The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-12
The CUBAN SUGAR INDUSTRY.

The revival of the sugar industry il
} Cuba is engaging the close attention
o: Cuban and American capitalists. Be
fore the native instruction in 1896 tn,
island produced more than one million
tons of sugar annually. The exact
figures for 1895 were 1,0O4,264 tons
When Gomez, the two Maceos, Garcia
and Rivera began their reign Of terror
throughout the island the sugar pro-
duct fell TO 3S4.126 tons in 1896, 262. 434
tons in 1897 and 226.SSS tons up TO the
ending OF the Spanish-American war
in 1898. OF the 100 sugar plantations
few. and those the ones nearest Hava-
IA and other fortified places have any
machinery or buildings left.
II is now proposed TO establish banks
throughout the island TO loan money
on unmortgaged real estate anu thus
give the planters a new start. \ Gu
ban Planters and Farmers ASS ciation
has the matter in hand and the inter
est of General Wood on the one side
and of Wall street on the other has
been enlisted. OF course the scheme
implies free trade in sugar between
Cuba and the United States. If that
boon can be had we do not doubt that
the money for the sugar business will
be forthcoming
But is free trade so certain? We dis
miss the idea that Cuba will be pres
emily annexed, for every official utter
anee points TO the fulfllment of Am
erican pledges there. IF not annexed
the only way free trade can be had is
by treaty of reciprocity which must
arouse the political anatagonism of
every man who is concerned in the
on the Mainland Of cane
and beet sugar Such interests kept
Hawaii out of the Union for five years
and might, but for the Spanish war,
be keeping it out yet and undermining
our reciprocity treaty besides. We can
be sure that they will be even more
Figilant and earnest in a fight TO keep
Tut million tons of free Cuban sugar
More than this they will go into the
light with powerful reenforeemeats |
Free sugar must be coupled, in justice |
o the people of Cuba with free tobac- |
%; and free tobacco must align in this |
thousands of men against the Admins |
ration proposing it. For ourselves we |
10 not believe any President or Con-
;ress would want cheap sugar and to-
,acco badly enough to risk a
political fight with the Ameri
an growers, jobbers and manu-
acturers to get them
Assuredly not Republican Presi-
lent and Congress who are pledged to
high protection. Reciprocity is only
practicable where it does not conflict
With great home industries. When the
hawaiian treaty was made the only
ugar production section in the United
states was so small and so far remov-
d from the area of our competition,
nd our Island product was so meagre
hat the deal we sought to make,
hough sturdily opposed, was deemed
afe by the majority. But if this ISL
nd group were now independent and
eeking such treaty as it got quar-
pr of a century ago, the request would
e denied. The doctrine of protection
fould be invoked against it. Then
Thy should il not be invoked against
'uban reciprocity when the beet sugar
interests have spread over so many
tates and when Hawaii and Porto
leo. as territories which are the pro-
erty of the United States, are in need
I protective safeguards? Is protection
thing for ironmongers and spirit
istillers and not for sugar and tobac-
borrowers?
So long as Cuba may be Independent
Il il pay sugar duties like other indie
endent States. That would be but fair
hay to neighbors. like Mexico and
CENTRAL America, which also sell sugar,
nd to various European States. 1t
Tould also be simple justice TO those
Tho control the home market.