The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-19


al feeling, and one entirely justifiable,
that, if high protective rates are to obtain
in this country they should not be applied
with discrimination toward any industry
or toward any section. Il that policy
is to obtain, then it is perfectly natural
for Louisiana to come here and to de
mand that she shall be given her share
of the bounty. l appreciate that argu-
ment. l can sympathize with it. But.
Mr.. President, this is but a moderate re-
duction from an exceedingly high rate of
duty and | must confess l do not feel the
force of the argument when applied to
the legislation under consideration.
Mr.. President, l said that l was going
to vote for this bill chiefly because, in
my Judgment, after counterbalancing all
the advantages and disadvantages, it
would, | believed, be greatly in the inter
est of the people of the country. l want
to address myself for a few moments to
that phase of the subject
The senior Senator from Colorado (Mr.
Teller,) in the very interesting speech
made by him upon this subject the other
day, informed the Senate that Cuba was
the richest island in the world. l think
he might have said the richest cauntry
in agricultural possibilities in the world.
He informed us that even under the pres
ent conditions, only two or three years
out OF a devastating and destructive civil
war. with its labor demoralized, today
Cuba's exports per capita were, l think
he said four or five times greater than
ours. Undoubtedly that is true, Mr.. Pres
ident Cuba does not only expart per
capita more than we do. but think more
than any other nation in the world.
With the return of prosperity. with the
establishment of normal conditions, and
with Just and wise laws and administra-
ton, the yearly output of Cuba will rap
idly increase, and her export trade will
correspondingly grow. In fact, Mr.. Pres
ident in a little over two years. less than
three, the sugar exports of Cuba have
risen from less than 100000 tons to a
million tons. What does this mean. Mr..
President? 1t means that IN the near
future Cuba is going to be an enormously
rich country But Cuba is an agricul-
tural cauntry, and will continue to be an
agricultural country, and her agricultural
products viii continue to be confined
chiefly to the production of sugar, to-
bacco. and fruits. With this great wealth
will come new wants and the ability 10
supply these wants Sugar, tobacco, and
Sugar. tobacco, and fruit won't clothe
the people of Cuba These things they
must buy dargely from other countries.
Cuban imports were, I believe, about $780,
0CO. 900; probably a little more than that.
I do rot recollect.
MIR Clay. Nearly s62,OOO,000.
Mr. Simmons. Nearly s62, 600 worth,
the Senator from Georgia suggests to me.
II 4 !, ta1
within the five-year-life Of the proposed
treaty. although do not mean to go into
the business of prophecy, but it may with
reasonable certainty be predicted that the
import trade of Cuba will reach 100000
600 That is not, l think, too high an
estimate We now get only about AZ
per cent of her import trade. The bal
ance of it goes to European countries
to France to Germany, to England. to
Spain. If this treaty shall become opera
tive by the passage of the pending bill,
we shall be given in the Cuban markets
an advantage in the sale of our goods
ranging from 20 to 40 per cent over our
German, our Spanish, and our English
competitors and with that advantage,
instead of selling her S25, GOO 900. as now,
upon the basis of her present trade. we
ought to sell her $4,000. 600 worth of our
goods, and in the life of this treaty we
ought to sell her, istead Of $4,000, 600
worth $50 900 or $90,000000 worth.
Cuba purchased last year about So
600 600 worth of cotton goods. Before
this treaty expires she will buy over $12,
O00, 900 worth, / have no doubt. We now
iget only about 100000 worth OF this
cotton trade With the advantage this
treaty viii give us oyer our European
rivals Tan advantage ranging from 30
to 4N>nep cent? we ought to sell Cuba all
the cotton goods she consumes. Cuba
uses the cheaper grades of cotton goods,
such as we make in the South. such as
we make in my state, where we are now
: manufacturing all the raw cotton we
make Knit goods, now largely made in
my State get a concession of 40 per
cent
With this advantage over our foreign
competitors when we are able to go to
the Cubans and sell them our goods with
this advantage over those competitors
can there be any doubt that we shall be
able to control the import trade of Cuba
Mr.. President we have been told by
distinguished representatives OF the Re
publican party in this debate that the
reciprocity enunciated by Blaine, by Re
publican natlOnal conventions, anu Dy INT
late lamented Mr. Mckinley only extend
ed to articles which we do not produce in
this country. If that is correct definition
of Republican reciprocity, then this treaty
manifestly does not illustrate Republican
reciprocity. The Democratic party be
lieves in low tariff 1t believes the pres
ent high tariff rates should be revised
and greatly reduced.
: We have to raise in this country an
) enormous amount of money through Gus
toms duties to defray the necessary ex.
penses of the government In levyinE
those duties for this purpose, if provision
is made for the actual and bona fide diff
ference in labor and material cost in this
country and in competing countries, that
, is not wrong or unjust, but the Demo
, cratic party is in favor of pulling down
, destroying. and trampling under foot al
duties that are levied for the purpose
! of the enrichment of special interests.
With that definition of the Democratic
} idea of tariff. this bill, while not based
and built upon the lines of Republican
reciprocity. is, in my judgment, founded
l,,.s1.. h,,Idod ,,non tho Euac of Da1roo