Evening star., 1898-12-01
Now ina State Of Suspension in the
Island.
SUBSIDENCE OF ANNEXATION TALK
No Lessening of the Desire for the
Experiment Of independence.
CONSERVATIVES IN CONTROL
Copyright 1898 by Charles NJ Pepperl
, taR

copyright, 1898, by Charles NJ. Pepper.l
From Staff Correspondent.
HAVANA, November 26 1885
What may be called Cuban politics-an-
| nexation and anti-annexation-is in a state
of suspension This is healthy state It's
continuance for time will do no harm to
the island and will make easier for the
United States the work that has to be done
Since coming to Cuba 1 have been busted
in looking into Industrial prospects, with
some incidental notes the dying strug-
giles of Spanish sovereignty. Political ques-
| tions could wait. With the reassembling of
Congress. however. fresh interest is awak-
ened, and a statement of the situation
may not be out of place. A year ago the
Madrid government was trying to mplant
autonomy. The seed was sterile and the
ground was barren. No harvest could
come. Now the United States is seeking
to plant new system of government. The
seed is sound and the soil is fertile Yet
the harvest cannot come in a day
one of the Americans who has been here
since the blockade was raised called nv
attention to the subsidenca of annexation
sentiment among the merchants and prop-
erty owners of Havana. He was correct
IN noting change, but was mistaken in
It's character. The annexation agitation
has been steadily subsidng, the sentiment
has not changed. Those who, after the pro-
iOtOt WIS Signed. wanted cuba to become
american territory have not altered their
views They still want anna xation. The
dl1erence is that they are not talking so
much about it. 1t is now possible to go
out among the Havana business men and
gather 1nforma ton without getting a head
ache by listening to their arguments for
annexation, immediate and even forcible
They We're willing to be more than passive
II the United States would exercise all the
rights OF a conqueror and grab Cuba.
Causes of Moderation.
Two causes have helped moderate their
zeal; one was the hint which seems to
have been given that the Washington ad-
mnistration did not wish to be embarrassed
in the task of renvtgorating Cuba by hav-
ing political problems forced upon it for
immediate solution. | do not know wheth-
er this hint was officially authorized or not
Somebody circulated it and the effect was
good IN quoting premature and bootless
agitation.
The other and more potent cause was the
realization of the merchants that they
could go on making money without worry
ing over the future government of the is
land. At first the Spanish merchants raised
a dismal cry over what would happen to
them if the insurgents were given control.
When people in the United States were
blubbering about the danger to their lives
and property they felt bound to shed some
tears themselves. But the weeping was
artificial and the lachrymal glands quickly
dried up. The Spanish property owner
knew that, even under an independent gov
ernment. his property would not be confis-
Gated, and other matters he could arrange
with the Cuban authorities.
What he did fear was period, not of
anarchy, but of the uncertainty which par
alyzes all business enterprises. The United
States gave prompt evidence that this
would not be permitted Then the Spanish
merchant discovered that in agitating an
nexation and talking politics he was los
ing valuable time. He went back to bust
ness looked up the chances of selling sup
plies to the comrnissary department of the
American army and began filling his ware
houses with goods imported under the high
Spanish tariff at rates actually lower than
those at which it will be possible to import
when the low American tariff is fixed. This
he did by taking advantage of his long ex-
per1ence with the system which makes the
bribery of customs officials the basis of
successful importation. Having filled his
warehouses in this way he joined with the
English, German and French importers in
asking that the new tariff be delayed long
enough for him to dispose of his goods
without the competition of American ship
pers and importers, who have been await,
ing the new customs regime in order to
do business honestly The Spanish mer-
chant may be forgotten for while. His
name is probably signed to some petition
In favor of annexation which has been for
warded to Washington. Having affixed his
signature he will not move away and leave
to the European or the American merchant
the chance for making money which is now
his own.
Petitions May BE Withdrawn.