New-York tribune., 1891-01-31

in the West Indies the United States Will dis
criminate against their products and in favor Of
other sugar producing countries Meanwhile, Tie
annual increase of the bcet-sGgar crop Of Europe
exceeds by 100000 tons the entire canesuear
production Of Cuba and Puerto Rico There Is "A
surplus available for export under a system Of
foreign bountics: and at the same time under
the Tariff act American farmers are ncour1gcd
to develop the industry which has displaced cane
sugar in Europe While Spain is hestating and
sacrificing the interests of Cuba, the American
market is becoming less dependent upon cane
sugar
1t is Spain that must come to the United States
in the last resort, and ask for reciprocity on any
terms. If il rejects the conditions imposed this
year. il will only have a harder bargain to make
in the end. If duties are r"mposcd and compc-
tition is conducted unequal terms with planters
in Brazil Mexico, canto Domingo and beet-root
producers in the United State, and Europe, Cubaa
sugar will have less purchasing power 1t will
he made, because tie island must live, bat wages,
already very low. will have TO be reduced. i'm
pOvcr>hcd planters will he more seriously en-
IbarraSscd every year plantations once worth
81, O0O, 900 Will be on the market without buy
ers for Sl0c.Oob and the imports upon which
Spain depends for revenues will rapidly decline
Reciprocity deferred will entail heavy losses upon
every industrial class in Cuba In the end, when
tie American market is filling with cane sugar
from other Southern countries and with is own
and European beet sugar. free and unrestricted
trade with the United States will be absolutely
necessary TO Cuba.
Such are the economic conditions Of the Cuban
question The island is to-day commercial
dependency of the United States, and sooner
or later the artificial system of unrcciprocal pro-
b,., tor hc interests of NDgin
il Is prohibited from buying freely in tie only
market where it can sell its exports will give
place 70 unfcstrctcd ircipr0ctY. Can ti"s'
results be accomplished without political rcvolu-
tion? This is a crave question which Is only
discussed on the island IN muncd tones. There
are many who believe that a refusal TIE part oi
the Spanish Government 10 negotiate an cIulta-
blc treaty Will prcciptate revolution another
year. and there others. perhaps equally well
informed. who are confident that the horrors and
suilcrngS of the insurrcction, rcnllcd with shud
dering fear and anguish of mind, will prevent
the recurrence of political outbreak and induce
public apathy. Certainly, this year will be-
critical one for the fortunes Of Cuba. Reciprocity
If conceded by Spain will secure permanent mar
Fet for sugar and greatly diminish the cost of
living and the burdens now imposed upon in
dustry. Mr.. Blaine. by holding firmly 10 his
gfOunn. ana tUc lFcsNrnt, ny dlSclp>ln~ llllrN-
ible purpose 10 enforce the reciprocity amend
ment, can do very much 10 restore the prosperity
iof Cuba. Between them they can fight the
economic battle Of island which is helpless 10
defend itself A reciprocity treaty will strengthen
the bonds uniting the island with Spain. Re-
lection of reciprocity. with the heavy losses which
inevitably Will be entailcd, will impart n pow
crful impulse to tho annexation movement in the
island.
To understand the political bearings Of this
question it is necessary To recall the changes
wrought by the long war Of instruction which
wrecked the fortunes Of tie Cubans. \ large
proportion of the native landowners lost every
thing in that struggle. Their property was con-
iiscatcd and sold, passing into the hands Of Span
iardS and foreigners. Their financial resources
were exhausted and another class Of land holders
was created Now il is This class Of new property
owners mainly Of pure Spanish blood. that is
10 day most directly interested in obtaining I'M
restricted access 10 the American market without
annexation if possible, but with il if necessary
The strongest advocates Of reciprocity and anncNa-
tion are not the native Cuhans, who rank polili-
cally aS Liberals and favor autonomy but thc
Spanish and German property owners. sugar plant
ers and tobacco manufacturers whose SymplihcS
nominally arc with tho Government or Conscrva-
tive party. They are the ruling class and con
troll what capital there i, in the island and their
interests lie in the direction Of close commercial
union with the only market where their exports
can be sold. Th~ want the best possible terms
for exchanging their produce in that market.
whereas the impoverished native Cubans are
mainly Interested in obtaining political measures
of home rule and scf-govcrnmcnt
The Cuban question is thus looming mp in the
future Of the United States aS one of steadily in
crcaSing importance. Reciprocity will satisfy AT
least temporarily, all classes on the island and
restore 10 some degree the prestige of Spain in
the island. Rejection Of reciprocity will bc re
scntcd here aS cruel Indifference on the part ~
the Home Government 10 the urgent necessities Of
Cuba. The more ruinous the barren policy Of
unrcciprocal protection Of Spanish mercantile in
tcrcStS at the sacrifice Of every Cuban industry
becomes in the course of years the stronger will
De- the force of grayitation toward the United
States. If economic union with the great Re-
public can be secured without disturbance Of the
relations of political dependence upon tho mother
country Cuba Will be more loyal than ever before.
II reciprocity bc denied and the island plunges
from one depth 10 a lower one in the Valley Of
Dcspond annexation will he popular among all
classes. Americans to-day confident that they
do not want Cuba on any terms. They are prob
ably right. for the Anelo-SaXon and Latin civiliza
tions do not accord with each other. But if IN
time the people of this oppressed and beautiful
island are camOring for admission to the Union,
there may hc great difficulty in keeping them out.
Cuba is the most uXuriant and productive garden
of the West Indies The early Spanish navigators
rightly named il the Pearl of the Antilles. II is
pearl clouded with missovernment and industrial
misfortune. Under American administration 1t
would be cleaned, reset and polished so as 10
shine once more with its old-timc lustre
J. ~ I.
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