The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-27
TIE ROOT OF THE TROUBLE.
cago Record.


The present revolution in CUBA is large.
ly, II not entirely, due to the repeal Of
the reciprocity treaty with the United
States. This country is almost the only
market for Cuhon sugar, and the people or
that island under the reciprocity arrange.
mert Obtained nearly all their supplies OF
manufactured articles, b:eaastuits, pro-
visions and other food products from the
United States. he commerce between Gu.
ba and Great Britain and all other Euro
pean countries, including Spain, Is com
paratively small. Cuba is one OF The few
popuious places that is without direct
steamship connection with England. Tnc
royal mail steamers used to touch at
Cuban ports. but have not done so :or
several years because the traffic did not
pay.
II II II
Under the reciprocity treaty Cuban
sugar was admitted free into the United
States, and Hour, provisions, wearing ap-
parel machinery and other merchandise
from this country were admitted into
Cuban ports at nominal rates of duty:
The people were prosperous, contentel
and spent their money freely. Trade with
the United States increased enormously.
Sugar. the chief export from Cuba,
brought excellent prices, and imported
goods were comparatively cheap. The
exports to the United States increased
from SCI 100000 in 1891 to $7S.00o,OoO in 1888,
but in 1895. after the repeal OF the treaty,
they had dropped to S5200G,000. Imports
from the United States into Cuba in
creased from $i2.0OD0 900 in 1891 10 $4,000 900
in 1898, and dropped back to Sl2.OJ0,O0O In
1895. when the reciprocity arrangements
were repealed. Under reciprocity, articles
of luxury, az well as the necessaries of
life, were sold at low prices in Cuba, but
when it was suddenly revoked by our
congress there was decided change.
The cost of all imported goods was nearly
doubled. The duty on flour, which had
been only IS cents n barrel under recipro-
city. was increased TO S5.2i a barrel, and
everything else in proportion. At the
the Spanish cortes the duty was after
ward reduced to alG, but that left the
cost nearly lW per cent. higher than Ii had
been and placed 1t beyond the reach OF
the greater part of the population. In
1891. before the reciprocity arrangement
was negotiated ll4i4l barrels of flour
were imported into Cuba from the United
States. In 1884 that trade had increased
4S0 per cent. In 1895. the year after the
annument of the reciprocity treaty. the
exports Of -four fell to $50 barrels, a
loss Of more than AZ per cent.
Under the reciprocity treaty the sugar
industry in Cuba was very much en-,
larsed. New plantations were opened.
new mills were erected, new lines Of trade
were established and large amounts Of
capital We're invested in their develop
ment by citizens of the United States as
well as Cubans under the supposit.on that
the reciprocity arrangement, which
brought so much prosperity, would be
permanent. The duty imposed upon sugar
by the United States placed every plantar
In Cuba at the mercy of the Sugar trust,
and while the cost of every imported arti-
Gle, including flour, provisions and almost
all the necessaries of life, was immediate.
ly doubled, the income OF the principal
part of the population was reduced 80 per
cent. The Sugar trust compelled The
planters to pay the duty of 40 per cent.
imposed upon sugar by the Wilson-Gor-
man bill. the export price Of raw sugar,
which was S27o hundred-weight before
the reciprocity arrangement was repealed,
dropped Immediately to 81. a hundred
weight. And not only did the planters
suffer this enormous decrease in price, but
there was a very large falling of in The
volume of trade. IN 1892 We importc
$Gc, IiC,3S5 of sugar from cuba: in 1888 S6d,,
OiS,W9: IN 1891, S51, 900. and in 1895, when
the duty was reiinposed, the total dropped
TO &o,l0O,OOO. The planters were compelled
to divide their losses with their employees,
vino suffered a sudden reduction of more
than one-half their wages. In the mean
Time the enormous taxes that are i'm
posed by Spain to maintain one army of
soldiers and another army of officials con-
tlnued. The result was discomfort ana
disturbance all over the island. The peo-
pie rebelled. Protests We're sent to the
cortes ard the ministry of the colonies at
strances. The irritation caused little out
breaks here and there and finally open
rebellion.
During the debate upon the tariff bill in
the summer of 1894 an interview was
published In these dispatches with Dr.
Jose lgnacio Rodriguez. Cuban gentle
man. in this city. who predicted that Il
revolution would follow the repeal of the
reciprocity arrangement for the reasons
given. His prophecy was fulfilled within
nine months