The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-17
THE PEACE IN CUBA.

The late practical cessation OF hostilities In
the Island Of Cuba has been hailed with Joy
all over the civilized world. Among all ma
tions witnessing the Cuban war, ours was
the most interested in the struggle and the
most profited by its recent termination If a
little of that aggressive humanity which has
been for fifty years exercised against our sec
tion Of this country had been exerted some
years ago to pacify and civilize the rich West
Indian island, this long, barbarous and vast
ing war might have been brought to a close
few years ago, and the world spared an exhi-
bition of some of the most shocking, atrocious
and cold-blooded butcheries that have black
ened the annals of modern times.
The end OF this war lis hailed by the COM
mercial community OF this country, because
it is considered that our trade with the is
land, which had already become enormous
during the war, will be largely increased
when peace Is firmly re-establshed, when Its
products are freely moved and Its demand for
American supplies and manufactures greater
Louisiana was more interested In the Cuban
struggle than any State in our country
When the instruction first commenced, In
the early winter Of 1868, 1t created very sud-
den and high rise in the sugar market, and
kept up the prices of our great staple for sew
eral years, as it was considered certain that
the sugar production there, carried on
under slave labor, against which
we were forced to compete would suffer a
great dimnution. The extent Of the sugar
district in Cuba was greatly curtailed during
the war. The production of the limited or
restricted area was, however, stimulated
beyond all precedent as far as yield was con-
cerned, and the consequence was that, with
the exception of one or two years, which were
disastrous, very heavy crops were produced.
The slaves, too, refused to avail themselves
of that freedom, to be fought for, generously
offered them by the insurgent government
and chiefs.
Up to the past year Cuba continued to sup
ply the demand of the great sugar markets as
easily almost as if perfect peace prevailed
over her fields and the torch had not been
applied to a single one Of all her vast sugar
estates.
However, in the season Of 1877 the planta
tions began to give some evidence Of the fact
that the fields had been forced by over-pro
duction, and that their rich proprietors were
being driven to ruin by the terrible taxation i'm
posed upon them by the captain generals to
provide means for suppressing the rebellion.
1t Is safe to say that two Or three years more
of this war would have almost ruined the
sugar interest of the island, and even to pre-
dict that now, since peace has been practi-
cally re-established, 1t will be long before this
industry will recover from the actual injury
1t sustained which has only lately been max
ing itself apparent.
1t would seem that some years must elapse
before the island can recover from the ex-
haustion of a protracted war, when its fields
have been worn by overcropping to furnish
revenues for the government Its finances de-
pleted, Its labor partially unsettled and re-
constructed government to be established.
During these necessary years Of recupera-
ton sugar production will not be driven out
Of Louisiana by compulsory labor In Cuba.
Before this can be accomplished an edict OF
emancipation will at least commence to re-
move the cause of competition, and Louisiana
will be given a fair chance to resume her nat
ural place as the producer Of the greater part
of the sugar consumed in the United States.