New-York tribune., 1891-01-31
THE FUTURE OF CUBA.
WHAT AMERICAN DIPLOMACY CAN DO
FOR IT
RUIN WROUGHT BY UNRECIrRoCAL PROTECTION
MAY BE BE REPAIRED BY RECIPROCITY
-GRAVITATION TOWARD TIE
rrRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBUyE.l


ryRoM A srAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUyE.l
Cordenas Jan. ia well-informcd American
made singular remark to me few days ago H.
WAS tins: The most popular man among Cubans
is Secretary Blaine If he to be nominated
for Governor of tie island he would be elected
by large majority in tie face OF Government
opposition" / thought al first that he was jest
ing; but he was in sober earnest, and he soon
convinced me that he was not talking at random
Mr. Blaine Is to-day power in this island because
no is in a position to do what CubanS cannot 40
for tIemselves-work out their salvation. What
he will do they do not know, but III the promise
Of the potency of American diplomacy lies the
only hope of the restoration oil the lhuusVIl"4
fortunes of the island.
Cuba has Leen brought to this verge of ruin
nv a system of unreciprocal protection enforced
in the interest of Spain. Under the old-tmc
colohial policy the island was excluded altogether
from foreign commerce. The system was modified
so as to permit the Spanish West Indies to sell
their products freely to foreign countries, nut nob
to buy from them in return. Spain imposed
difrerential duties Cuban imports, IN order TO
protect its own farmers, manufacturers and ship
ming Every facility was offered for the sale oi
the surplus sugar. molasses and tobacco OF 'hc
islands in the United States and Europe put
tbrougb determinations made in favor of Spanish
shipping, food products and manufactures 'he
exchangeable value of their exports has been
enormously diminished. The development ot pee1
sugar in Europe has compelled planters on the
island to make sugar for less than cents ponhd
when they formerly got cents for II, ana at
thc same time il has closed against them all Tor
cign markets except that of the United States.
Under the commercial agreement of lss4 the
American and Sponish flags were placed on terms
Of equality in the commerce OF the lslahd put
the determinations in favor of the agHcultural
and manufacturing interests of the Peninsula Stll
remain. Other sugar-producing countries flourish
because they got the full value in exchange Tor
their staple Cuba languishcs because il is not
allowed to buy freely IN the United States, tge
only country where its sugar can be sold Inc
value of its exports depends npon what can bc
obtained for them in the American market Inc
effect of a system which protects Spain wholly
at the expense of Cuba is to compel the island
10 pay 900 or 300 per cent more for its imports
than Iarbadocs, Trinidad, Dcmerara or Jamaica.
That Is TO say. while the price of sugar has been
reduced onehalf during recent years. its purchaS-
! ing power in Cuba is many times less than III
other sugar producing countries.
This then is the extraordinary economic situa-
tion of the Spanish West Indies. What are the
| Cubans able TO do on their own behalf The
| commissioners sent to Madrid to demand n re-
vision of the present system of taxation were
| instructed to insist upon the following conces-
! sions First, the abolition Of all industrial. eN-
port and lading taxes and duties on sugar and
| molasses second the negotiation Of treaty oi
reciprocity with the United States to insure free
| introduction of sugar and molasscs permanently
and to facilitate the expectation Of tobacco TO the
same market: third. the rc-establishment of tie
| 10 per cent ad valorem duty on merchandise com
| ING from Spain: fourth. the immediate abroga-
| ton of the increase of 30 per cent in duties on
| foreign goods sanctioned in July, 1890; hfth. the
reduction of duties prime materials and articles
Of large consumption essential 10 agricultural ana
| industrial pursuits; sixth, the removal OF all
duties and wharf taxes on coal. These were the
concessions which the representatives Of the
| Planters Association, the Cigar Manufacturers
| Union, the principal Chambers of Commerce, the
Importers League, and other organizations unlt'u
| in asking Not one of these demands has been
granted The commissioners will arrive in
Cuba to report the absolute failure of their mission.
Spain is not ready to negotiate treaty with the
United States bv which the free market for sugar
NAV be made a permanent benefit and the pur-
chasing power of the islands chief staple largely
| increased Spain is not prepared even TO with
! draw the 90 per cent increase on imports which
was decrced as soon the Mckinney larln blIi
was produced in Washington. It's industrial and
! shipping interests not 10 be deprived of the
advcntitious aid of a system which protects them
AT ruinous cost 10 Cuba. The island is left 10
shift for itself when it is on the verge Of bank
ruptcy and collapse.
II is in this crisis Of the fortunes Of Cuba that
American diplomacy comes in with strong arm
10 fight the battle Of economic emancipation from
| Spain What the island is pOwcrlc,s to DO Tor
itself, Mr. Blaine may accomplish through treaties
| H.. ,Yitb uci
break down the wall constructed around Cuba
for the protection Of Spain. There is the free
market opened tentatively TO the sugar belt OF
the continent but speedily 10 bc closed TO any
and every country and island which ncalccis 10
| comply with the requirements of equitable reel
| pr0cty. That is weapon when can !" uS'n
most powerfully in the interest Of crushed ana
despoied Cuba. The proposed abolition "i the
duties on sugar in the United States by The Nc
Kinley bill excited little interest in the lslahd
| last summer, because from % 10 % per cent "i
the product got into that market when II was
| taxed on the average cents a pound. IL mlgh1
! cheaper sugar for American CONSUMERS, puu IT.
| would not be Of direct benefit 10 Cuba. IT was
not until the reciprocity amendment was ehgra''e"
upon the measure that the fortunes OF the island
were affected. That transferred from feeble ana
helpless Cuba 10 Washington diplomatic power TO
bring pressure upon Madril with tremendous
effect The bcst-informcd Cnbans to-day are cx-
pccting great results and radical changes from the
| intervention of American diplomacy.
| Whatever may bc the political future OF the
| Spanish West Indies, their economic fortunes are
| indisso.ubly connected with tie American marKc"
| Sugar is the life current Of the islands. LEI Inc
sugar industry he destroyed and all the acu'tle'
of Cuba will he paralylcd. The railways w'll o'
blocked and the wharvcs and lighters idle II 'nclc
he no sugar to transport and ship. Imports VIII
cease TO come in if there he 10 sugar as Il OASIS
Of exchange, and then the revenues ol 'he ''l'h'
| will he cut Off The banks will have no use ioi
.n,it,1 tho nlnnf inns are HbandOnc1 anu w