The Portland daily press., 1890-07-16
Mr.. Blaine on sugar,

Some weeks ago, In letter to Mr. De-
Cony Of Augusta, Mr.. Blaine Suggested that
the tariff on sugar might Be used to make
r.ne prontaplet trades for this country. His
proposal, Tn effect, was that the present tariff
be retained. but at the same time that the
sugar-producing Latin-American republics
to the south Of us be notified that if they
would admit our breadstuffs and certain
otherof our products free, we would recipro-
cate In regard to their sugar. These Latin
American republics produce annually about
100000 pounds of sugar, while
the necessities of the people of
the United States require the
the importation of more than $500, OOO, 900
pounds. 1t is clear, therefore, that il Mr..
Blaine's proposal were confined to the South
American republics we would not get free
sugar, for those republics could not supply
us with more than very small fraction of
the amount we must have. The most of our
sugar must still be brought from other coun-
tries and be subject to tariff tax.
In letter to Senator Frye published yes
terday Mir. Blaine extends his proposal SO as
to include the Spanish West Indies. While
1t is clear that the privilege If confined
to the South American Republics would
be OF some advantage to them, inasmuch as
they could sell their sugar in this country for
the same price as sugar subject to duty
thus securing as clear gain the amount OF
the duty, and while 1t is clear that such an
advantage would be worth paying for, it
seems equally clear that the moment the
same privilege is extended to the Spanish
West Indies, 1t becomes absolutely valueless
TO the South American Republics. For the
latter will be In no better condition to com
pete with the former when the sugar of both
countries is admitted into this country free
than when the same duty is imposed upon
the sugar of both. That is to say If the
sugar Of Brazil be allowed free access
to our markets and the sugar of Cuba also,
the sugar of the former will stand no better
chance in our market than when a duty of
half cent pound is imposed upon 1t and
similar duty upon Cuban sugar. No more
OF 1t can be sold and no more money realized
for 1t by its producers. Thus the concession
OF free importation of sugar into our markets
TO Cuba makes the same concession to the
South American Republics absolutely value
less. 1t is of value to either when granted
as an exclusive privilege. 1t becomes of value
to neither when granted to both. And if 1t
be OF advantage to neither, neither is likely
70 pay Tor 1t in the shape of concession to
ou. natural products or In any other shape.
Inc United States were In condition to
p.vuuce us own sugar, and could threaten
Cuoa WIN the exclusion of her sugar. we
should be In position to make such nro-
posai 10 cuba as Mr.. Blaine suggests. with
good prospect that 1t would be Needed Rnt
II mas been demonstrated by long wears of
trial that the United States cannot nroduco
but very small fraction of the sugar II
must have. 1t must, therefore, of necessity
import 1t. If Cuba refuses to admit our
hour free OF duty we may turn round and re-
fuse to admit her sugar free of duty; but we
must admit 1t all the same, for Cuba is, and
must continue to be, the chief source of our
supply. More than half the sugar we i'm
ported last year came from that ISL
and. Now, as far as the in.
tsrests of the Cubans are concerned. it
is difficult to see what difference 1t makes to
them whether we impose a duty on their
sugar or admit it free. The duty on sugar
is purely revenue duty. 1t is simply added
to the price which the consumer has to pay
for IT, Our importing merchant buys it of
the Cuban planter, pays the duty on it and
then charges the duty to the consumer If
there were no duty the Cuban would get no
more than he does now. 1t would seem to
De- therefore, matter of no consequence to
MIN whether we impose duty on 1t or not.
ferhaps he would pay something in the
shape CT concessions to our products for
monopoly OF our market, though Cuba sells
ALREADY In this country almost all the sugar
produces, but this Mr.. Blaine
does not contemplate, for he proposes to ex-
tehd TO the sugar producer of other countries
tne same privilege on the same terms.
Vi course II concessions can be got from
Cupa IL would be good policy to get them.
Dut the prospect of obtaining them is not
sufficiently brilliant to render it wise to make
such concessions condition precedent Of
the removal or reduction Of the tax on sugar