The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-03

are the idealists, the politicians, the
professional men, the Cubans who are
lawyers, teachers, writers and would
be office holders.
But the rehabilitation of Cuba must
be an industrial as well as a political
rehabilitation. There can be no per-
manent government under native aus
pieces without prosperity. If the Cubans
were to have their way and be them
selves given control of the islands in
the near future, only ruin would fol-
follow. Confidence in the future Is the
first condition precedent to prosperity
and that confidence cannot be secured
under native rule, with an impending
withdrawal Of American control. Inde-
pendence at this time, or in the near
future, according to the best informa-
ton obtainable, would work Cuba's
FUN. For this reason the president, as
long as congress leaves him a free
hand, cannot and will not permit SO
much Cuban participation in, the gov
eminent as will undermine confidence,
keep out capital and prevent the return
of prosperity.
The property owning classes of Cuba
want annexation. They are opposed to
independence. They are opposed to
large measure of native participation
in even municipal affairs. Whatever is
done they want done under American
but the actual physical presence ana
domination of American administra-
tors. They take this ground because
they want to build UP the property OF
the island They want confidence, cap
ital, good government, rehabilitation OF
the plantations, big crops of sugar and
tobacco and employment for men now
idle. All this can be had only under
American government. The census OF
Cuba. to be finished day after to-mor-
row, will probably show population
of about 100000, of whom 100000 are
practically paupers Here, and not in
the dream Of Cuba lbre of a new and
sovereign nation, is the real Cuban
problem.
Industrially the future of Cuba is
contained in two worGs-susar and to-
bacco. 1t is upon these two articles of
production that great majority OF
Cubans depend directly or indirectly for
their livelihood. The annexationists
say with Cuba a part Of the United
States, with no tariffs to be paid upon
sugar and tobacco sold in the United
States, Cuba would enter upon the
greatest career in all her history. The
island would grow rapidly rich. There
would be employment for all. The
problem of widespread pauperism would
be solved at a stroke.
This rapid picture of the manner in
which industralism is bound up in the
political future of Cuba illustrates in
most graphic fashion the inevitable
tendency toward annexation. Union
with the United States Is an industrial
necessity for Cuba, and the blessings of
that union, in good government, prog
ress and prosperity, in uplifting of the
masses and raising the standard of
comfort would be worth to the people
of that island infinitely more than the
dream of free and independent Cuba.
rty n
the practical men Of Cuba see this now.
In the course of time, it is believed, the
commercial and professional men and
the smaller agriculturists, even the la
boring classes, will see it also.
Industrial necessities and the play of
events around them are always strong
err than sentiment, more powerful than
the policies and programmes of men.
The United States government is to-
day in good faith working toward the,
promised independence of Cuba, and
the political agitators of that island are
so eager for it that they resent even
civil government administered by any
but Cubans. But back of all this are
conditions which make toward annex
aticn, and it is believed make with such
force that in the end-and the end will
not come quickly-all policies and pro-
grammes will be overturned and all
idealistic dreams be shattered.
and its reports are in, it will be the
duty of the United States, through the
president, if the congress does not take
the matter out of his hands by legis-
lative enactment, to institute a scheme
of suffrage in the islands for local and
municipal purposes No one doubts
that this will be and ought to be re-
stricted suffrage, with property and
educational qualifications. With this as
a basis, and with American control as
the guiding force, civil government is
to be built up in the islands.
When the proper time comes-and 1T
may not be till Cuba has been indus
trially regenerated, till pauperism has
been wiped out, till the idle are en-
ployed and the hungry fed-there will
have to be plebiscite for an election by
the people as to whether they will have
independence or annexation. When
that time comes it is believed by stud
ents of the situation Cuba will declare
for annexation and become a state of
the American union, growing by leaps
and bounds in wealth and progress. All
this is foreshadpwed of the future in the
eyes Of those who read keenly the his
tory Of to-day.