New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-28
SUGAR QUESTIONS.
WITH SIDE LIGHTS ON THE FUTURE OF
THE BRITISH WEST INDIES
AND CUBA

Rodney's great sea fight off the coast of Do
nin,ca no European Power has been strong
enough TO rob England Of any Of her West Ind
ian colonies; but sugar bounties have been
more destructive than fleets and the Empire
won and defended by the valor OF Raleigh
Blake Venables. Collingwood. Nelson. JerVls
and Rodney has been reduced to the verge or
ruin Through foreign competition the one great
Industry which Is the lifeblood OF those pos
sessions has become stagnant and clogged. The
abandonment Of what is now improbable and
ruinous agriculture involves the retirement or
the white planters from the Islands and the
starvation and mpoverishment OF hundreds or
thousands Of exctable negroes. Something may
be done to ease the situation by imperial grants
FOR steamship subsidies roadmaking. liquidation
OF floating debts and other purposes, but by
the Commissioners own admissions these are
only palllatives Of evils for which the revival OF
the sugar industry is the only effective remedy.
The British West Indian empire Is doomed to
disaster and ruin because no English Govern
nent ventures to levy countervailing duties
against foreign bounties. and thereby to give
the colonies fair play in the markets OF the
mother country.
English opinion perceives the bearings OF the
sugar question upon the future Of the Queens
West Indian possessions ard that the colonies
are going to rack and ruin because the mother
country is unwilling to sacrifice its free trade
principles and to pay temporarily an extra half
penny a pound for sugar by imposing tariff
upon beet sugar. There Is no hesitation in ac-
cepting the logic of plain facts respecting the
economic ruin of the British West Indies. But
when the present condition and ultimate fate
Of the Spanish West Indies are under considera-
ton English intelligence Is strangely clouded by
ignorance and prejudice. There is much Idle
discussion Of the stubborn resistance offered by
Spain to the surrender of her last stronghold
In the New World there is admiration expressed
for the grit and determination with which
hopeless struggle is carried on: there is harm
less speculation respecting the efficacy of Sa-
gasta's belated concession Of autonomy, and
there is apprehension OF war between Spain and
the United States as the consequence Of Ameri-
can "aggression" and "Jingosm." There is no
clear perception Of the fact that the Cuban
question like the fate of the British West Indies,
is essentially sugar question.
The English inquirer easily satisfy HIM
self that this is by forecasting what VIII
happen In Cuba when hostilites are at an end
The fighting cannot always go on. Peace must
be made some time. either by the complete SUBJ
jugation Of the rebels. by the beated grant or
autonomy or by the winning OF independence
either with or without foreign aid Whenever
the war is over, the prosperity OF the island
Will depend upon the prospects Of the sugar In
dustry. II that industry be successfully re-
vived and proftably conducted the future OF
Cuba will be secure. The various alternatives
for the present state Of civil war may be consid-
cred in turn.
WHAT MAY HAPPEN IN CUBA.
First-Cuba may be retained by Spain, either
by direct reconquest or by the grant of legisla-
tive autonomy at the eleventh hour. When hos
tilities ere closed the island will be over
whelmed with the burdens OF war taxation. and
sugar producers will not be encouraged TO re-
build their mills and factories and to replant
their land to cane. There will be large mar
ket where their sugar can be adequately pro-
tected against competition from the bounty
aided beet industry Of the Continent. for only
a small proportion of their product can be sold
In Spain. Their industry will be doomed to
failure like that Of other cane-producers in the
West Indies. If they are prudent they will not
stock their mills with expensive machinery and
continue hopeless struggle.
Second-Cuba may win its battle for liberty
and become independent State. The bur-
dens Of the Spanish administrative system would
be thrown off, but the sugar producers would
be dependent entirely upon their own resources
for re-establishing the sugar Industry and find
Ing market where they could compete sue
cessfully with the bounty aided sugar Of the
Continent. The planters Of Jamaica Trinidad,
Barbados and British Guiana are confronted
with ruin to-day because they cannot secure a.
market where their produce can be sold at a
profit. What warrant Is there for supposing
that Cuban planters in an era Of independence
could win the battle for market without which
their industry would inevitably fail?
Third-Cuba may pass into the hands OF a
foreign power. Ways and means need not be
considered. whether by purchase. with the as
sumption Of the Cuban debt. or by conquest IN
a war with Spain, but only the economic effects
Of the general result. What maritime Power
could offer Cuba market for sugar and large
paid to beet producers? Neither Germany,
nor France, nor Austria Hungary. which have
been securing by high tariffs their home mar
kets for their own sugar producers. ana de-
stroying by export bountles the cane industry
Of the tropics. Not Great Britain winch IS
poweress without a tariff to avert the ruin OF
her own West Indian islands. and obviously
could do nothing for Cuba. There is only one
nation which can offer to Cuba great market
for sugar and adequate protection or us chiet
Industry That is the United states.
am not attempting TO formulate an argu-
ment for American Intervention or annexation,
but merely TO emphasize the iact tnal Ine
Cuban question is essentially a sugar question.
and that II does not differ from the one raised
by the royal commission respecting me future
o, the British West Indies Whatever may pe
the issue Of the civil war neither spain, nor the
Cubans themselves. nor any European Power.
can offer a market for the islands produce ana
protect It's chief Industry against destructive
competition. which has proved fatal to the
prosperity OF the British West Indies. the Corn-
m'ssoners themselves being the witnesses L ,.',
United States alone can restore the prosperity
Of Cuba after the present disastrous war IL
can DO for Cuba what other nation On ear'h
can DO.
THE TWO CIVIL WARS.
When one reverts TO the first patriot war;
generation ago, he is at once convinced that '"e
Cuban question was then a sugar question:
During the seven years war in the fores's inc
planters on the Spanish side ana tneii
slaves were lovaI n them and they continued
10 produce sugar for which there was goou
market in the United States. The Ameiiea"
consumers virtually paid the cost OF Supp ess
ing that protracted rebellion. Americans WEI