The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-08-08
COMING HOME TO R0OsT

n. The Boxers, alias, the insurgents,
are being confounded and cast down by
Cuban Developments even more rapidly
than was expected. - >...s'
= First, their obstruction Of the legisla-
ton demanded for the relief of Cuba
caused the price of sugar in that island
to fall to 9-10ths of a cent a pound,
whereas it was ~ cents a year ago. Re-
suit: A tremendous windfall for the sugar
trust, fortune presented to 1t. The
American consumer Is not paying any
less for the Cuban sugar he buys from
the trust, but, the trust is paying about a
cent and quarter less Tor it than it did
year ago.
Now comes the news that the Cuban
congress, reduced to desperation by the
falling off in customs receipts since the
American congress refused. to do. Justice
on some days the receipts at Havana
used to be $4,000; now, on some days
they are as low as $5,000-has slapped on
a. tremendous increase In duties, chiefly
affecting American imports. There may
be some vindictiveness in this, but the
American imports are the largest and
comprise the bulk Of the islands neces-
sary imports and are therefore the best
| commodities at which to aim a revenue
producing law. .,>s.'.~-.s.>s,'.. III.
| Th Ell our h a prints elsewhere to-
day an article by W. E. Curtis which en-
! phasizes the supreme folly of the 1nsur-
| gents. For; the alleged purpose of foster.
I ing the beet sugar industry, which Il
scarcely more important than that Of rails
ing lettuce, asparagus or spinach, and Il
i much inferior to the strawberry, rasp
berry and cantaloupe industries, the in
| surgents have prevented an admirable APP
1 plication Of the reciprocity idea and have
in the chain of events, struck hard bloV
lat American agricultural interests.
4 The new Cuban tariff affects thirty -tw4
articles Of food drawn from America
farms. #
The Cubans are suffering, our farmer
are to suffer; and Mr.. Oxnard, who !
primarily responsible for the delusion Q
the Insurgents is enjoying himself at tn
Brighton Beach race tracks.
On the other hand if congress ha
granted Cuba reasonable degree of reel
procity Cuba would be buying more OF u
than she ever did before, our home In
terests would have been benefte
and the Cubans would 81 have bee
s saved from economic ruin. It
i fair to infer from this s. Wha
d actually took place under the reciprocit
treaty we formerly enjoyed with Cuba. OF
exports of -four increased, under tina
treaty, from HAT barrels In 1891 to 662,
248 barrels In 1894. In the same perio
J, the exports of corn rose from 367 1924 bush
. els to 1,136, 657: Of potatoes from $685.
Il to $49s,s76. Many other articles and com
. modities showed large increases:
In the August Review of Reviews MI
Albert G. Robinson, 9. recognized author
ity, says that we'll developed Cuba Nigh
, easily be purchaser Of 500, 000. 900 wort
Of food and manufactured products. sh
!, might become our fourth or perhaps GU
/ third best customer.
!, There Is certainly nothing in the Plat
!, amendm emit to keep the Cubans from pu,
! ting up the maximum tariff on us an
b there Is nothing in that amendment whic
3 can be drawn against them in retaliation
ri The ACubans begged us hard to help then
t Though they offered to give sus value ri
t ceived in the way Of increased trade. Il