New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-03
Nation will endure throughout many succeed
ing administrations.
HiUIJT md CUBA.

Whatcycr action nav be taken respecting
the Hawaiian Treaty Of Annexation, the u'il'S
of the Reciprocity Treaty has been demon
strated Under il an industry has bccl dc-
vclopcd in the islands that is now capapie oi
supplyinc the Pacific scabOard OF the Amei'-
can Union with sugar. As Germany ana the
West Indies are long way of. this source OF
supply. which already amounts to IL per cent
of the sugar mportationS of the country Is an
advantage 10 the Pacific states t. be credliod
TO the account Of Reciprocity. Moreover 'h''
treaty has strengthened American interests III
Hawaii and enabled the United states 10 en-
troll their destiny. In view OF the Strategic
position Of the group in the North PacI'c' ana
e its relations to the lines of commercial IN
tercourse with Australia. China and Japan IL
is certainly a fortunate circumstance Una, INV
United States Government can establish us
supremacy there, if it desires - 90 50: ~
Rcciprocity that has enabled the United states
70 take possession of the key OF the Nor'h ia
cfc. The KEY may be flung away, but 1t is al
least \ great gain TO have the privilege Oh de-
Gliding whether it is TO be kept or n3i.
Nav the analocie, between Hawaii and Cuba
o,o vo,v close. With reference to the imported
,, sunrIv the Snanish West Indies held
marked ascendency. more than 43 per cent
being drawn from that quarter fcc'pfcc''y
has enormously increased the production OIL
sugar and with the free market this Is a gam
Cor American consumers. while the enormous
growth of the export trade with the spanish
islands is a corresponding advantage TO pro-
ducers and merchants. Moreover Cuba Is 81
great strategic importance with reference -
tho interocpapic canals the Atlantic and Gull
soaboards and the mouth of the Mississippi
and ON that account any economic or CONNER
ci,l polcy. which enables the United states
Government to control its destiny, Is one oi
.nlobtcnod scIf-intercst Reciprocity Is
policy of that order. II armed Washington
With mower TO intervene at Madrid on behalf
Of Cuba when Havana was helpless to protect
itself II remains a powerful lever by "hich
the United States Government can prevent the
farming out Of the customs revenues to Eng
fish and French banking syndicatcs. and the
conseouent conversion Of Cuba into another
Egypt.
Lest Hch,y-minded critics may hastily ac'
cusa rs Of working mp another annexation
movement. let us speak frankly on this sub
iect. Nothing is gained by closing ones eyes
TO facts in plain sight There Is strong ana
steadily growing feeling in Cuba, as there Is
also in the Canadian Provinces, Ill favor OF
annexation. The causes are largely economic
The attractive power Of a superior market j.
silently operating 10 draw islands and pr)vin' cs
into commercial and political relations with the
United states These annexation movements
are SPONTANEOUS and self directed, and II would
nit a fnsf
or to hasten their development prcmafnrely or
artificay We are not advocating the an
neyation OF Cuba. That is an Issue OF the
future which can take care OF itself. We are
merely emphasizing the fact that Eocplociy
has placed the American Government III con
troll of the commercial destinic' Of the spanish
islands. In that sense the Hawaiian situation
has been reproduced. Reciprocity has enabled
the United States to intervene with power III
the commercial and political affairs OF both
the Spanish and the Hawaiian groups. II j. a
policy which ought 20 be maintained with firm
moss and intelligence 50 far Is Cuba Is con-
cerned and not hastily and fool>hly aban-
dOned
When France and England asked the United
States in 1852 10 join them III treaty guar
antceng 10 Spain the undisturbed possession
of Cuba Secretary Everett made an adroit re-
ply. He inquired what their answer would be
TO a similar proposal for tlipartlte convention
IL there were Spanish possession like Cuba
guarding the entrance 70 the Thames or the
Seine. That island, when an interoccanc canal
is opened. will be almost essential - the safety
If tbe American scaboaIds from a military
pojnt of view. There is now imminent danger
that European syndcates, through the neces
sites Of tho Spanish treasury, will be allowed
to prey upon an island whose industrial fort
unes are bound up with those OF the United
States. All these considerations point to the
rcsolutc maintenance of the Reciprocity policy