The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-01
CUBAN CANE LAND
Not ReplaltGd for Fear Of the
Usual Revolutions.
POLITICAL TROUBLE KEPT UP
Every One on the Island Who Has
Properly Wants American
Rule IN Future.

NEW YORK, Nov. 20.-Dr. Joseph
L. Hance, who for four years pTeced-
ing the war between this country and
Spain was United States Consul at
Cardenas, Cuba, has just returned
from Cuba. He went there last June
to attend to some legal business and
to make himself familiar with condi-
tions throughout the island. He jour
neyed on horseback in almost every
part of Cuba visiting especially many
of the large sugar plantations.
"'Public opinion in America he
vana There you get only one side OF
the story, and the least important side
as regards questions Of administration.
To comprehend the industrial pursuits
it is necessary to visit the large agri-
cultural and mining interests of the
country, especially the sugar planta-
tiOns Sugar is rarely seen on any of
the plantations now. In the provinces
of Havana and Santa Clara 1000 mills
and all the cane have been destroyed
Adventures have promulgated the
idea that planters will not have ade-
quate protection in Cuba, and there
fore nothing is being done toward re-
planting the burned fields, or replac-
ing the machinery. This, too, in spite
of the fact that some of the best land
in Cuba can now be had cheap. Outside
of Havana, the political agitation that
is kept up is greatly deplOred. Every
one on the island who has any proper
ty at stake desires a continuance of
American occupation or any form
of government under our protection
that will afford stability.
There is one thing that strikes me,
as a lawyer, as being of more impOr-
tance than laymen seem to be aware
of. | think a matter of prime 1mpor-
tance is the Immediate appointment of
a commission to thoroughly revise the
Spanish code now prevailing in Cuba. ,
CUBANS WANT ANNEXATION.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19-The first
formal suggestion that the annexation
of Cuba is desired by Cubans will be
made to President Mckinley tomor-
row.
A delegation consisting of Alvaristo
Mantalvo, a rich Cuban planter, and
Francisco Figueras, editor of the Epo-
ca, an annexation paper of Havana,
and accompanied by William 0. Nc
Dowell, president of the Cuban-Amer-
lean League, arrived here tonight and
tomorrow will begin a series of calls
on the President, Secretary Root and
Secretary Gage to discuss the future
of the island.
This delegation represents the Board
of Agriculture of Cuba and the primary
object of their visit is to secure a re-
duction of the duty on sugar, placing
Cuba at least on a par with British
colonies under the reciprocity treaty,
and such other concessions in behalf of
Cuban producers as will enable them
to re-establish the industries of the
island.
The sugar industries of Cuba are
prostrated and mortgaged to the Span
iards to the extent of $4,000, ,000 and
upon this debt an interest of 40 per
cent is paid. 1t is the intention Of the
delegates to have a comfortable bal
ance with which to work the planta-
tions of the Cubans. The delegates
financiers, who have promised to ad-
vance the money, providing some as
surances can be given that it will be
safe to do so. This, of course, means
that the United States should remain
in the island indefinitely, and eventu
ally annexation. While the mission of
the delegates is apparent as CONNER
cial one, they would naturally speak
of the political situation to the Presi-
dent and tell him of the growing de-
mand" for annexation.
President Mcdowell of the Cuban
American League, who is an enthusi-
aStic anneXatiOnist, said:
Cuba has but one future, and that is
annexation to the United States. The
substantial men of Cuba, which, Of
course, means the property owners, are
unanimously in favor Of annexation. /
propose to take advantage Of this Oc-
casion to present the matter to Presi-
dent Mckinley. If vote should be
taken in Cuba under the old Spanish
law. which is now in force, and re-
Quires a voter TO pay taxes to the val
ue of $25 before he is permitted 10
vote at the municipal elections, and
$50 to enable him to cast his ballot IN
the governmental elections, it would
be unanimous for annexation.
The Administration will receive the
delegation cordially. This is evidently