Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-12-20

Washington, Dec. 1S.-1'nere has
been another blow struck in the COM
mercial fight between the United
States and Spain. 1t was given by
President Cleveland and Is thought By
him to be of the knocRout variety. l.
consists of an emphatic protest by
President Cleveland agains, the impo-
sition by Spain of her embargo against
this country's products which, till the
passage of the German Brice tariff,
we're exported In large amounts to
Spain's West India possessions, Cuba
and Porto Rico. The protest is ac-
companied by plain, blunt threat 10
prohibit the importation of her sugar
to this country unless she recinds her
action.
The cable message has gone from
the state department to Madrid. 1t Is
tantamount to a formal notice to the
nations Of the earth that if trade dis
ordinations against the United
States do not cease measures will be
adopted by the president for the pro-
lection of American commerce, under
the authority of the act of congress of
Aug. Is, 1890. One of the chief of
tenders in this respect is Spain, and
for that reason Madrid is selected as
a point of attack, though the action of
the state department will be rightfully
construed as indicating policy ap-
plicable to Germany, Denmark,
France and many other nations that
have put an embargo on American
products.
Madrid Dec. 1S.-United States Min
lister Taylor had an important con-
ference with Senior Griozard, minis
ter for foreign affairs, relative to the
imposition of excessive duties upon
imports into Cuba from the United
States. He informed the senior that
he had been directed by his govern
ment to inform the government of
Spain that If it persisted in exacting
could be regarded by the president
only as inviting the exercise by him of
the power of retaliation conferred by
the act of 1890. The threat caused
commotion in ministerial circles.
Washington, Dec 1S-Ihe action of
the state department indicated i'll the
cablegram from Madrid in warning the
Spanish government of its intention to
resort to retaliation should Spain con
tinue it's present policy with respect
to American exports to Cuba, will
doubtless have the effect of bringing
at once to a focus the long drawn out
negotiations which have been in
progress with results very unsatisfac-
tory to that government. None of our
foreign relations of late have given as
much trouble as those with Spain.
For several years this government has
been urging the claims of the Amer
lean exporters for remission OF the
heavy fines and excessive taxes
amounting to about $5,00O,0O0. i'm
posed by Cuban custom officials. The
Spanish government has admitted the
justice of our claims but failed to make
restitution. Then there was an old
claim against Spain already admitted
by the Spanish government but inn
possible of collection. Having rea-
soned in vain with the Spanish min
lister at Washington and through Min
lister Taylor with the Spanish foreign
office, Secretary Gresham, casting
about for remedy, hit upon the act
of August 80, 1890. This act, while
primarily intended to provide for the
inspection of meats for expectation
and prevent the importation of harm
full articles of food, also includes in
its fifth section a grant of power to
the president probably unequalled in
extent by any legislation in the his
tory of congress. 1t plainly authorizes
an actual embargo to be declared at
the discretion of the president.
Our commerce being menaced In a
new quarter, namely, in Germany,
and it being felt necessary to begin
the assertion of the reserve power of
retaliation lodged in the president
this necessitates beginning with
Spain, the first offender.