The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-02-04
Eastern Opinions Oftho Treaties.

Boston, Jdspary 5fh.-The Mexican reciprocity
treaty found some Of its earliest and most en-
thusiastic supporters in New England. Public
opinion IN the Eastern States is still favorable to
it. But the Cuban agreement has moro enemies
than friends, and, worse yet, its special advo-
Gates must feel. ii has fallen very fiat. The no.
ton prevails that IT is dead already that it is
not worth while for any one to take pains 10 or
gauize the hostility which il has aroused. Among
the commercial bodies the New England Ship
Owners Association is the most prominent, If
not indeed the only one, that has put itself re-
cord in favor of the trsaty. The New England
Tobacco Growers Association has adopted pro-
testing memorial. 1t is felt in commercial cir
ces that each of the conventions ought to stand
its own merits, and especially that the one with
Mexico, already ratified by the Senate ought not
TO be killed by the later and less advantageous
agreement with Spain.
Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of the ST
tuation is this: Those New England journals
which are most earnest in their advocacy of re
venue reform object to the Cuban treaty, while
the only one of general circulation which sire
nuously urges its ratification is a thick-and- thin
defender of the protective system. There is not
much concealment of the motives which animate
either side. The tariff reformers find their best
argument in the plain fact that the admission of
sugar up TO No. 16 from Cuba and Porto Rico
duty free means the free entry of all sugar at no
distant day. But with sugar on the free list,
along with tea and coffee, they argue, it will be
virtually impossible to secure purely revenue
tariff, or anything approIimating one. At the out
set the ratification of this treaty would eectually
settle the problem of revenue reduction. II
would wipe out large part of the surplus, even
If it did not produce deficit But if taxes to the
extent of $25,0o0,000 TO S50,0CO0O0 are to be re-
mitted, as they must be- il is of the utmost ill
portance for New England that they should be
taken from the raw materialsIof her manufactures
none Of which does she produce in any quantity
such as iron ore, lumber, coal and wool. In the
opinion OF many, free sugar means taxed manu-
featuring necessaries, and free raw materials
would add vastly more to the wealth Of the com
NkaW, H. N.g.-a
the way, is essentially revenue tax. This is the
view entertained by the leaders in the Massachu-
sets Tariff Reform League, although that body
has not thought it worth while to take any action.
The extreme protectionists do not hesitate TO
advance precisely the opposite Argument They
see clearly that the surest way to prevent a con
siderable reduction of duties whether horizontal
or scientific, is TO get nd of the surplus in the
Treasury. convenient way to bring this about
would be 10 make sugar free; and If in connection
with free sugar some extension of the market for
our manufactures can be obtained, even if it be
only among the small and poyerty-stTicken popu-
latlon of the Spanish West ludIes, there will be an
incidental gain.
These are the broad principles winch animate
the New Englqnd opponents and advocates of the
Spanish Treaty respectively, however much their
real motives may be concealed under other argu-
ments. The theory that the executive has no
right to make revenue treaties, though it tickles
members of Congress, takes no hold ON the New
England public. The opponents of the treaty
willingly admit that some advantages in the way
of an extension of trade and the removal of bur
dens from our shipping would flow from its en-
fOrcement. But they deny that the gain in these
respects would be anything like what has been
represented tby those having special and personal
interests at stakel as likely TO accrue Ii is be-
ieved, moreover, on pretty good grounds, that the
agreement owes its inception TO New England
and other owners of land in Cuba who foresaw in
it neat way TO get Congress to help them make
money. That New England ships would derive
some advantage from the confirmation of the
treaty cannot be denied. Its Endorsement bv
ship-owners is perfectly natural. On the other
hand American tobacco interests might suffer
injury under it, and their hostility is easily
accounted for. Exporters have not made them
selves heard on either hand, partly no doubt, be-
cause expectation has not yet been made an
exact science by American manufacturers.
Every argument in favor of the Spanish treaty
Except such as are based upon the reduction of
reyenue) is equally applicable to that with Mexico
Indeed the Mexican agreement promises even
greater returns to our commercial circles. Its
operation will not imperil further revenue REFORM
and accordingly 1t has enemies of any account in
the east. The desire to have it carried into effect
is strong and almost universal. BRADsTREETs.