The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-12-26
RELATIONS WITH SPAIN
The Effect of Tariff Retaliation by
Our Government
WOULD RUIN OUR RsUaARINDUsTRY
Cuba Furnisihes Seven -Eightis of the Tsnw
. sugsr Uscd In This Country, and to Pre-
vent Its importation Would Close Down
the Refincries.

WARRINGTON, Dec e6.--Intcrcsting de-
selopments nre expected at an early day as
result OF the strained relations between
the United States and Spain over tho tariff
Spain has already placed tho United
States in tho first column, and Secretary
Gresham has rejoincd by directing Min
lister Taylor, at Madrid, to notify the Span
ish government that If the United States
Is not removed frm the first column this
country will retaliate.
In official circles 1t is not believed TINT
Spain will yield to the protest OF Seer rtary
Gresham. In that event, II the secretary
carries out his threat of retaliation, Presi-
dent Cleveland will issue a proclamation
closing American ports to the products OF
Spain. The first effect of this retaliation
would be to shut out tho enormous ship
ments of raw sugar which Cuba makes to
this country. In official circles it is said
that Cuba furnishes n-eights of all the
raw sugar used in American reflneries
The other eighth comes from Louisiana
and Hawaii, but 1t Is said that 1t would be
impossible to make up this seven -eighths
now drawn from Cuba. 1t is asserted,
therefore, by those In no way identified
with or partial to the sugar refneries that
tho retaliation would cut them from their
supplies and close them up throwing 20,-
600 ompioyes out Of work
This statement wns made by high Of
Acial who has had much to do with the
negotiations, and who isyery apprehensiye
of its results He added that the ultimate
effect of the warfare would be to advance
the price Of sugar from three to six cents
per pound, thus making the public bear
the burden. In leyying duties Spain ar
ranges countries in two columns. The
FIRST column includes those who have not
catered into satisfactory treaty arrange
ments with Spain. Until recently Brazil
was the only country on the globe which
Spain has put into this column, all other
countries being in tho second column,
which Includes those having satisfactory
treaties. The United States now joins
Brazil In Spain's first column" and thus
stands apart from all other countries in
the commercial benefits Spain grants
The Immediate effect of Spains action
has already proved disastrous to the
American trade in flour, and this trade
has passed almost exclusively Into the
hands of Canada Under the old recip
rocity arrangement with Spain American
dour WINS shipped to Cuba in great guam
titles But when tho United States tariff
raised the duty on Cuban sugar Spain re
sponded by raising the duty on American
Aour. The first column" duty on -four Il
ea75, while the second column" is 81. Al
Canada is In the second column she en-
Soys an advantage of seventy five cents
barrel on -four, and this has proved ampl,
10 allow Canada to wrest the Cuban 6ou
trade away from the United States.
IL Is understood From authoritative
sources that question has been raised a
10 tho right Of the president TO issue q re
taliatory proclamation against Spain, sucl
rs Secretary Gresham has threatened. Th
law authorizes retaliation against coun
tries making unjust discrimination
against the United States. But Spail
claims she is making no unjust diserlm
instion; she arranges her tariff in two col
unns according to whether countries ar
friendly or unfriendly to her. and leave
the countries to choose their own places
Under these circumstances 1t Is urged tina
Secretary Gresham has n o authority to in
woke the retaliatory law of 1890.