New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-02
THE FUTURE OF CUBA.

American diplomacy has interviewed with a
strong arm TO Gbeiate Cuba from economic de-
nendence upon Spain. What the island was
noweress to accomplish unaded, the State De-
nartment has done with the weapons with which
it was armed by Congress. The abolition o,
the duties on sugar in the United States would
have excited little interest in Cuba If the Reci-
procity amendment had not been added los
sugar came into the American mar
ket when it was taxed cents
pound and planters were indifferent 70 tne
advantages to be derived by consumers from
the removal of the duties II was not until the
Recinrocity policy was embodied in the meas
ure that the fortunes of the island were AFFECT
ed. That transferred from Havana to WASH
ington the power of bringing pressure to pear
unon Madrid for revision OF an economic
system that was ruinous to Cuba mat power
has been exerted with tremendous effect. IL IS
natural for Americans to consider primarily the
advantages which they will obtain from the
success of the Harrison Administrations dlplo-
macy; but they can also congratulate them-
selves that what is their gain is in larger meas
ure the emancipation of a msgoyened lSlanu
from a system by which its interests were sacrl-
feed and it's industries paralyzed.
The development of beet-sugar in Europe mas
forced planters to produce their chief staple 1or
less than 3 cents pound when few years ago
they were getting cents for 1t, AT the same
time. all foreign markets have been closed
AGAINST them except that of the United States.
Under the Spanish system OF unreclprocal pro-
lection Cuba laneuished because it could not
huy freely in the only market where it couId
sell its sugar The island was left to shirt LOT
itself until American diplomacy came IN 10 iishO
for il the battle of economic emancipation.
Now if is brought into relations OF commercial
union-larpely unrestricted--with the great mar
l.et with which it's economic fortunes are IN
dissolubIv connected The result Of closer &C
cess tn that market will inevitably be an I'M
movement of its commercial fortunes. AS COM
morcial union has been secured and the pros
perity of the island promoted in response 10
the demands Of all the industrial interests OF
the island. the prestige of Spain will be IN
creased. Reciprocity will satisfy at least uen-
porariy all classes and render heh nlOro
loyal than before TO the mother country. Inc
feeling in favor of annexation to the Onlueu
States. which was stronger than Americans nave
supposed. will be checked. The refusal OF
Reciprocity would have impaired great I'M
pulse to the movement.
Spain has adopted the best course for sum-
ulating the loyalty of its colonial dependency
and for counteracting the force OF commercial
pravitation which was bringing Cuba into po-
litical relations with the American Union. Ii
the new treaty be enforced in broad and equ-
table spirit. and if it be followed in the near
future by large measure of legislative autono-
nv. the bonds uniting the island with the
mother State will be greatly strengthened
These results will satisfy Americans Ihey
have never lent encouragement to the annexa-
ton movement Forty years ago the strongest
argument against the purchase OF Cuba was the
danger of increasing the slave population OF the
United States. That objection has been re
moved Emancipation has been accomplished
there with less race prejudice than here. Inc
population of the island is less turbulent and
more industrious than in other Spanish Amer
can countries. As an American State it would
sneedily become another California; but there
are strong grounds for opposition to annexation
in the lack of congeniality between the Latin
and American Ango-SaXOn races Cuba is a
miniature Spain, and does not belong in the
| American Union. The effect of the Reciprocity
policy will be to attach it more strongly TO
! Spain. Americans will be content to have 1t so.