The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-09
NEWS HND COMMENT

MIND hNU lUWWENl
Before leaving Cuba General Butler Of
the evacuation commission in an open
letter to the Cuban people gave the fol-
lowing wholesome advice: You ask an
expression of my opinion before leaving
Cuba as to the character of the people
of the island and their future prospects.
If they will be patient, following the die
tates of prudence and trust the govern
mcnt of the United States, a very pros
porous and happy future awaits them.
The process of rehabilitation may be
slow, but by cordial cooperation OF all
classes il will be more certain and perma-
nent. The army of the United States is
here to guarantee public order and en-
force obedience to law. Its use will be
controlled very largely by the conduct of
the people themselves. If they uphold
the law and insure public tranquility, If
each will respect the rights and persons
of the other, there will be no occasion for
interference by American troops, and you
take my word for 1t they will not in
terfere with the people in their peaceful
voCations, If the conditions l have sug-
gested prevail S o | say, If the people OF
Cuba q include in the word people all
classes and conditions) will await with
of good government, honestly and i'm
partially administered, brilliant future
IS in store for them. The first lesson in
a popular government, a government Of
the people, for the people and by the peo-
ple,' is to rule themselves. When they
have accomplished this most difficult of
all the problems of life, they become fit
to govern others and qualified to join the
great body polite which Is to WELD the
nfr oil
Porto Rico has an area of $3.50 square
miles; that of the state of Connecticut Is
I,750 square miles, and that of New Jer-
sey Is $500 square miles. The population
of Porto Rico Is less than 100000. Ac-
cording to the United States department
or agriculture the annual average i'm
ports of this island from lS92-lS96 to all
countries amounted to 1S,1l4,5Oz pesos,
which amount is calculated to equal H.
4SO, 49i American dollars, and the annual
average of exports for the same five
years is given at 16,9S4499 pesos or 16,-
300 042 American dollars The island is
closely cultivated. Its commercial output
can certainly be increased, and its con-
sumption of foreign merchandise Will
augment with the development neces-
sary to bring about this first condition.
Grant that exports and imports ultimate
then supply about 10 per cent. OF what
the United States yearly consumes in
tropical products and she would be a
market for about per cent. of our year.
ly exports. When these facts are consid-
cred one reaches says the San Juan cor
respondent of the Associated Press, a
| fair idea of the commercial value of this
new possession.
F-t.
| commission at Paris Is said to he that II
will not aggregate 100000 1t is said in
| official circles that there never was a
| more economical commission in the his
| tory of this country When the war end
ed the president still had some of the
| emergency appropriation, and $l25,00O was
set aside for the expenses of the commits
| sion, who We're allowed their actual CX-
penses. It is said they were given check
! for $4,000 each to cover incidental ex-
| penses and necessities. The attaches OF
| the commission were allowed s. and SIC
| a day for expenses, according to their
rank, and this was all. AS the commits.
| sion did little entertaining, giving only
| one dinner, which cost 500, the outside
| expenses were small. When the com
mission arrived in America all bills
were receipted, accounts cleared up, anC
| the president had a comfortable little
balance of the Sl25,000 to turn back into
| the treasury.
| A Montreal correspondent of the New
| York sun is not optimistic concerning
| Canada's immediate future. 1.-THE late Sil
| John Macdonald" says he, Thought hC
had given the politicians of Canada al
opportunity for formulating higher
school of politics when he brought abou
the confederation of Canada, but result:
go to show that he was mistaken. Can
adan politics are only rattights no mat
ter what the size of the pit 1t is a mat
ter of little consequence what the issue!
involved in any question are over here
the spirit in which they are discussed Il
always the same-narrow and little. AHC
nothing else can be expected of a peOpl'
pushed up against the frozen north. anC
hearing the hum of progress and actiyit,
among 10000 900 people, from whom they
allow themselves TO be wulfully sep
arated, and whose prosperity and large
life they are not permitted to share, whil
being made subserVient to the politics o
q foreign state In another hemisphere"
was a war year it was the busiest yea
for the New York Stock exchange Oh
record, as these figures of yearly trans
actions from the New York Times com
prehensive annual financial review vii
show: