Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-28
The Treaties.

Mr. fREEIN0HuYSkffs ettcr, wpfcu VIC
prinicd yesterday. setting forth what he
considers coed rsssons why the treaties
should be rnts6ed which have been recently
negotiated BY the President between the
Timed States and several other countries,
4 : plsusible statement Of one side Of the
CASE. Il seems to remove entirely the OBJ
lection that these frsstise trench upon the
powers Of the House Of Representatives as
The only body IN which revenue bills can
originate, since they provide that they are
moi to 70 INFO effect until The Honse OF
gepreseutativss shall have performed any
act Of legislation which may be necessary
10 the fun perfection Of these trestlse.
Mr., FRELrxcBuYsES also makes o good
poirt when be says that II the Spanish treaty
shall not have the effect OF reducing the
pricc Of sugar, II Will not have the effect OF
destroy ing the protection which the present
tariff affords to Louisiana sugar. That Is
10 say, It Is not fair for the opponents OF
that treaty to sffirm that 1t will not reduce
the price Of sugar. and in the same breath
affirm that II will expose the Louisiana
painters TO ruinous competition.
But when these two things are said oil Is
said that can be said In favor Of the Spanish
treaty. whatever there may remain to be
said In favor Of the treaty with Nicaragua,
which OF the present writing we are inclned
to regard with more favor than we do the
Spanish treaty.
Mr.. FRgLNGHuysES advocates the Span.
Ish treaty because II will have tendency to
do away with the necessity OF annexlng
Cuba to the United States. But the friends
Of the treaty with Nicaragua. or some OF
them at least, advocate that treaty upon the
ground that II will be one step towards the
annexation to this country OF Mexico and
all the country between the projected Mica
rsgua canal and the United States. This Is
taking proposition. But It will be many
years before the people Of the northern sec
tion Of the United States VIII ever consent
10 annex any territory south Of the United
States. They are willing to annex Canada,
and oil the others Of the British possessions
on this continent, but look with jealous
eye upon all propositions 10 annex territory
lying on the other side Of this country.
!. The reciprocity" Of the Spanish trea-
~ Is Of the kind which characterized the
well-known treaty between the horse and
the bsrnyard fowl. The horse did not make
much out Of q treaty which bound the two
parties not TO tread the one upon the others
toes. The United States occupies the same
underground Tor disadvantage-grouud)
in the treaty with Spain. 1t is supposed
that this Government could buy the whole
fslandsof Cuba for the sum Of money which
would be lost to our revenues annually rs
. consequence OF the ratification Of the
treaty with Spain. II Mr.. WEBSTER was
justifable In rriting in his grand style to
Minister HULsEMAuy that the possessions Of
the house Of HAPsBERG were to the domin.
ions Of the United states but as ga patch
upon the earth's surface" surely Mr.. FIRE.
LISGHuYsES might ask Spain to remember
that Cnba's entire trade was not equal to
that OF each Of several OF the United
States.
But Mr.. FRELISGHuYsEN says that other
treaties are to follow which will secure TO
the people Of this country sugar enough
for all the purposes for which they use it,
to come to Us as free as that from Cuba and
Porto Rico, and therefore enough to enable
us 10 do without TIE Louisiana sugar, and
therefore, again. cheap sugar cheaper by
perhaps two cents a pound than sugar
now II. These treaties, II ratified,
would ruin the business OF the
Louisiana sugar-planters. Nevertheless,
they would find advocates enough. The
masses do not consider II their business to
look out for the welfare OF any particular
class. But It will be time enough to con-
slider the question In its new aspect when
II shall have taken on that aspect. At pres
ent, II would seem. the only elIrc. OF the
ratification Of the special treaty would be
10 annex Cuba and Porto Rico 10 the United
States 20 fsI as our protective tariff Is con-
cerned, and 10 leave them as they are in all
otter respects.