The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-11
Tho Annexation Of Cuba.

We have had from time to time occasion
to point out that the autonomists, or advo-
Gates OF Cuban independence, have shown In
Havana newspapers an inclination to aban-
don their original programme, and to urge
In place OF it the annexation Of the
island to the United States. There Is
something to be said, however, on
both sides Of the question; and among those
who aim at self-government for Cuba some
oppose her incorporation with the great
American republic. Conspicuous among the
latter is Seflor TRUJILLo, the author of a
series OF interesting articles recently pub
lshed in Ell Avsador Hispano- Americana
and in Ell P0rrenir.
One of the points made by SefIor TRUJ111o
is that the annexation Of Cuba would be eff
fected under conditions essentially different
from those under which that OF the Louis.
lana Territory, OF Florida, of Texas and of
California took place. What we have wit
messed in those sections Of the Union is not
all amalgamation OF tho Anglo-Saxon and
Latin civilizations, but the virtual extirpa-
ton Of the Latin element. This solu-
ton OF tho annexation problem was, he
thinks. rendered possible by the fact
that the territories acquired from France,
Spain, and Mexico were separated from the
Engish-speaking States only by an invisi-
bic land frontier. He lays stress, moreover,
on the circumstance that the French and
Spanish population was numerically insg-
nitlcant, and therefore, easily overwhelmed
by the inflow Of English-speakinG emf
grants. Cuba, on the other hand, IS divided
by sea fr ON the United States, and contains
a large. thoroughly organized, and highly
civilized Spanish-speaking population.
To the first argument, based on the sup
posed barrier to assimilation presented by q
few leagues OF sea, We are unable to attach
much weight. Sefor 1RUJILLO overooks
the fact that for many years after the cess
sion OF the Louisiana Territory American
emigrants did not reach New Orleans and
It's environs by land, but either by skirting
the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, or by voyage
OF two or three thousand miles down the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers The same
thing may be said OF most OF the
emigrants who liocked to California after
the discovery of gold. Onlya small fraction
of these confronted the dangers of jour
ney across what used to be known as the
great American desert, by far the greater
number preieriing the sea route by the 18TH
mus OF Panama or even that around Cape
Horn. In view of these precedents we can
not regard as bar to Anglo-SaXon emigra-
tion the unimportant circumstance that a
few hours are needed to go By steamer from
Tampa to Havana.
The other objection raised by Senior TRU-
JILLo obviously deserves more serious con-
Sideration A SpanIsh-spcaking community
comprising more than million of human
boo, a.
few thousand settlers Of French or Spanish
origin in Louisiana and California. Even if
Cuba should enter the Union as n State 1t Is
improbable that any such absorption would
take place. The language, the laws, the in
situations, the customs and manners
which the Cubans have derived from
spain, are doubtless too firmly rooted
70 DO SunDlauted by q different civil