New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-07
CUBA AND THE M'KINLEYLA w
HOW RECIPROCITY BENEFITED BOTH
THE ISLAND AND THE
UNITED STATES.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO rHr Tn1BvSE.I

Washington. March s.-Industriai ruin, caused
by the refusal OF the United States TO grant any
relief, and industrial ruin caused by Spanish selfish
ness and reimbursement is spelled the same way
for the Cubans and will produce the same result,
The Cuban Ten Years War was in its last analysis
an economic revolt Spain refused to allow Cuba
TO have a fair show in her own natural market,
that OF the mother country. and Cuba was driven
by an industrial crisis TO take I'D arms against
the land 10 which she had long been faithful
Spein remained deaf to all appeals Tor JUSTICE
fearful that some favored home industry might be
Inconvenience by any equitable arrangement thsI
would allow Cuba chance to live and develop
her resources. The result war bloodshed,
hate and debt The experience Of that war was,
however, not entirely wasted. When the Mckin-
ley bill became law and Cuba saw an oppor-
tunity to live through reciprocity with the United
States. history too vivid to be Ignored,
and Spain forced to yield certain measure
OF justice. treaty Of reciprocity was concluded
whereby the markets Of the United States were
opened to Cuba, and Cuba became large pur-
chaser of American merchandise. During the peri
cd in which that treaty in force. there was
no runnor Of revolution in Cuba, and the island
recovered from the effects Of the Ten Years war.
The first year under reciprocity there were I'M
ported from the United States into Cuba s1oOOOO0
IN merchandise: the second year 100000 in
products Of American fields and factories md a
profitable market in Cuba. and the third year saw
that amount increased to the sum Of s2SOOo,ooo
Hinder the operation Of that treaty the markets OF
Cuba were in the hands Of the United States
English, German and French exporters felt seri-
sJusly the loss customers Of long standing, for
business currents flow along the lines Of least re-
sistance, and when even Spanish merchants IN
Cuba found II TO their advantage to deal IN the
United States. they did not hesitate 20 transfer
their trade TO this country
The figures given above do not by any means
represent the full advantage derived by this coun-
Try by that reciprocal arrangement They are from
Spanish sources and allowances must be made for
differentiation, false classification and smuggling
The Wilson bill abolished reciprocal trade with
Cuba in 1894 The result Of that bill was more Sc
TO Cuba than TO the United States, though this
country suffered greatly from its operation. The
American people sought remedy along peaceful
lines and turned the party responsible for the bill
of power. but in Cuba the discomfort took the
form OF revolution, for IT threw the island back
again TO the unjust tariff conditions that had been
fatal in former years. The revolutionsts would
have appealed in vain for supplies men and moral
support. had not existing economic conditions filled
the island with idle, hungry and discontented men,
These facts brought out in the Report on
the Commercial and Industrial Condition of Cuba
by Robert P Porter. special commissioner for the
United States TO Cuba and Porto Rico. submitted
TO the Secretary of the Treasury November Is, 1885,
On page IT Of that report is be found the follow
ing:
Several OF the Witnesses examined in Havana and
OF duty Of Mckinley reciprocity treaty be
re-enacted on articles coming from the United
States In support Of this they urged the fact that
the Spanish-Cuban var was 10 a large extent a
reciprocity treaty was severe blow to the Cuban
a
Cuba
cUBAs MOST PROSPEROUS PERIOD.
On page IS Of the same report is also found the
following:
The effect OF what the Cubans cali the Mckinley
witnesses referred 10 that period not only the |
giving them opportunity for improving theirestates
and making purchases otherwise impossible.
In the report OF the witnesses (see page |
80 testihes:
trading with Cuba on the same basis as the United
vend between Cuba and the United States Cuba |
IS large producer Of sugar and the United States
Of goods used in Cuba. the Two should enter into
some satisfactory reciprocity treaty which would
settle forever the present difficulties and starvation
in Cuba This reciprocity treaty would lead |
would be at work in one year hence, with such |
not think any more Of politics In suggesting the
reciprocity treaty between Cuba and the United |
Cuba It. eertainly will be also a great benefit TO |
countries, while the reciprocity treaty lasted
showed hat the Cpbans bought very large amounts |
from the United States
The report then adds:
treaty may have been responsible for the it Is |
tnpossiole to say nor is such discussion within |
with the present Industrial condition Of the island
The caution Of official report, however can
not conceal the facts brought by investiga-
testimony of witnesses introduced the report |
makes the matter very clear. IN the testimony /
of Senior Don Munoz del Monte it is recorded Csee
page 80:
The destructive operation Of those commercial |
laws and the impending ruin in Cuba have been |
the subject of repeated complaints. particularly |
since 1880. and only few weeks before the last /
instruction broke out Gin 1880 detailed memo |
Cortes. then assembled in Madrid, in which mem |
orandum il was literally stated that the uneasi-
ness and discomfort prevailing in Cuba proceeded
mainly, II not exclusively, from economical causes
That modern history teaches and logic confirms the |
truth that so long as the grave economical ques-
tons which interest and convulse Cuba are not |
settled. moral peace and confidence in the |
future 10 be expected"
The Cortes well as the Spanish ministers not !
only received with cold Indifference and every
complaint coming from the Representative Of Cuban
industries but considering the facts only from the
point OF view OF the happy Official and Industrial
Interests favored by law, the Minister of the Col
onies describes literally the protection granted to
the Spanish industries as 'the sacred patrimony Of
the Spanish hation."
II would be difficult perhaps, 10 drerentiate be-
tween the attitude OF the Cortee at Madrid and the
attitude Of some Congressman at the present time
THINKS CUBANs NEED BANKS.
Seeor z, z. FonBece, who Yesterday rsferred 70 4