The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-06-24
Hurrah for Blaine and war,

Blaine's boom is now reported to be raging In
Florida and the vote of that State sought for him
frst aud most important move of his administration
will be the annexation of Cuba" He once TOLD
meu" In Florida that Cuba was worth nearly hve
70 %o
hundred million dollars, Blane's intention y thai
th American people shall have 1t even II he has to
paw the money out of his own pocket But one ap-
parent obstacle to the purchase of Cuba is Spains
much reiterated determination not to sell that island
in any circumstances nor at any price This, how
having determined that ought to have the island
1t will be easy enough to pick quarrel win the
owner as preliminary to taking 1t. War 10 neces-
Of that sort would both satisfy the requirements
OF that policy and get the island War Is therefore
an inevitable part Of the Blaine programme, and the
people must not forget It, This policy would De IN
pursuance of the theory that inspired Baines Peru
Wan operations. 1t will make things lively Tor con
tractors and will make money plenty IL wiz MAKE
a new period of imitation and new boom lot tne
fictitious values that Jay Gould deals in.-Ner YORK
Herald June II.
Nothing could be more disastrous for
Florida than the acquisition of Cuba by
the United States. The visitors to Flor
ida mostly come here because it is the
southernmost country of the United
States; Cuba being acquired, they would
go on there, as being yet more southerly
and with a still milder winter climate.
The island being acquired, the swiftest
steamers would at once place it within a
| few hours of the nearest railroad terminus
in Florida, and the pleasure seeker and
invalid would not pause in Florida, but
go on until they had reached the lovely
shores of the "Queen of the Antilles"
the most beautiful and fertile land over
which floated the flag of their country
land unsurpassed, indeed, on the face
of the earth for scenery and productive
ness. Truck farmers and producers of
tropical fruits in Florida could no more
compete with those of Cuba than they can
with the farmers Of Pennsylvania in rails
ing apples. During all the winter months
the products of the vast and frostless
island would pour into the Northern mar
ket. Thus Florida would be eclipsed in
her peculiar industries and the climatic
attractions that sustain her winter resorts,
and which together give large value to
lands much inferior to the fat soil of Cuba
These things being considered, it remains
for the common sense of those interested
in Florida lands, industries and pursuits
especially in the Peninsula, to deter
mine whether it is wise to support Blaine,
in whose "vigorous foreign policy" is in
cluded the acquisition of Cuba.
But the bulk of Blaine's supporters ir
Florida are "the colored element" anC
we would point out to them that they
should not want Cuba acquired, however
much Northern republicans may desire
it. Cuba being acquired and part of the
United States there could be no hindranct
to "Cuban niggers" pouring into Florida
as there can be none to prevent persons
passing from State to State Of the Union
This influx Of worse than "Chinese chear
labor might quickly reduce wages. II
Cuba the law says that laborers shall mo-
be paid less than three dollars month
that is, the negroes had to be protected
by law to the extent that they shoulG
have at least three dollars q month"; Dc
the Blaine voters want thousands of these
fellows in Florida to take their places al
low wages? They are semi-savages are
servile and obedient to the white man
but surly among their fellows, and know
the use Of Spanish steel. They would
work cheap, and would not be bulldozed
and driven off by Florida negroes while
they oW ned knives From the hundreds
Of thousands of negroes in Cuba as many
might come to Florida as would fix the
price of labor at their own figures.