The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-24
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TheCubans 1

DubAueS8 Iueu WHO look Deyouu Vno
era of bullets and bloodshed in Cuba are
already speculating ON the commercial
future of the Pearl of the Antilles.
When the dons have been eliminated,
and balmy peace has settled over the is
land once more, It will require careful
legislation on the part of the American
government to bring the devastated land
back to q condition of prosperity.
Charles Rabadan of the New York Prod
uce Exchange has spent much Of his
time In Cuba during the past decade
and knows the Cuban and Spanish char
acters we'll.
Concerning the past and future pros
poets in the island Mr.. Rabadan says:
prior to the present troubles in Cuba
our exports to the island amounted to
from $20 900, 900 to $25, 900, 900 an
nually. In addition to provisions Of all
kinds and -four the exports included
manufactured articles of almost every
description, as well as machinery and To-
comotives. It was the crippling of this
substantial trade with Cuba, according
to Mr.. Rabadan, and the disgust excited
among American exporters by Spain's
inability to restore peace ON the island
that were largely responsible for the
present war. When Cuba becomes an
American possession, the logical out
come will be the opening of the Cuban
ports to the traders who follow closely
upon the heels Of the soldiers and sail
ors. With the entry of this peace army
into Cuba will begin the dawn of pros
perity for tho emancipated island, but
the dawn will become bright daylight
very slowly.
Machinery on the island is thing
Of the past. What is not rusting in the
fields has been broken and shipped to
America as old metal. Cuba must have
an entirely new outfit Of machinery,
and this will mean an enormous bust
ness for the American houses that ex-
port machinery. But first Cuba must
have the money to, buy machines, and
to get the money she must first carry
ON hand to mouth trade with Amer
lea and practice until she can afford to
make purchases Of expensive plants.
Cuba after the war may be likened to
an i'll used individual who has just been
rescued by powerful friend from per-
secution and poverty and told to go
ahead and begin life anew, with the
promise of every possible assistance
from the benefactor. The rescued man
must work and save, beginning in
small way, and patiently mount the lad
der. 49,
"It may be stated at this point" says
Mr.. Rabadan, that the prosecuted man
is not SO poverty stricken as some may
think. Much gold has been boarded by
Cubans during the days of insurrection,
and this will be brought out from its
hiding place when peace is declared.
First, then, with peace will be opened
in Cuba big market for the necessaries
of life. The nucleus of the Cuban trad
ers in the new days will be the mer-
chants who are ready to open shop again
just as soon as substantial government
is assured to the island. This govern
ment must be an American one. Most
emphatically it cannot be an insurgent
government. The Cuban merchants will
not settle down to business under an in
III.
full Legislative nursing will be required
to enable the Cuban merchants to work
out their own salvation. The making of
Cuban ports free exclusively to Amer
ican goods is one of the many impor-
tant questions that will be left for Pres
ident Mckinley and the government to
decide.
Paying for the initial trading with
the money that they have boarded and
with some credit from America, which
will be given with confidence when the
United States controls the island, there
will be no reason at all why Cuba
should not advance to a manufacturing
trade and then to trade in machinery
and SO get the wheels going and begin
once more to export sugar and tobacco
to the United States in exchange for
our products. 1t may be many years be-
fore capital will be attracted to Cuba.
It was only when tho north had become
fully assured Of the restoration of law
and order in the south that capital was
available after the civil war. What
northern capital has done for the south
northern and southern capital will dc
for Cuba"
Continuing, Mr.. Rabadan says
"WhetY once the barriers with which
Spain has restricted our commerce have
been swept away by the abolition Of
discriminating duties, not an article of
Spanish manufacture or Of Spanish
origin can be exported to Cuba at
cheaper price or Of better quality than
by direct importation from the United
States. Cuba under an American pro-
tectorate pending reconstruction would
throw open her markets for the impor.
tation Of American pork products, -four,
corn, potatoes. beans, fish, canned goods
and all food products, of which she will
stand in sore need the moment our
blockade Of her ports is removed. Un-
der stable form of government, the
enactment of wise and just laws and
with the progressive spirit which will
speedily infuse itself in land within
five hours steaming distance of our
coaete tho fuf1rro NJ Cpha ia frll ~