The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-05-01
The Commercial Crisis in Cuba.

bers.
The Commercial Crisis in Cuba.
The business crisis in Cuba affords a good
illustration of the effects of tariff so adj
justed as to yield the highest possible
revenue. Things have been going from bad
to worse for years in the island, until bust
ness has been reduced to such a condition as
to attract the attention of the commercial
world in both Europe and the United States
Spain has been governed by but one i'm
pulse in her dealings with this, her last inn
portant possession upon this hemisphere,
and that is to make the most out Of it for
the royal treasury.
The result has been what might have been
expected-the goose which laid the golden
egg is gasping in the last throes of death.
The island has produced for export for
generations almost wholly sugar and to-
bacco. Her spices, fruits coffee and cocoa
nuts have amounted to but little compare
lively in the worlds markets. Instead of
administering the affairs of the island with
a view to the progress of these interests, a
ruinous tariff has been imposed upon every
/ thing her planters were forced to consume,
but which could not possibly stimulate the
bare production of the articles imported.
Indeed, that was exactly what the Spanish
/ government desired to avoid. The tariff,
| therefore, was simply an addition to the cost
and agricultural implements, fabrics, cured
meats, -four and chemicals needed by the
planter were taxed to the verge of prohibit
ton, and the burden was increased each
/ year. Every year, too the buying power of
/ the Cuban producer of these staples was
crippled by competition, and while the cost
Of his crop increased, the remuneration grew
less. The margin has grown steadily smaller,
until for the past four or five years the
sugar growers of Cuba have produced their
crop and sold it at loss, and have grown
poorer each successive season. It seems that
European beet sugar and the onerous tariff
have finally accomplished their work, and
in the desperate straits of the island Spain
has been compelled to admit that something
must be done to bring about an improve
ment.
The United States, being the purchaser of
50 per cent of the products of the island, is
naturally regarded by the Cubans as the
instrument of relief They demand re-
eiprocal treaty for freer commerce with this
country, and Spain has yielded so Ear as to
at least begin the preliminary negotiations
on the subject.
The 10 per cent. discriminating duty on
goods carried in American bottoms has been
repealed, as the result of Minister Fosters
negotiations at Madrid, so that -four from
Minneapolis can be bought in Havana now
after having made single voyage from
New York, instead of having to be shipped
to Spain, unloaded and re-shipped in a
Spanish vessel, as heretofore, to escape a
prohibitory tariff charge. Up to within
three months the cheese from American
diaries and packed meals from Chicago
found their way into the Cuban markets by
the same devious course.
r Minister Foster is now in this country
and it is understood that the object of his
visit is mainly to consult with the State
Department relative to a reciprocal treaty
with the West Indies If such a treaty is
contemplated it should contain clause fol
q the benefit Of American shipping which Tho
Mexican and Hawaiian treaties do not.
f 1t is no more than fair that while tn,
1 shipping interests of the United States help *
bear the burden of the protection granted tt
r Louisiana sugar, New England cottons anG
c woolens and Pennsylvania coal and iron
e these interests in turn should assist III,
r carrying trade. This may be accomplished
: by inserting a clause in the proposed con
v vention to the effect that the reciprocal
e advantages shall be applied only to TIL
= specified products of either country, whel
n carried in American-built or Cuban. bull
> bottoms In effect this would apply onl,
J. to the latter, because the Cnbans have N
n facilities for ship building.
IF The effect of such a provision would b
n to assimilate the traffic of these islands t
l. the coast-wise trade of the United States
n and would make them, what they are boun'
IS to become in time, the natural Commercial
+ dependencies of this country. This Will b
E. the inevitable condition, sooner or later, c