Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-27
Secretary Frelinghuyssn Dsfsnds
the Document
AND SAYS IT IS A GOOD THING.
Criticisms Of Enemies Of the Measure
Answered and Advantages
Pointed Out.
THE FULL TEXT OF HIS LETTER.

tary trehnghuysen, and was sent this after
noon to the Chairman of the Senate Com
mittee on Foreign Relations:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, d. c. December 20.
To Hon John F. NiEler Chairman Sen
ate Committee on Foreign Relations,
Senate Chamber.
SR:-I have received your letter asking
whether there is any political consideration
important to this country, relating % the
treaty between the United States and Spain,
as to Cuba and Porto Rico, and also in
quiring Of me whether have any sugges-
tons to make in answer to the objections to
the treaty, which you assume | have no
tiSed. The negotiations of this convention
was undertaken pursuant to policy which
has already received
1he Sanction of Congress,
manifested by appropriations originating in
the House, for commissioners to negotiate
q commercial convention with Mexico, and
for a commission to Central and South
! America, to ascertain the means OF foster
| ing more intimate relations Of amity and
commerce with them. The same policy
has obtained the approval OF the Senate by
[ it's ratification OF the convention with Mex
leo. The convention Low before you, in its
political aspect, is Of importance. Some
+ have thought there is o disposition in the
. United States looking to the annexation OF
7 Cubs. Such action would be unwise tor
reasons which are apparent to your commit
tee for even if it could be accomplished by
general consent, our institutions would be
endangered by thus beginning a colonial
spstem, or by an incorporation into our
body poliuc of large population not in en-
tire sympathy with
Our Governmental Aims and Methods,
The treaty removes the causes OF COM
plaint as TO the treatment of our citizens
and their property in Cuba and Porto Rico,
which have heretofore led to serious discus
sion between the two governments. and by
bringing the islands into close commercial
connection with the United States, conters
upon us and upon them all the dement's
which would result from annexation, were
that possible. The convention with Spain
is one of series Of International engage
ments. Following the reciprocity treaty
with Mexico, It opens markets IN Cuba and
Porto Rico to our products. The treaty
with Santa Domingo opens those with that
republic, and pending negotiations with
Central American States and with Colum-
, bia tend to the same object. In conjuDc-
, ton with these, the treaty with Nicaragua
. for the construction of an inter ocean G2nal
5 while bringing the most distant parts OF our
. own country to closer relations opens NJ
5 markets on the western coast of Sn-,tr
America to our trade and gives ~ at ouI
+ doors a customer able 10 esysorb a large
: portion Of those articles wE,,ch we produce
in return fas products waich we cannot
: proGtably raise.
l Nov let me
Refer to some Objections
!. to the Spanish Convention. 1t is said we
thereby give up a revenue on sugar Of
twenty.fye to thirty-fve millions of dollars
l in return for reduction of duties upon our
products imported into Cuba and Porto
Rico estimated on the basis ofthe existing
traffic at from three to five millions The
REIMBURSEMENT Of revenue when for the
public good is in the line of national policy
hitherto obtaining. 1t was done in the case
of tea and coffee, which BY the act of Nav
lst, 1872, we're placed upon the free list
without an attempt to obtain there
fore any equivalent whatever, and solely
in obedience to the popular demand for
Il free breakfast table. By this measure the
treasury of the United States has lost At
least twelve years of revenue, amounting to
some one hundred and torty-four millions
, of dollars on coffee alone, and besides, let
rs not forget that Brazil availed itself Of
the action Of this Government to impose
an export tax upon coffee which deprived
the people of this country Of the benefit OF
our tariff reduction.
Article of this convention
Presented n similar Action by
Spain. The treaty now under consideration
tends to cheaper the cost OF the necessaries
OF life by reducing the cost Of q staple OF
daily consumption Of which we are obliged
: 10 import each year, nearly one hundred
million dollars in value to make mp for the
Inadequate production of our own soil,
which amounts 10 only about IL per cent.
| Of the whole consumption, and at the same
time we secure q growing market for our
p-oducts in the Spanish articles, coupled
with especial privileges to our merchant
marine.
Itis also said the impoFiation of free SUI
oar f,om Cuba and Porto Rico added to
our domestic production and to the lmpor.
tation from the Sandwich Islands viii fall
short of the qGantitY needed for home con-
sumption, and the price wsil be ruled Dy
that of the part remaining liable to duty, so
that the profit from the removal OF the duty
will 90 TO The Cuban and Porto Rico plant
or and not to the consumer in this country;
If this argument be true, the treaty
Will Not Affect TIE Price OF Sugar
in Louisiana. The price of commodity is
less.ned by the supply being greater than
| the demand. But 1t is frank to say that
other conventions have been negotiated, or
are in process of negotiation which will Fro
vide adequate Importation from the sugar
Agaip. the privileged introduction. of to-.
hocco ~ reduced duties has been objected
! to as reducing the revenue and remoHng
nrotsction from the American product ana
T0snpfacture As to this, 1t seems enough
80 saw, thstthe convention leaves diserlm-
;ration asainstthe imported article OF from
fonr 10 FIVE times the iaternal re7enue
5p,;ss ON the American product and secures
a market hitherto denied for special manu-
f.ctnrprs of tobacco in which we exSel and
which command q psohtable market
wbereyer their importation is permitted.
reduction is urged IN many quarters
Of the internal revenue tax on @snuiac
tnrsJ tobacco, and this would be loss OF
some twenty-five millions OF dollars annual
ly to the public treasury This treaty
taken with others OF the same character,
stimulates Our General Exports,
and thereby promotes the interest of our
manufacturers. Again il is urged that the
;pcTeased expectation which these treaties
nav secure viii not equal the loss Of reveR-
ne on imported articles but these articles
imported are produced within our territory
. snarsely or not at all, or of different grades
not satisfying the public demands, and 1t is
Of the essence of wise protection to forego
!. duties upon these and TO impose them upon
: those manufacturers which may be profit
: ahlv fostered by impeding foreign competi-