92 CUBA AND TORTO RICO 



sumption of the exports by the United Slates; (3) the 

 division of the imports between the United States, Great 

 Britain, and Spain (the trade with the latter being main- 

 tained by discriminative duties against the other coun- 

 tries) ; (4) the .absence of trade with the neighboring re- 

 gionsexcept the United States of which the island is 

 the natural commercial center. 



The financial value of Cuba to Spain has been in the ab- 

 sorption of all the balance of trade by Spanish merchants, 

 and the personal profits derived by the Spanish civil and 

 military officials. Although Spanish trade with Cuba has 

 been gradually declining, its value in the past is shown by 

 the fact that, in 1854, Spain's exports to Cuba exceeded 

 those sent in 1792 to all her American colonies, which then 

 included nearly half the settled hemisphere. The gain of 

 the merchants of recent times included the profits to the 

 shoppers of Cadiz and Barcelona, who sent annually to 

 Cuba articles valued at $25,000,000, and those to the local 

 merchants, who absorbed annually the $30,000,000 repre- 

 senting the balance of trade in Cuba's favor. 



In addition to the personal enrichment of intransigent 

 Spanish citizens, pensioners, and officials, during the pres- 

 ent century, Cuba has contributed immense sums directly 

 to the Spanish treasury. Over $5,000,000 was officially 

 given to the Peninsula during the Napoleonic wars, be- 

 sides personal contributions from the islanders of the same 

 amount. From 1827 to 1864 an aggregate of $89,000,000 

 Avas sent in annual instalments, reaching, in 1860, as high 

 as $29,500,000. Spain may have spent these sums and 

 more in the maintenance of her authority over the island; 

 but this should be charged to her own account rather than 

 to that of Cuba. Since 1867, little or no money has been 

 contributed to the royal treasury ; but the Spaniards have 

 still continued individually to profit enormously by the 

 salary list and compulsory trade regulations. 



It is estimated that the United States consumes from 

 eighty to ninety per cent, of the entire exports of Cuba ; 



