Omaha daily bee., 1895-03-21
CUBAN ANNEXATION TALK.

For half a century or more there has
been 4 considerable number of Ameri-
cans who believed that the United
States ought to possess the island of
Cuba In the time of slavery Cuban
annexation was a topic of frequent dis
cussion, the sentiment of the southern
people being practically unanimous in
favor of it, for the obvious reason that
the possession of Cuba by the United
States ut that time would have strength
ened the institution of slavery. Men
in other sections of the country have
advocated the annexation of the island
for commercial and military reasons
Much forceful argument has been
made from time to time in support of
the view that the possession of Cuba
by the United States is essential to
our power in that quarter, now dom
mated by European nations. This was
the chief point made by the authors
of the Ostend manifesto. which pro-
posed that this government should offer
Spain Il sum of money for the island.
and IL that We're refused we should take
forcible possession. That proposition
had many enthusiastic supporters.
There is still strong annexation
sentiment in the south, and probably
Senator Morgan voices the view of Il
majority of the people of that section
i'm expressing the hope that Cuba will
become part of the United States.
TO what extent Il like sentiment is en-
tertained by the people of other sections
of the country there is no means of
they could be called upon for an ey-
preston of opinion Oh the question II
very large number would be found
favorable to annexation. The case of
Cuba is very different from that of
Hawaii, so that the considerations to
be urged in favor of annexing the for
mer do not apply to the latter Cuba
Is near to our territory, and If it be-
longed to the United States could be
governed, while i'm territorial con-
dition, without having to keep a fleet
of war vessels in the surrounding
waters. Undoubtedly, with free gov
ernmcnt and relief from the oppressive
taxation which Spain leyies upon the
people of the island Cuba would grow
rapidly in population and material
development. The present population of
the island is 1.GOO,0OO, and it is ca
pable of supporting, under such CON
ditions as would prevail if the island
belonged to almost any other country
but Spain, and especially if 1t were
a part of the United States. three times
| that number of people. From this
small population there is collected an
nually about S.9,000 600, There is Il
tax upon everything, and 1t is the OPP
pressiveness of this taxation that is the
principal cause of the present uprising.
While the people have been suffering
from the burdens of an oppressive gov
ernment Spanish officials of the mother
country have remained quiet and
shown no disposition to supply meas
ures of relief. 1t is not to be expected
that there will be any change for the
better so long as Cuba is Spanish
possession. but on the contrary the con.
ditions in the island are likely to be
come worse
But Cuba will remain Il Spanish pos
session until her people by their own
efforts secure Independence. and thai
consummation is probably Il long way
of. Some profess to believe that II
may be attained as the result of the
present insurrectlon, but there is moth
ing yet to warrant such belief. Al