St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-15
GIVE SPAIN A WHACK.
Blaine Would Shut Out the Prod
uCtS of Cuba.

ucts of Cuba.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July 1.-THE
following letter fir ON Secretary Blaine,
now at Bar Harbor, Me-, was received
to day by Senator Frye:
Dear Mr.. Frye: | have just received
intelligence from the highest CONNER
flour, under the new duties imposed by
Spain, cannot reach the Cuban market
under cost of S11.46 per barrel, count
ing the shipping price in New York
at $3.50 per barrel. Spain holds
the market for herself, and is
able to send European -four
to the markets of Cuba and Porto Rico.
Other articles of American growth are
likewise taxed by Spain to the point of
prohibition. This One-Sided commerce
will seriously lnjure the shipping
routes which are still in American
hands largely, it not exclu-
siyely. 1t would certainly be
very extraordinary policy on
the part of our government just at this
2 time TO open our market without charge
OF duty to the enormous crops of sugar
raised in the two Spanish islands. Cuba
and Porto Rico furnish the United
States with nearly or quite one-half of
are far larger consumers than any other
nation in the world. TO
Give a Free Market
to this immense product of the Spanish
plantations at the moment Spain is eX-
GLIDING the products OF American farms
from her market, would be policy as
unreasonable as it would be unWise.
Our trade with the American republics,
as well as with the West India Islands,
has been for many years in most
unsatisfactory condition. The aggre-
gate balance of trade with all Latin
America is heavily against us. A sin
gle illustration will suffice. Since we
repealed the duty OH coffee in 1872 we
have imported the products of Brazil to
the extent of 1921, SOC, 900, and have
sold to her S156, 135, 600 of our prod
uctS. The difference-S644,6 71, 600
we have paid in gold or its equivalent,
and Brazil has expended the vast sum
in the markets of Europe. You can
readily see how different the result
would have been if in return for the
free admission of Brazilian coffee in
our markets we would have exacted
the free admission of certain products
of the United States in the Brazilian
markets. 10 increase this error on
sugar to an amount three times as
large as on coffee will close all opportu-
nifty to establish reciprocity OF trade
with Latin America. The charge
against the protective policy which has
injured it most is that its benefits go
wholly to the manufacturer and the
capitalist and not at all to the farmer.
You and we'll know that this is not
true, but still it is the most plausible
and, therefore. the most hurtful argu-
ment made by the free trader. Here is
an opportunity where the farmer may
be benetitted-primarily, undeniably,
richly benefited. Here is an oppOr-
tunity for Republican congress to open
the markets of 1900, COO of people to
the products OF American farmers. Shall
we seize the opportunity, or shall we
throw it away? l do not doubt that in
many respects the tariff bill pending in
the senate is just measure and that
most OF its provisions are in accordance
with the wise policy of protection. But
there is not section, Or line in the
entire bill that will open market for
another bushel of wheat or another
barrel of pork. If sugar is placed
on the free list without exacting i'm
p0rtant trade concessions in return, we
shall close the door for profitable
lCOlPlOClby oSoiHoU Jul oOlfOos
you will find some valuable hints on
this subject in the presidents brief
message of June 10, with as much prac
teal wisdom as was ever stated in so
short space. Our foreign market for
breadstuffs grows narrower. Great
Britain is exerting every nerve to secure
her bread supplies from India and the
rapid expansion Of the wheat area in
Russia gives us powerful competitor
in the markets of Europe. 1t becomes
us therefore, to use every opportunity
10: the extension of our market on both
Of the American continents. With
nearly S1O0,000,000 worth of sugar seek
ing our market every year, we shall
prove ourselves most unskilled legis-
latOrs if we do not secure large
field for the sale and consump-
ton of our breadstuffs and proviS-
iods. The late conference of American
republics proved the existence of
common desire for closer relations. Our
congress should take up the work
where the the inter national conference
left it. Our field of commercial devel-
Opment and progress lies south of us.
Very Sincerely Yours,
JAMES G. BLAINE.
Hon. w. P. Fry e, United States Sen
ate.