The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-04-14
o those who deny the right of the United
= States rnrnrnmant 10 intarYnnn IN hehalf
BUSINESS HlEW or
THE CUBAN QUESTION.

ms e6gls agFsTIov 4 States government to intervene in behalf
Of Cuba on humanitarian grounds, we
would 81 them e consider a few facts bearing upon the business feature
f the case which satake from an exchange. They are worthy Of careful
Thoughts
Commerce has Its laws and they are certain In the end to assert them
selves Cuba - likely soon to be- freed from the sovereignty Of Spain, and
not onyon account Of political injustice. One cause Of the present revolt
from Spain and exclusively for Spanish advantage, In 1895 many Of the
Cuban business men, organized as a League of Merchants = addressed al
protest 20 Madrid ia which, after announcing themselves as loyal and sub
missve subjects. they reviewed the commercial difficulties under which.
Cuba Bbored. They said the island would be ruined by the system oftarids
framed against the island ITSELF treating 1t wholly as a Spanish province
Spanish goods were admitted to Cuba free, but Cuban products paid a duty
on entering Spain. The ten years revolution had sadded Cuba with al
debt Of sI60tQ0000Qs and this was carried in the face Of the most serious
obstacles Anumbero Of reforms we're suggested in the protest, and they
indicated not only rdnous tariff inequalities but gross onclal abuses In vaL
uatlons and custom house rules,
Cuba was shown to be dealing with the United States, by great odds It's
best customer, under a hugh burden Of unfair Spanish laws and debts. In
In 1893, two yearsbefore the present insurrection began, the United States
took seven-eights Of all the Cuban sugar crop, two-thirds Of the exports oil
baed tobacco and bne-third Of the cigars manufactured. Cuban exports in
that year amounted to 81 100000 Spanish dollars, and the exports to $780,.
100000, Taxation for the year was $25, 100000, or oneslxth 0f the total
commerce 0nefouHh ofthe sum went to the Spanish crown. In 1894 the.
United States bought niDetenths Of the sugar crop and the most Of the
ports to $4,000 600. Last year the imports from the island had declined
to s~1SAO3S15, and we sold to Cuba only s1,59o,751 The Cuban reign oil
armed atrocities cost us In commerce over s~5iO0o00O a year, to say nothing
OF heavy expenditures due to the same cause.
Even under the outrageous Spanish regulations our Cuban commerce.
to 1895 ran up to $780, 100000 year. ICuba were d weIl-gogemeJI
republic our trade with 1t would reach great proportions. Only onegald mI
Che island IS under cultivation. The population 81 100000, vbIeh uarI
hasreduced by several hundred thousand, could easily be Increased mgsyI
fold, Twothtrds Of the inhabitants are fthe white race TN asamaGA4#
our decreased trade with Cuba has thrown 10000 Americans 94t MI
That the United States has not taken vigorous action sgsaf
lgo against such heavy and continuous losses Is due ID Tie peaceful asggl.8
zion OF our people They have been reluctant 10 engage III 3 waF ab Eli
Us poor ignorant, foolish and, in a certain sens, ID irresponsible Al
But the course q events is bringing thc true and lae9ia8eI
0uuon.