The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-27
THE TREATY WITH SPAIN.
Secretary Frelinghuysen Makes aStrong
Argument in Its Behalf,
Meeting Some of the Objections Made to the
Agreement, and Showing that 1t Has
Been Negotiated According to Law


and was sent this afternoon to the chairman OF
the Senate committee on foreign relations:
''Hon. John F. Miller Chairman of the Committee
Foreign Kelatious
"Sir-I have received your letter asking
whether there are any political considerations
relating to the treaty between the United states
and Spain as to Cuba and Porto Rico, and also
inuuiring of me whether | have any suggestions
to make in answer to the objections to the treaty
which you assume have noticed
"lhc negotiation of this convention was IN
dertaken pursuant to policy which had already
received the sanction of Congress, manifested
by appropriations originating in the House. Tor
commissioners to negotiate commerclal con
vention with Mexico and for commission TO
Central and South America, to ascertain means
of fostering moro intimate relations of amlty
and commerce with them. The same polcy mad
obtained the approval Of the Senate by Its raul
fcation of the convention with Mexico The
convention now before you in its political aspect,
is of Importance Some have thought there Is
disposition in the United States looking to the
annexation of Cuba. Such action would
be unwise for reasons which are ap-
parent to your comm iittee, for, even could
it be accomplished by general consent our
institutions would be endangered by this begin
ming of a colonial system, or by an incorporation
into our body polite of large population not in
entire sympathy with governmental aims
and methods The treaty removes causes OF
complaint as to treatment of our ciJizens and
their property in Cuba and Porto Rico, which
have hitherto led TO serious discussion between
the two governments, and, by bringing the
islands into close commercial connection with
the United States, confers upon us and upon
them all the benefits which would result from
annexation. were that possible. The convention
with Spain is one of series or IN
ternatonal engagements following tie
reciprocity treaty with Mexico. 1t opens
the markets of Cuba and Porto Rico
to products. Tho treaty with Santo Do
mingo opens those of that republic and pending
negotiations with the Central American states
and with Colombia tend to the same object. In
conjunction with these the treaty with Nieara-
qua for the construction of an interoceanic ca
nal while bringing the most distant parts of our
own country into closer relations, opens the
markets of the west coast of South America to
our trade and gives us at our door customers
able to absorb large portion of those articles
which we produce in return for products which
we cannot proftably raise.
'Now, let refer to some objections made
to the Spanish convention. 1t is said we there
by give up revenue sugar of from $25 00O,
900 to $50, O0O,O 900 i'll return for reduction of
duties upon our products imported into Cuba
and Porto kieo estimated o on the basis Of exist
ing traffic, at from So 600 900 to s., 900 600
The REIMBURSEMENT of revenue, when
for the public good, is in the line
Of our national opoHcy hitherto. 1t
was done in the case + tea and coffee, which,
by act OF May l, 1872 were placed upon the free
list, without any attempt to obtain therefor any
equivalent whatever and solely in answer to a
popular demand for free breakfast table. By
IlS measure I06 treasury OIL the OnlLeU states
has lost in the last twelve years, a revenue of
some 81 .044 000 900 on coffee alone; and besides
let not forget that Brazil availed itself Of the
action of this government to impose export
tax upon coffee, which deprived the people of
this country of the benefit of tariff reduc
ton. Article of this convention prevents SINH
lar action by Spain. The treaty now under
consideration tends to cheaper the cost of the
necessaries of life by reducing the cost oe a
staple of daily consumption. of which we are
obliged to import each year, nearly one
hundred millions in value to make up for the
inadequate production of own soil,
which amounts only to about IL per centum of
the whole consumption, and at the same time we
secure growing market for our produetsn the
Spanish Antilles, coupled with especial privileges
to our merchant marine. 1t is also said the i'm
portaton of free sugar from Cuba and Porto
Rico, when added to domestic production,
and to importation from the Sandwich Islands
will fall short OF the quantity needed for home
consumption, and the price will be ruled by that
of the part remaining liable to duty so that the
profit from removal of the duty will 60 to Cuban
and Porto Rico planters and not to consumers in
this country If this argument be true the
treaty will not affect the price of sugar in Louis
lana The price Of a commodity is lessened by
the supply being greater than the demand But
it is frank to say that other conventions have
been negotiated, are in process of negotiation
which will provide adequate importation from
sugar regions.
again. the privileged introduction of tobacco
at reduced duties has been objected TO as re-
ducing the revenue and removing protection
from the American product and manufacturer
As TO this, it seems enough to say that the con
vention leaves discrimination against the i'm
ported article from four to five times as great as
the internal revenue duties on the American
product and secures a market hitherto denied
for special manufactures of tobacco. in which
we excel, and which command profitable mar
ket wherever their Importation is permitted
reduction is urged, in many quarters, of the in
ternal revenue tax on manufactured tobacco,
II 40 ho lOco Cf OOA nON
nually to the public treasury. This treaty
taken with others Of the same character, stimu-
lates our general exports, and thereby promotes
the interests of our manufacturers
again, it is urged that the increased eXporta-
zion which these treaties may secure will not
equal the loss of revenue on imported articles.
But these articles of import are produced within
our territory sparingly not at all, of differ
ent grades, not satisfying the public demand,
and it is of the essence of wise protection to
forego duties upon these and to impose them
upon those manufactures which may be profta-
bly, fostered by impeding foreign competition.
Not only do these conventions do this, but they
enlarge the foreign market for our surplus pro
auctions which it is the policy of protection to
secure; and they stimulate our commercial oper-
ations and our carrying trade by reserving to
eur vessels the enjoyment of the privileges con
coded.
again, your attention is drawn to articles 90
and 81 establishing such guarantee of personal
treatment as will insure safety to the interests
of our citizens.
Another line of adverse argument remains
to be considered. IL is said that this class of
treaties is infringement upon the constitu
tional rights Of Congress- in that they change
the duties prescribed by law. This argument is
advanced against ALL including the convention
with Mexico, which, having been already rati
fed, awaits legislation to carry it into effect The
claim that the Mexican treaty is unconstitu-
tional because it affects the revenue and did not
originate in the House of Representatives is
singularly untenable 1t did so origi-
nate. The first action of this govern
ment towards its negotiation was an appropri-
alton by Congress for the salaries and expenses
of commission to negotiate a commercial
treaty with Mexico, a sum not exceeding $40 900
to be expended under the direction of the Presi
dent Of the United States tSundry civil appro
priation act Aug. 7, 1882 And under this
anthorifx Gan Grant nd