The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-04-04
Their Trip to Cuba.

We have read the articles Of various OF the
brethren In reference to their trip to Cuba.
Tbey are all interesting. and the different
on,n,ons reflect the different views of the
brethren. We accept truth and Information
In all of them. We hope some day 10 see Win
our own ewes, that fertile land and the people
who inhabit the island. And we nave no
doubt that 1t will some day be part OF the
United States. We quote few paragraphs
from the editor OF the State:
In the first place the average American
yisitor never realized before going to the is
delightful and healthful climate IL enjoyed,
what riches 1t offered to the investor and
what an altogether desirable possession IL
would be.
There are in Habana-and. indeed, in all
the cities-the strongest OF influences making
for the annexation OF Cuba.
TO begin with. there is the American bus,.
ness colony. Hundreds OF stores and saloons
and boarding houses in Habana alone are run
by Americans. 1t Is TO their business Interest
that the American population snail oe quick
ly enlarged, and they believe thatanneXatlon
would be Immediately followed by great
tide of Inn m igration which would put them,
the pioneers, ION velvet
Then there are the American speculntors,
with options on lands and other properties ;
annexation and an even greater one, 10 VIII
the Increased values which would be given 10
their holdings through the speedy doubling
of the population. To these may be added
the seekers of franchises of all sorts who are
shut out by the Foraker resolution from
acquiring what they want. They could get
their franchises quickly and without cost II
be th ey might have to walt long and pay well
for the privileges. No need TO ASK now tnelr
influence Is directed!
Take now the great sugar interest," by 1ar
tr,t Toll great
estates are owned by Spapiards. many OF
them having been bought up during the war
Of 1868 IS when the government connscateo
were connected with the movement Tor inde-
oendence. Most of the great "centrals' or
sugar mills were burned by the Insurgents IN
the recent war and 1t will require many NIL.
the future government OF the island makes II
dlfficult to borrow this money, whereas
American capital would respond quickly 10
territory. But there is a still weightier rea'
son why the sugar interest fayors anReaa, P;son
tion annexation, If even on the puerto Rlcan
basis, would reduce by six-sevenths Inc
country, which already is the main purchaser
of the island crop. This reduction. stet impos.
sible II Cuba should be independent, WouIo
add tens of millions TO the profits OF the
planters The stake Ia enormous and tne
sugar Interest is for annexation.
Consider next the one great manufacturing
Industry OF the islapd-the making OF cigars
and cigarettes. There is a very high Amerl'
can duty on Cuban cigars and an aosolutelY
prohibiuve duty on Cuban cigarettes-"pronl.
tive" was the word used by the customs ON.
Ger at Miami as he appropriated q small
supply had, costing rs cents 'oro Amer.
CAM $50 per cent, duty was the hgure ne
named. A trust composed of Americans
Britishers and Spanish anufactures controie
the best manufactures Of cigars and eigaretes
| and also the best tobacco lands of tne SpelGa
Abajo It has capital OF S7,OO0,OOU goio. II
| the island should be an nexed ana the dutles
reduced even to the Puerto Rioan, stanaara "a
prodizious hence the trust Is for annexation
The Spaniards on the island, constituting
the bulk of the commercial class, are hot foI
annexation, not only because 1t would reduce
duties on their imports and increase theiI
profits but because they want TO- get even
with the Cubans for causing the humiliation
and defeat of Spain.
All these influences considered, there y
small wonder that talk OF annexation Is still
rife In Habana. Cuba. however, Is not 70 be
Judged by the Spanish and American talk
| OF Habana, nor even by Habana itselt To
| understand the people as whole one has
| really to meet them: rSin.&3t,
| AS said when returned from the interior
OF the island Is months ago, the Cuban
"guajlro" with chances Of education and
| progress will make steady and valuable
yeoman and other Americans who nave
studied him have reached the same conclus'
ion. ~ J,'Et.''