New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-28
THE ANNEXATION OF CUBA.
r. A. C. SMITHS VIEWS on THE NEEDS
OF THE ISLAND.


r. A. c. Smith of the American West lnd,ah
Company Of No 100 Broadway who is much III
terested In railroads and shipping in Cuba. yes'ei
day gave out a statement in which he says;
The Cuban problem has but one possible and pos
y n,sS siStG and this sne Is
United States Government wants u or not nc ui.b
spain It viii be forced upon the United States
not BY but y ss saes Of Ss e
perfOrce and without being able 70 avoid In ]ho
Following dilemma Eher TO nasonred mitary
professionals over the island IN when ease .ha
nG ee soil Contains or else to Cuba
and prepare II that in the least possible space Oh
time be hon nsw not sf S Sy the
Government but this Governpent can easily sa
INTO the Cuban people. But IT certainly not C Win
The present military system s bs aSe to draw
the Cuban people TO itself and lead them to desire
"' a, the head OF the government of Cuba there is
undoubtedly required man 0 0f h Iaa mesrg
Occupy himself mainly with the civil government OF
tary affairs The people OF Cuba. the country peo-
pie especially are doce and obedien, o1C g ged
or 10 evil the peasant IL temperate and aooIloVs
beyond all others but at The y to pro-
vide him with he means TO do so. which can De
ing condition in which IT even in 1895 c..,o
The disconnected and dangerous element IN ouoa
han 70 reduce # to incompetency and that by It's
deeds making sppsa,T e and "a L
itsef To persons OF this cement an 4PpUibba hor
must be given TO ShoS ch R way Sd they Choose
the latter they may remain Isolated ana may , no.
be able TO represent themselves as martyrs 10 "e'
The spaniards in Cuba forming the largest part
of the business element and the property ownsIs ,
are undoubtedly annexationists because tney
understand that their interests would ne q. Oe' W.
safe guarded and protected ny anneASt,on T,hav
United states than they would be under Cu5 5ah
republic but as 1hSy 90 o hSy Of tb United states
is be and APPEARANCES are that s9onef or "ei we,
the Cuban republic will be established. tney 90 I"'
wish 10 fan out with the turbulent and un:uy eIt-
ment and they fear that " they manifest any
ne Americans they VIM on the establishment OF
the republic be prosecuted and I'll treated II Is
10 the turbulent element. They know that they
have nothing 70 fear eheT e1I rT b pne II hey
are ,b,s should he brought about later on aud
on the other hand they know what awaits them y
they manifest themselves in favor OF annexation
and this shoud fail 10 materiaize.
Administrator cannot grant concessions IN the
D NV he Tnited states but this resolution
which undoubtedly might be right and proper 10?
was impossible Judge Of the need and propriety
o: these concessions and when peInaps Inede
might have been abuses In me mater. Ca Cahio'
!ne1, ally or reasonably be maintained in It's en-
rey If the occTp99n 9i me iS@ "a coUc for
considerable time. as now TO all careful observers
present Is TO condemn me island OF Suoa 70 re-
."d commercial opportunities 0ndeveloped when
there Is such need IN the country 10 fnd woTk ana
,ccvuotiCn for It's inhabitants. which Womb DE Cd
rainahle by means or :he new enterprises and IN
dYsiries which would doubtless seek to establlsh
Themselves there as soon as the establishment was
e mora,t Of the Adm nstra ion in the handling
If the public funds is the matter to which the
people Of Havana are now paving most a {6es
nd rOi h under
ton-the Custom Houso-is now honoraaoy anu
~ bs biancb h 10 necessary for Colonel Bliss TO
surround hmsef with men who VIII not OILY on!
highest standard Of honesty but will also be eager
10 detect and stern to discourage any deviation
ordlnates For Colonel Bliss and the small staff Of
honorable men whom he can DEPEND upon eann ot
ne dSpsrtment where persons accustomed to
means to continue the practices and the system
es'abllshcd by SPANISH officials. ,...,,
The situation In the courts continues lamentaDiy
bad the discomfort is great and as moral peace
hos not vet been established and there Is lack OF
confidence in the future Of Cuba the situation Is
daVv growing worse. Court officials are charged
with corruption which Is matter OF puohc scaHua
Thorough revision. either of the procedure or OF
the personnel OF the courts coId not naturang De
Judges or court officials would have moral efec!
which cannot be overestmated. and which might
lie greater II the criminal offence-brbery and ex,
tortion for eXamIle-wcre connected win cases OF
small money amount. but affecting the interests OF
moor people Moreover. slight changes In the
method Of procedure in the lower courts, where
most cases are heard would give hope Of greater
reforms and would win from the common people
more and more friendly opinions of the American
Administration and those are the people VINO are
most likely otherwise 70 be influenced by delna
cosues who trying to stir up discomfort
The construction OF a central railway IS a prime
necessity for the island If Cuba. not only from a
military point OF view. the Spanish Govern
the development OF the Immense riches whcf
are treasured up in cuba. in her numerous
mineral deposits her forests OF beautiful anC
valuable woods and in the cultivation Of
her virgin lands. whore the production OF M
sugar cane would in short time reach double
the maximum number OF tons produced by Cuba u
the palmest Of her bygone days In many parts
The torritory Of Las Villas In Puerto Principe an,
in Santiago de cuba communication Is difficult an'
Of Ell impossible but there IL doubt thdt the Des
lands and the greatest forest and mineral weaIti
are q be found in thai Part OF the island.
Six months have passed since Spanish sovereign
fly ceased IN the island OF Cuba. IL is already time
that moral peace should be established In tn
island and that prospect should open gu
before the real Cuban people. tired OF struggling
and DESTROYS OF enjoying the fruits OF LABOR an'
the peace and comfort Of the family circle. II Il
already time that they should convince themselVei
that il Is not possible TO enjoy more independence
greater liberty or more perfect and positive auton
omy than enjoyed by the States and people
which have the happiness to be under the glorious
stars and Stripes. everywhere the symbol of order
Of personal liberty and Of the rights of the citizen:
who constitute the United States OF America