The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-12-27
THE SPANISH 5 ] TREATY.
SOME OF THE OBJECTIONS ro n,
Answered Hy Secretary Frellnshuys,n,
Randaff's Itcnsons for Invading =, , s.,,.,
soath-Morrison's Scheme to Do.
throne Him In tho Next House.

WASHINGTON, Dec.9 .96.-Secretary Frelins,
huysen In reply to inquiry Of Chairman
ofthe Senate Committee on Foreign Rela.
tlons, asking whether there wero auy
political considerations important TO this
country relating to the treaty between tho
United States and Spain as to Cuba and
Porto Rico, says: "The convention nou
before yon in Its political aspect is OF i'm.
portance. Some have thought there is a
disposition in the United Suites looking to
the annexation Of Cuba. Such acton
would DO unwise for reasons which nrc
apparent to your committee; for even
could 1t be accomplished by general con.
sent our institutions would be endangered
by thus beginning u colonial system. or
by an incorporation into our body polite
large population not in entire sympathy
with our governmental aimsand methods
The treaty removes the causes OF com.
Piaiht as to tho treatment OF our citizens
and their property In Cuba and Porto
Rico, which have heretofore led 10
serious discussion between the two GOV:
eernmenta, and by bringing the islands
into close commercial connection with Tho
United States consers upon us and upou
them all benefits which would result from
annexation were that possible. IT,. 80,
OTHER TREATIES CONTEMPLATED.
The convention with Spain is one Of q
series OF international engagements iol-
lowing the reciprocity treaty with Mexico.
It opens the mar kets OF Cuba and Porto
Rnoto our products. The treaty with
santa Domingo opens those OF that re-
public, and pending negotiations with the
American States and with Colombia tend
TO the same object. In conjunction with
these the treaty with Nicaragua for the
construction OF IN inter-oceanic canal,
while bringing the most distant points OF
our own country to closer relations opens
the markets OF the west coast of South
America to our trade, and gives lis Mt our
doors 4 customer able TO absorb large
portion OF those articles which We produce
IN return for products which we cannot
profitably raise.
Now let me refer to some objections to
the Spanish convention. 1t is said We
thereby give up revenue on sugar from
twenty-five to thirty-tive millions of dol
lars in return for reduction OF duties
upon our products imported into Cuba and
Porto Rico, estimated on basis OF existing
traffic Mt from three to five millions.
REINFORCEMENT OF REVENUE.
The relinquishment OF revenue when
for the public good is in line with the ma
tional policy hitherto. 1t was done in the
case OF tea and coffee, which by the act OF
May |, 1872, were placed upon the free
list without any attempt to obtain there
fore any equivalent whatever, and solely
in obedience to the popular demand for
IA free breakfast table" BY this measure
tho treasury OF the United States has lost
the last twelve years revenue OF some
one hundred and forty.four millions OF
dollars on coffee alone; and besides let us
not forget that Brazil availcd itself OF the
action OF this Government to impose nj,
export tax upon coffee which deprived the
people Of this country Of the benefit Of our
tariff reduction. Article / of this conven.
tion prevents similar action by Spain.
The treuty nOw under consideration
tends to cheaper the necessaries Of life by
reducing the cost OF staples, tho daily con-
sumption OF which We are obliged to i'm
port each year nearly one hundred mil
lions in value to make up for the made
quate productions OF our own soil, which
amounts to about - percent OF tho whole
consumption, and at the same time We se-
cure growing market for our products in
the Spanish Antilles, coupled with espe-
cial privileges for our merchant marine,