The sun., 1891-08-02
The New Treaty with Spain.

We published yesterday the Presidents
proclamation embodying both the provi-
sIonal and the definite agreements made with
Spain regarding our commercial intercourse
with her possessionsin in the West Indies. AS
an analysis will show, the reciprocal conces-
sions are OF great actual, and still greater
prospective value to both parties to the con-
tract. For Cuba in particular We may pre-
dict with confidence that new era of pro-
ductive activity is about to dawn.
WHAT Cuba obtains is the complete exemp.
tion from customs duties Of all her sugars,
molasses. coffee. and hides. Had Spain re-
fused equivalent concessions, Cuban sugars
would have been subjected to a duty, and
would eventually have been unable to COM
pete in our market with the products OF
other sugar.rsising countries. Now the
Spanish Antilles may regain the virtual mo-
nopoly with regard to this staple which they
formerly enjoyed. OF great future tmpor-
ance, also. to the development Of Cuban agr-
culture is the removal OF duties from Cuban
coffee. which Is thus placed on footing OF
equality with the Brazilian product. The
Cuban berry is reported to be much superior
to tho Brazilian, and has been ranked by ex-
from Mocha. Nor IL the cultivation OF cof-
fee new thing in tho Spanish West Indies.
Fifty years ago the Cuban planters raised
for export some 65.oo0,000 pounds. and there
is no reason why tho output should not sig.
nally exceed those figures. now that our
market has been thrown open.
Let us look next at our own side OF tho
bargain. BY the definite treaty which will
60 into operation on July /, ls92-the pro-
visional arrangement to be enforced on Sept.
!, 1891, is Of more restricted nature--a large
proportion OF our natural and manufactured
products will be admitted free OF duty to
the ports OF the Spanish Antilles. Among
the articles whose export is invited, may be
specified all grains and flour made there
from, with the exception OF wheat and maize
all salted. smoked. and preserved meats.
with tho exception Of jcrked beef; lard
and tallow; butter and cheese; fish and
shell fish OF all kinds, whether fresh or dried,
sal,ed, smoked, picked, or canned; cotton
seed oil and the meal cake made thercfrom
raw petroleum; rosil, tar, pitch. and tur-
pentlne; coal and ice; cast iron and wrought
iron In almost all Of the less elaborate forms
woods Of every species. both in the rough
and manufactured. furniture, however. con.
stituting an exception, to which we shall
presently refer; and. finally. every sort OF
agricultural, Industrial. and scientific ma.
chino and apparatus.
II our farmers and manufacturers will
ponder this list, bearing in mind that the
market henceforth free to them will be prac.
tically shut by heavy duties to their com.
pctitors. they will appreciate the advantage
gained by American diplomacy. But we
have not yet by any means summed up the
profits derivable by American producerz
from the new Spanish treaty. Even
where the customs duties on ou,
export staples have not been entirely
removed, they have been striklngly reduced
Thus the Spanish Government was con-
strained. lest it should utterly ALLEVIATE the
farmers OF Gallcia, to leave something In the
way OF duty on wheat and maize. but al
that we shall have to pay is 25 cents per l0(
kiloRrammes. or say 200 pounds. on maize
and corn meal after Sent. /. 1891, and 80 cents
per 100 kilogrammes on wheat and 81 or
wheat -four after Jan. I. 1892. Wo should fine
itlucrative to compete with the GaliciaI
! products on those terms. It is also to b,
] noted that after July /, 1892, all furniture O