New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-16


ruptcy? During the first rebellion the planters
had their and a market for their sugar
at high prices Now their field and factory la
Dor cannot be depended upon. and their only
market for their sugar is menaced by Germany
and exposed to merciless competition. During
the worst years Of the first civil war the chief
industries of the island were not seriously in
terrupted. During the last year every pro-
ductive industry has been paralyZed. and the
Caban sugar crop is only fraction of the usual
output.
II the present be disheartenng. how hopeless
is the future If the second rebellion be ult-
matey suppressed. there will be another war
debt to be ruthlessy thrust upon the ruined
island, which was exhausted and impoverished
before and languishing under the most corrupt
and incapable administration on the face Of the
earth. Loyalty to the mother country Is not
wholly lacking in Cuba. but self-preeervation Is
the highest law of life there as everywhere else.
The powerful classes which supported the
Government thirty years ago naturally
ukewarm and apathetic now, and recoil from
the inevitable results of Spanish victory
The Cuban question when reduced TO its
simplest terms is a sugar question to-day. as it
has been for a generation. Whatever may be
the issue of the present conflict the prosperity
of the island can be regained only in one way
by political union with the only market where
its sugar can be brought within a customs line
and adequately protected against the COMPETE
ton of European beet sugar A beated grant
of home rule after the horrors of civil war Will
not repair the economic fortunes of the Island
The intolerabe evils of official incapacity and
corruption will remain; there Will be no prospect
of industrial revival Annexation Is the last
hope of Cuba. overwhelmed as 1t Is with mis-
fortunes and confronted with destructive for
eign competition. With it's sugar admitted 10
free market in the United States. while Eu-
ropean beet sugar and British West Indian cane
were taxed. its great industry would be saved
from impending destruction one does not heed
to go to CLJa t. learn that annexation Is the
substance of things hoped for there 1t is the
logic of an economic situation.
THE BEET AGAINST THE CANE.
Because the Cuban question is essentially
sugar question the European beet countries are
well satisfied with the indefinite continuance OF
the runous conditions OF Spanish rule. The Ger
man Reichstag is discussing bill for in
creasing the bounties and taxation on sugar,
and this legislation is designed to increase the
production of beet and to dsplace cane sugar
in the markets Of the world The suspension or
cane raising and milling in Cuba Is already
tremendous gain for German agriculture
policy by which the prosperity of the island
would be restored under American administrs-
ton would not promote the interests OF beet
countries like Germany, Austria-Hungary.
France and Belgium. AS for England, its own
langushing sugar colonies in the East ana west
Indies will be temp )rarily relieved by the SHRINK
age Of sugar production in Cuba. It's loss VIII
be their gain. The planter of the BRUSH west
Indies are already getting better prices Tor their
sugar in consequence Of the Cuban civil war
and would be greatly benefited If competing
Industry were permanently ruined. they "oulu
he disinterested philanthropists. If they were
anxious TO witness a restoration Of the pros
perity of the island under American rule
England has taken little interest In any sugar
question during recent years. 1t once had
great refining industry In Bristol ana O'he'
towns but this has been destroyed by German
competition 1t has a large number Of sugar
islands in the East and West Indies. which have
suffered from the development Of the European
beet industry. England could get cheap sugar
from, GERMANY and 1t has done nothing 10 pro-
too, the interests Of its colonial planters. Cheap
ness of the sugar supply has been the main
thing The tropical islands have been left 10
shift for themselves and have been ADVISED 10
diversity their industries. But 1t is possible tha'
the sugar question may some day become more
interesting TO English readers. If the CUBAN
rabe,s should happen to win their independence
and the island in the course of time should DE
annexed to the United States, the sugar industry
there would be protected by the American Gus
toms line and again be made remunerative
Cuban prosperity under those conditions wonid
not he without effect upon the British west
indies They. too. might be drawn by the rorce
Of economic gravitation toward the American
Republic. ~ -