Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-01-02
LETTER.
.egular Correspondents

Washington. Dec. 29.-Through the
enterprise of q metropolitan daily pa
per the terms of the Sqban treaty have
been made public and nave e1clG n,
both admiration and criSlclsm. 10
those members OF Congress We rep
resent the manufacturing Interests OF
the East the convention affords the
utmost satisfaction. but to those who
represent agricultural constituencies
it is the occasion of worry and anxiety.
Following the usual custom of his par
ty, Secretary Hay has secured the most
signal advantages for the manufacture
ing and other vested interests, to the
disadvantage OF the agriculturists.
While manufactured silk, watches,
umbrellas and long line of similar
products secure a concession of 40 per
cent. from the Cuban duties, such i'm.
portant agricultural productions as
flour, wheat products, corn and its
products, beef and other meats, etc.,
receive but the regulation 20 per cent.
1t is true that cotton and wool IN the
raw state receive a special discount of
80 per cent. but, as has been pointed
out by western republican, Cuba is
not manufacturing country and there
will be little sale, there for the raw
materials On the manufactured cot
ton and wooden goods discount of 40
per cent. is allowed, so that again the
manufacturers are the heneticiarisSs.
The interest OF lest sugar producers
are, OF course, sacrificed as 20 per cent.
reduction is allowed on Cuban sugar
! entering the United States.
| The prospects for the ratification OF
the treaty are not as rosy as the ad-
ministratiOn organs represent. Sena-
tor Burrows, after examining the
treaty, has said that be will form nc
opinion as to its worth until after the
national best sugar convention, to take
place in Washington next week. The
| California delegation is strongly op'
posed to the treaty and is attempting
to form an alliance with the New Eng
land delegation which is earnestly Op
posed to the Hay Bond convention,
which will permit New Foundland fish
and bait to compete with the New
England industries, and to the KassOI
| treaty with France which will permit
French silks and notions to compete
with numerous New England manu-
facturers. In this situation Senator
Lodge finds himself in serious diem
ma. His friendship for the Presi
ident prompts him to vote for the Cubar
treaty, but his seat in the Senate woulC
be imperilled by the neglect of any OPP
portnnity to defeat the French anC
New Foundland treaties. Under These
| circumstances the Senator is doing u
great deal of thinking but is not talk
ing for publication.
1t has remained for Germany and
Great Britain to force the republicans
to deiare their position in regard u
the Philippines. When the treaty Of
Paris was negotiated it had not enter
ed the mind ii any republican that the
United States was AGO iriug territory
with view to its submission and per
1 manent control. At the most, it wal
assumed that a protectorate was to be
formed over. the Philippines, which
were in other respects to enjoy the
privileges of self government. This
being the case the ''Open door policy
was guaranteed in Philippine customs
legislation. Tue United States was tC
SEGA no advantage in the Philippine
| market not guaranteed to other ma
| tions Later, however, the Philippine
| Commission imposed All export duty
of 81 so per ton on Manila hemp and
fiber. This duty was related when
the goods were sent to the United
states and accordingly the powers
have entered a protest. The Admins
tration refuses to see the justice OF
| the protest and states it's position as
follows: 1t says that it is impossible TO
| maintain the door TO the Philippines
Is-as Wiae ODen,' as the door to China.
for instance, as the philippines are a
possession of this country and must be
regarded as in the same relation with
the United States as are the British
colonies to the parent nation.