Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1895-05-02
B ANNEXATION.

In last Sundays issue of tn,
Philadelphia Times a correspon
dent in Havana writes on Cuban
annexation with a degree of in
telligence and sagacity that a
once win the attention and holt
the interest of every reader who
keeps posted on international af
fairs in general.
The writer of the letter re.
ferred to is a native Cuban, pro.
minently identified with the bus.
mess interests of the island, and
intelligently advised as to the
present condition of the revolu-
ton and the sentiments of the
people.
The present revolution, like
all those that preceded it, is des-
tined to failure. It is practically
ended now, leaving only its dregs
of guerrilla warfare in the Cuban
mountains. There will be dis
turbances and peril to both per
son and property for months to
come, but the revolutionary
movement is broken and cannot
be revived with any hope of
success. AS a rule, the men who
have engaged in revolution are
irresponsible and have little or
no property interests to suffer;
butthe property owners of the
island, who embrace a small
minority of the whole people not
participating in rebellions, suffer
all the penalties by increased ex-
actions from the parent govern
ment of Spain.
1t is not surprising that the
intelligent and thrifty Cubans
with one accord desire annexa-
ton to the United States. The
taxes imposed upon Cuba by
Spain r the largest per capita
OF any country in the world, and
when it is remembered that the
whole taxes r paid by a very
small minority, the enormity of
this oppression may be appre-
ciated. Those who have property
interests see no safety excepting
in annexation and freedom from
the CONFUSION and exposure of
both life and property and the
oppressive taxes which follow.
We doubt not, therefore, that
the correspondent expresses the
views Of those whose should bel
respected in moulding the destiny
Of Cuba. |.
How the annexation of Cuba
to be brought about is not
proposed by the correspondent.
Our government could not take
forcible possession of it without
provocation or a clearly defined
declaration of war. The whole
policy of the civilized world is ;.
against annexation by conquest, i
and this government could not {
make any such move without {
endangering its peaceful rela-
ions with the governments of !
Europe. The only other method '
acquiring Cuba would be by !
purchase, and we doubt not that {
t would be wise for this govern
nent to pay even a high price, ]
it would be a most important /
acquisition to US in every way. !
Ii has been long agitated by l
some of our leading statesmen, ;
prominent among whom has been :
Hewitt, of New York. t
md we doubt not that if Spain
we're to show a disposition to ne q
sotiate on reasonable terms, the :,
annexation Of Cuba to the United =
states by purchase could be ac- a
omplished within the next few il
ears. That it would be wise to Z
10 so we do not doubt, and that.
n addition to getting a full com S
'ensation for all that could be Il
aid for the island, no greater T
ct of humanity could be done by l.
ur government than to gather le
I Cuba as an addition to our pos &c
essions. a
~ G
Death of H. i. KimbaH Il