Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-16
BUYING OF CUBA
Where the Real Strength of the
Proposition Lies.
ISLANDS VALUE 10 THlS GOVERNMENT
Its Location and Worth From a
Commercial Standpoint.
DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES

| The suggestion that this government re-
| new the old effort to buy Cuba has led at
| once in political circles to a lively discus
| sion of the subject. The Star has already
| referred to the fact that some of the ad-
vocates of the proposition hope 1t may not
| become connected in any way with the
Hawaiian question or the question of dig
| ging the Nfcaraguan canal. In the opinion
| of these men. the Cuban proposition would
| be strongest taken separately and decided
| on its own merits. Today, in conversation
with a representative of The Star, a we'll
| known gentleman, familiar with foreign
affairs, presented the other view of the
| matter.
The Real Strength of the Propoxition.
1T seems to me-" said this gentleman.
that the real strength of the proposition
| to buy Cuba lies in its direct connection
with the other propositions. Taken sepa-
rately. it hardly justifies itself. 1t is by no
means the same question that was pre-
| sented to the country when the offer of
one hundred millions OF dollars was made
| for the island. Slavery dictated that. No
question of supporting or still further ex-
tending our foreign commerce was involv-
| ed. We had no navy then, and therefore
| were not thinking about coaling stations
| in any quarter of the globe. Cutting
|
| serious discussion. But the slave power,
| seeing the lines tightening around its in
| stitutioT. en- the mainland, conceived the
| idea that in Cuba a new stand might be
| made and the tension relieved at home. In
| design it was big plantation scheme.
where negroes could be colonized and
| worked to advantage. Much bitterness ex-
| listed over the disputed question Of the
northwest territory. Slave owners insisted
| that they had their rights there, while the
| free soilers stoutly maintained that slav-
cry should not obtain a foothold In that
| latitude. Cuba was considered sort of
| solution of the difficulty.
IF the island could be secured the surplus
| of slavery could be drawn off in that direc-
| ton. The principal desire of the slave
power was territory, and it really preferred
| that in southern latitudes, where the negro
| is most at home There was never open
| confession of this program, but 1t was well
| understood at the time. One of the United
States commissioners making the offer to
Spain was Pierre Soule, an ultra slavery
advocate, at the time Senator from Louis
lana, and afterward minister to Spain. So
| far as the real object in view was con-
| cerned, it is probably Just as well that the
project failed The purchase of Cuba would
| In no measure have solved. or even for any
great length of time relieved, the slavery
| question in this country. As we now can
plainly see, the opponents of slavery would
not have abated any of their zeal for the
extinction of that institution. Whether the
Institution was on the mainland pressing
for further extension, or on an island in
the sea, with the American flag waving
over it, the contest was certain to con-
| tinue. With the abclitionists the question
was slavery, and not its particular loca-
ton, and they were in the fight to a finish.
The Question Now.
1.-THE question now is purely one Of the
enlargement and extension Of our general
powers. We consider ourselves the great
est nation on the globe. We have a large
and growing foreign commerce. We have
a navy of the first class, and we must pro-
vide for 1t in first-class style. The growth
of commerce calls for the piercing Of the
isthmus, and that in turn calls for Amer
lean control Of the enterprise. A canal con-
meeting the two oceans will in time be dug,
and then will begin our obligations Then
it will be palpable to everybody that in
order to be able fully to discharge our duty
in the premises We must control Cuba on
the one side and Hawaii on the other. Now,
the question as to Hawaii is as good as
settled. Those islands will be American
territory in less than five years. They are
coming to us of their own accord. and with
such momentum that they cannot be stop
ped. We shall only be asked to assume
their Indebtedness. which is small, and
which their own revenues will promptly
discharge 1t only remains for us. then.
to buy Cuba, and a project of wise and
worldwide consequence will be complete"
What price could this country afford to
pay for Cuba?" was asked.
II have not thought much about that.
The island is valuable. regarded from any
standpoint. 1t is not merely a rich body
of land where with no great effort profit
able crops are grown: it Is far more than
an immense sugar plantation. Cuba con-
tains minerals and mines, and manufac-
tories are paying investments. But. rich
as it is. the island is practically undevel-
oped. The higher order of progress is not
possible under Spanish rule. But il Amer
ican control can be established there g
very great change will take place. New
York, Boston and Philadelphia will pour
in their capital. and the southern states q
portion of their planters, and in few
years the transformation will be complete.
Havana In particular. cleaned, drained and
thoroughly improved, will become one OF
the most delightful cities anywhere within
easy reach of our mainland. Winter travel
there from all over the United States will
increase, and new life be infused into all
the country round. We shall in this way,
of course, be improving our own property,
and justifying whatever price may have
been paid.
Not Only the Commercial Side.
But the commercial side Of the question.
strong as it is. should not so much occupy
U.s. We could afford to buy Cuba IL Il
were huge rock or a stretch Of unpro-
ductive lava beds or an unthinned Jungle,
With an occasional clearing on the coast
for fort Its location is Of the greatest
importance to us. and gives to the island
value in American eyes which cannot
be ignored. I hope to see negotiations
opened for purchase at an early day Spain
1 have no doubt, will take advantage Of
the situation and stand out for a stiff
price, IL she consents to treat at all. Cuba
is valuable to her only on the money side.
1t is a goose that for years has been lay
ing golden eggs. Spain likes the nest. She
has been going there in times of stress and
always finding the desired treasure. She
is poor today, but will probably balance
the proposition of lump sum against q
calculation showing the annual income
from the island. This is a sure thing as
long as she chooses to hold on.'
do you think Spain holds the United
States in part responsible for disorders in
Cuba?"
II have reason to believe that she does.
And it would not surprise me If in the cor
respondence growing out of the Alliance
episode pretty pointed reference were made
to the fact. There is more feeling on the
subject than has yet appeared This.
too, may make negotiations about buying
the island the more difficult when they are
opened, but it should not make a purchase
impossible
F0urth-Class POstmnsters.
nina Fourth I'll cto oxc v,are