The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-04
A HINDRANCE.
Cuban Question a Menace
to Prosperity.
Also Claims That ii InterfereS
With Business. -
Some Opposed 10 Any Meddling
With the Island Whatever.


he had been In number Of cities, and had
met business people by the hundreds. All
are talking about Cuba. Some think an
ncxation is sure 20 come and with 10
great boom in our trade with the island.
Others are looking 10 investments In Cuba
direct "I am satisfied, 4" said this sena-
tor, "that there are so 600 men In the
United States who are now planning TO 90
TO Cuba as soon as the rule OF the Spaniard
is brought 10 an end. They talk OF buying
sugar plantations, Of the tobacco business,
of coffee growing Every one appears To
have the idea that Cuba is on the eve OF
one of the greatest commercial booms
known 10 history and they are all eager
TO got in early. have personally met per-
haps a scoro Of men who say they will start
for Cuba 10 buy up some Of the ruined
plantations just as soon as IL becomes
clear President Mckinley intends TO bring
the rule of Spain 10 an end. OF course in
the end some of these people who think
great money Is TO be made in Cuba will
discover that it is not all as easy as IL ap-
pears, Some of them will be disappointed,
no doubt But that the separation Of Cuba
from Spain, with the United States as
sponsor for the new nation, means a won
derful commercial and industrial develop
ment IN that island, with American capt.
tai and American enterprise at the front
of the movement, have not the slightest
doubt"
Business Mans View.
met the other day a business man from
Chicago. He has large interests in manu-
featuring and investment properties. I'm
til recently he had been opposed 10 stirring
up the Cuban question. He had argued
that what the country needed was prosper
ity for our own people and TO let Cuba look
after itself. But now he has changed his
attitude He admitted frankly that he
had changed from purely selfish consider
ations. IL have thought 10 all over, he
said, "and have satisfied msyelf that there
can never be complete return Of prosper
ity in the United States till this Cuban
question is settled. WhyY Because il hangs
over us as a menace, as cloud, and until
IL Is removed we cannot have "A normal
condition Of affairs. Till IL is out of the
way capital will be timid. The level head
eel men who study world conditions before
making investments realize that sooner or
later spain must be driven out OF Cuba.
They realize moreover, that it Is the duty
OF the United States 10 solve the problem
since we have served noAsc upon the world
tnub We Will HUU DNrlllib any OtlcT
10 do It, IL we must face this thing--and
see no way To escape 1.-THE sooner it is
out of the way and done with the better
for tho country"
Here in Washington we find quite
party in favor of the annexation of Cuba.
These men do not think il is fair Of their
opponents to assume always that If Cuba
be annexed itmust come i'm as state. "Do
wo want senators from Cuba" they are
asked do we want to have 10 wait for the
returns from Saenn Ia Grande and Cana
guey before we can determine how presi-
Dental election has goneY' Or, "Have
we not enough mixed races in our popula-
tion alreadygh These are the favoritc argu-
mCnts of those who oppose annexation.
But tho friends OF that idea say there
would DO no need Of bringing Cuba in as
a state Ot this time. She should first be-
como q territory. She could have her local
legislature Just rs our western territories
have, 10 mako purely local laws. The real
power In the island would be that placed
in the hands Of the governor appointed by
the president of the United States. Some
think such n government would necessa
rily be corrupt. But that has not been the
experience Of our territories. While per-
feet government is difficult to find any
where in tho world, our territorial admin
istrations compare favorably with many
older governments ombodying full local
rule.
The Cuban People.
Men who are familiar with tho condition
of affairs existing in Cuba say that II IL be
annexed TO tho United States it should be
maintained ais territory FOR perhaps 20
years 10 como. 1t would take that long 10
flt the people for statehood The first thing
10 be done would Be 10 organize a com
pletc public school system, such as we
have throughout this country, Spain has
never provided educational facilities for
the common people. Give them schools
for generation, bring them under the
protection uf the United States, subject
them 10 the Influence Of our press and Of
more and more intimate contact with this
country, and in very short time Cuba
would become quite as American as some
of our s'UtrS GrU now. 80 far rs education
and Intelligence 20 Cuba would now com.
pare very iaNCrably with certain sections
Of tho United states that could be named.
Tho opponents Of annexation argue that
we should have TO maintain in Cuba
large standing army, with fleet OF naval
vessels, In order 20 preserve peace. They
say the cxf,isc is too great. ana that we
should rot undertake It, Men who know
tho Culun lcCplu very well from having
lived among ttcm tell me this fear Is
IrounGllss. JhoCulGns arc naturally
nocilc and orderly people. They have re-
yoltCd uqair,t Srgin, ~ is true, but with
an Pic Iyu r,~ii0n. II tho stars and stripes
were tn lcN tftd over tho island, the peo-
pie wouU. r sUinission and loyalty 20
this govern ,Ii. There would Le no dan
ger OF iu-UfI ,inn or Of trouble. Even
those Who ud Lns favor annexation and
who wanted ldcrcrdcnce or nothing
would peacefully Cuimit
Thcy Arc Anxious To Rise.
So far az t1dt s. concerned, they go on
TO shy. Cult not q bL.ck spot ly any
manner Of iIcrrt Only about onc-third
tbr ropuiI.n 'f TIE island Is African.
1hcscl, ..,.ir much like cur south
rrn rc,plr rtlal ~ ot great development
~ for tnr OiIHu mnsscs. they ARE In
tousc,y ansinua 90 SECURE education and