington.
The Inquiry as to Deputy MarshaIs at
the Polls, and How 1t Is Regarded.
Probability that Senator Bayard viii Be
Made Secretary of the Treasury-Mr.
Randall and the SpeakerShip.
THE SPANISH TREATY.

General Fosters Statement of the Conditions
Under Which 1t Was Negotiated.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Dec 19-To-night I had talk
with Minister John W. Foster of Indiana, who
represented the United States government in ne
gotiating the treaty with Spain. The following
editorial paragraph in the journal of Wednes-
day last, was the subject of comment
at is now alleged that the new Spanish
treaty puts duty of seventeen cents on Ameri-
can tobacco and only one and a half cent on
Spanish tobacco difference of fifteen and a
half cents in favor of the greatest Cuban in
dustry.'
THE reverse" said General Foster, 'is the
fact, only the proportion is still greater Under
the treaty certain tobacco imported to the
United States will pay from fifty to seventeen
and one-half cents according to quality, while
all grades of American tobacco imported to Cubs.
will pay only one and two-thirds cents per
pound"
Further of the treaty General Foster re-
marked:
''The editor of the journal Of course under
stands that il is not the business of a diplomatic
representative to initiate policy, but to carry
out the instructions of his government 1 was
invited by the President to go to
Spain for the special object of securing
an improvement Of the commercial relations
with Cuba and Porto Rico In undertaking that
mission l was given specific instructions. These
instructions have executed in the shape of the
= treaty now before the Senate. 1t will be seen,
by comparing it with the reciprocity treaty with
San Domingo and others made public, which
were negotiated at Washington, that it is almost
identical with them, and is the development of d
policy adopted after mature consideration by the
President and Secretary of State to open up to
our agricultural and manufacturing products the
markets to the south OF us in the American con-
tinent, from which we are now almost entirely
excluded. If the policy is a bad one, the Span
ish and the other treaties ought not to be rati-
fed and l. of course, understand that will re-
ceive my due share of criticism for the failure.
But believe it is the true policy for our own
government, and that it. more than any other
method which be devised, will give new life
to our present depressed industries and create
an outlet for surplus products. 1t is to be
expected that in the adoption of any general
measures of this character certain interests may
be temporarily embarrassed but l am thorough
ly satisfied that no industry except sugar pro-
ducton will receive any permanent injury. The
total home production of sugar does not exceed
one-tenth of our entire consumption of one mil
lion two hundred thousand tons, and we are
paying duty of 100 per cent to protect
that one-tenth. An examination of the house
keepers bills will show that the value of the
sugar consumed in almost every family approxi-
mates, if it does not exceed, the amount ex-
pended for bread. How long would our people
submit to 100 per cent duty on their bread2
When in exchange for free sugar we secure the
monopoly of the markets of the tropical coun-
tries of America for our agricultural and manu-
featuring products, from which we are now ox-
cluded by the successful competition Of the
cheaplabor countries of Europe, l think we
should take advantage Of the opportunity"