New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-17
THE CIRIN QUESTION.


Forty wears ago the cuban question was an
annexation question Two Democratic Prcsl-
dcnts favored the purchase II the island. Pres
iIcnt Pierce was restrained with diihcul'y 10y
Marcy from allowing Jefferson Davis. who was
then Secretary Of War. 10 drag the Adminsira-
ZION into war with Spain after The Black
Warrior affair lie repeatedly advocated pro
linlnarv legislation for the purchase Of cuba
In the famous Ostend manifesto three American
Ministers, declared that Si20OOOOOO would he
a fair price and that the United States, II
Snoin would refuse 20 close the bargain. would
be Justified in taking cuba by force" One Of
those Ministers became The next President AMI
promptly asked Congress to authorlz" IN al
vance payment for The purchase Of the island
A bill was introduced appropriating S3o.op0ooo
for the purpose and it was not Withdrawn until
Southern Senators had disclosed their willing
ness 10 make as hlgh bid ~ S2oooooooo for
the sake Of obtaining territory ONT Of which
three slave States might be created.
The annexation Of Cuba was justified by
Northern Dcmoc ats like Marcy aud Douglas.
Pierce and buchanan, OH the ground Of mani
fest destiny: but it was strcnuously opposed by
all opponents of slavery. Senator Wade iaunl-
cd the Southern leaders with their disappont-
mcnt over the results Of The Mexican War, and
charged them with defeating homestead l"gsla-
ton in the West and going abroad fishing for
nigscrs through the whole lworld." Cuban an
nexation WAS the last resource Of Southern lead
crs. who were rushing hcadlong into the war
for slavery. II WAS a desperate device for the
enlargement Of slave territory. The moral in
stincts of the North were against 1t. and there
was no sympathetic response from Cuba. When
Lopez with his American iilibusers landed on
the island no recruits rallied around them The
Cubans did not want annexation. Their trade
relations were with Europe, and The planters
were rich and prosperous.
| Since the Civil! War the Cuban question has
been sugar question. The collapse Of the
! Louisiana cane industry caused vacuum which
was filled with Cuban sugar When the great
instruction arose the Cuban planters We're
/ thu Spanish side, and they had market for
! their sugar in the United States. American
| CONSUMERS paid large part OF the cost of sup
! pressing the revolt 1t was the sugar question
/ which determined the fate of the island Cuban
! independence would have been won If Amcri-
! cans had either taken any interest in the qIcs-
| ton. or ceased 10 buy sugar from that quarter
They were indifferent because slavery existed H.
the island and emancipation was already max
! ing trouble enough III the rccOnSlruclcu South
ern States. After the patriot war Cuban sugar
was gradually shut out Of Europe until 30 per
cent Of the islands commerce was with the
| United States. That sugar could not be sold
/ except in the American market The prosperity
Of the island depended upon commercial union
with the only country where there was mar
kct fM cane sugar. Under reciprocity condi
tons every Cuban industry received new i'm
pulse ard millions were invested In sugar
chinery. Those conditions have been brought TO
an end and European competition has reduced
cane sugar To an Improbable industry
The Cuban question iii its final stage will be
an annexation question. not because Americans
are anxious to acquire the island by purchase
or by conquest but because the people are
ruined economically, and Spain, bankrupt in
treasury and corrupt beyond redemption In adj
ntnisrative processes. cannot do anything for
/ them Forty years ago annexation was the last
! hope Of American slave0wners struggling
against modern progress; and the people OF the
| island with their European trade connections
were opposed to 1t. To-day the only hope OF
! permanent restoration Of Cuban prosperity lies
| in political az well as commercial union with
| TIC only country MhSYa 4s isAal4a Qrolucts