Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-05-22

bringing the gratifying news that he had
negotiated treaty with Spain granting
reciprocal trade between ourselves and
the Spanish Antilles, and though the full
text OF the instrument has not been made
public we are assured that in return for
the free entry to the United States for
Antilles sugars, molasses, coffee and hides
America will obtain exemption from
duties on most of her raw and manufac-
tured products, and reduction OF the
tariff on cereals and -four.
1t was quite natural that Spanish mer-
chants who enjoyed monopoly Of trade
with their West Indies colonies should
use all the influence in their power to
prevent the signing of treaty which
would sweep that profitable business out
of their hands. For instance the duty
on American -four was actually prohibit
tory and of course the said merchants
reaped the entire benefit. Under this
arrangement the Cubans were compelled
to pay about SIP per barrel for flour, and
they consumed some 100000 barrels per
annum. A protracted resistance was Of
fered to this clause of the treaty by Pre-
mier Canovas, but Cuba had spoken in
such unmistakable tones in favor of lib
eral trade with us as to present the alter
native Of reciprocity or revolution. Thus
treaty of some kind became necessity,
and Minister Foster declared that no
treaty would he negotiated which did not
grant the free admission OF American
cereals, then Senior Canovas assented to
such reduction of the tariff as will place
American flour on an equal footing with
the Spanish product. On this basis Amer
lean flour can be laid down in Cuba for
about Sc per barrel. Spanish merchants
openly declare that this will crush out
Spanish -four in the Antilles, and that
owing to the enormous reduction i'll the
price of the article and the great number
OF people who can afford to use it now
who could not at the Spanish price, the
consumption will soon rise to 100000
barrels yearly. So without taking any
notice of the other cereals the single
article of -four will bring us $4,000, 900
per annum, the largest part of which will
go into the pockets OF our American
farmers. We are thus given an almost
free market with nearly 100000 people
at our door step without making single
cent of sacrifice in return. A writer in
the New York Press says:
"Under the new convention America
will obtain kind of zollverein with the
Spanish Antilles. Her wheat, beans,
flour, lard, petroleum, manufactured
products and machinery will enter prac-
tically free of duty. Among other Span,
ish exports olive oil will be replaced by
American lard, and beans, now exported
to Cuba in large quantities, will cease tC
be sent. The advantages resulting in
Cuba will be great, but it is impossible tc
estimate the injury to Spanish trade. ,
OF course it is in order for the Demo
Gratis to sneer at and belittle these (the
beginning of the) magnificent results o.
two years of President Harrison's admin
istration, backed up by Republican con
gress, but they will have some trouble in
convincing their dear farmer friends that
the throwing open the ports of 45,0OO,'
900 of people to the free sale OF theil
products is a trihing matter to them.
might ask some Democratic statisticiar
this question: As we consume about 9s
} per cent OF our entire agricultural product
as we will soon have reciprocity treaties
with all Spanish. America, as 100000 o
} these people will buy 100000 barrels
of flour per annum, how long will it bt
until the 2per cent of said agriculture
J surplus will disappear entirely? More
anon. A. L. MORRISON.