The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-05
OUR INTEREST IN CUBA
SPANS Task of Subjugation
Seems Hopeless.
SENTIMENT FAyORs INTERFERENCE
Although the Hot Weather Puts n Stop to
Military Operations, American Capital
There Is Suffering Terrible Loss-Yast
Riches of the Island.

Military Operations, American Capital
There Is Suffering Terrible Loss-Yast
Riches of the Island,
WASHINGTON, May 4.-[Spccial Nov
that another summer is upon us and moth
ing tangible has been accomplished toward
putting an end to the rebellion in Cuba q
great many public mon here arc saying
tho time has come for the United States
TO interfere In n quiet way, under tho
surface, believe the sympathy for Cuba is
stronger than it ever was before. 1t is not
as demonstrativo rs it once was, not so
likely to break out in resolutions and de-
nunciations, but there is moro general
recognition of tho hopclessness Of Spain's
task Coupled with this find rcaliza-
ton that the interests of the people of the
United States aro beginning to suffer. Wo
have in the past enjoyed n large trado with
Cuba. If the island were at peace, wo
should have largo and growing trado
now. Cuba Is naturally customer of
ours. We buy tho greater part of her prod
ucts, and If trade relations wero normal
or were encouraged by closer political con.
nection we should find in the fertile island
limo market for our agricultural products
and our manufactured articles.
Prostrate Business.
Hitherto commercial influence has been
paramount in supprcssing interference on
the part of this government with the Gu
ban rebellion Whenever congress has
shown any disposition to take up tho Gu.
pan question business men and fnancicrs
and the representatives of large interests
have brought an influence to bear in tho
other direction. They do not want war
or rumors of war. They want peace and
prosperity. So far they havo managed to
choke off everything of II tangible nature
suggested i'll Cubn's behalf AT last tho
tide is beginning to turn. Even business
men arc beginning to perceive that IL
spain ever rensserts dominion over Cubn
1t Is going to take n very long time to do
1t. Years will probably clnpse before thcru
is even scmblancc of peace there undor
Spanish rule. Meanwhile the commercial
interests of the United States arc suffering
ana must continue to suffer. Spain, as il
well known, maintains Cuba simply as u
place to pension off her politicians and as
market for her wares. She contriycs n
tariff which forces the Cuban to buy i'm
Spain, while Spain buys where she can get
things the cheapest.
The coming of the summer has practi-
cally put stop to military operations in
CuDa for several months. This mems nm
other period of delay. American capital
invested in Cuba is suffering u terrible loss.
Trade is paralyzed, and many business
men are forced into bankruptcy. The rcyc-
nues of the United States government aro
curtailed on account of the diminution of
tobacco imports. Citizens of this country
arc thrown out of employment on account
OF the disturbed state of our trade relations
With Cuba. The question which consery-
ativo and cautious statesmen arc askinp
rnh x.,iD Z
permit this state of things to continue? Ia
Spain entitled to indefinite time in which
to assert her authority? If foreign power
can govern an American province only by
tho sword, If the people arc so much op-
posed to her rule That permanent peace is
impossible, if one rebellion Is suro to DO
followed by another, if present trade dis
turbances arc only precursors of moro of
the same sort in tho future-is it not timo
to give serious consideration to the oucs
ton what our duty to ourselves and to hu-
manity is?
Cubes Vast Riches.
If 1T should ever come about that Cuba
attains free government, either under in
dependence or by means of annexation TO
the United states, Americans will find in
That island many opportunities for trade
investment and activity. 1t is one of the
sources have not been devclored to n fifth
part of their limit. About as large rs tho
state OF Pennsylvania, and infinitely moro
fertile, Cuba is capable of supporting pop
ulation twice as great as that of the Key
stono State. Yet tho present population of
Cuba is less than n third that of Pennsyl
wanna. Although settled more than so
years before the United States, there aro
still in Cuba $4,000, 600 acres of primeyal
forests which have never heard tho echo of
the woodsman's nx. These forests contain
mahogany, logwood, redwood, ebony, lig-
mum vitm and caiguaran, the last named
being reputed moro durable in the ground
than iron or steel
1t is said by good authorities that IL ali
tho land in Cuba suitable to the growth
OF the sugar cane were devoted to that
purpose 1t might supply the whole western
hemisphere with sugar AS it is great
quantities of sugar are brought over from
Germany. In Cuba half the sugar ground
that Is supposed TO be under cultivation Is
wasted by bad methods. The coffee fields
are only cxpcrimentally developed. Cuba
will have n great future us u coffee produc
ing country if political peace can be Sc
cured for any considerable length of time.
I.s Mineral Ores.
The vast riches of "a mineral nature
which reposo in tho Cuban mountains are
little understood by the world at large
Copper was mined in Cuba before Colum-
bus discovered America, and there is nrct
ty good evidence that this metal yas ear.
ried across the straits of Florida for barter
with the continental Indians before Eh,