The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-18
SATURDAY. AUGUST IS. 1900.
CUBA'S FUTURE.

In The Boston Transcript of Tuesday
last we find reproduced an interesting
conversation between an American and
one Of the Cuban teachers who have been
spending some time at Harvard.
This Cuban teacher does not take
very optimistic view of Cuba's future
He is greatly rejoiced at the prospect OF
/ Independence and government autonomy
for Cuba, but he Is not SO sure abotst the
benefits eve all welcome the day said
he, "when our island shall be governed
by its own people Yet, when I think of
st, see a great many problems before
u.s. In explanation he then went on to
say that Cuba has suffered horribly from
the war, and that the once rich country
which yielded millions and millions is
now Impoverished. and Its Inhabitants
ruined. lie did not see how Cuba was
going to rebuild. It was necessary to re-
store the plantation and after that to find
market for Cuba's products. He said
that great deal had been done under
the American administration, but that
agriculture had not been developed, and
what discouraged him most was to think
that while the richness of the island was
contained in two products of the soil.
sugar and tobacco, the conditions We're
such that the planters could not prosper.
Questioned as to why that was, he re-
piled that the owners OF plantations would
produce a great deal Of sugar and tobacco
beyond what was necessary for Cuba's
consumption, but that the problem was
10 chi
that the European nations would pat
Tonize their own colonies in preference to
Cuba, and that Germany was producing
vast quantities of beet sugar in compe-
tition. AS to the United States, he said
that we would naturally protect by tariff
the sugar producing States and would
draw from Hawaii before taking from
Cuba.
As for tobacco, with the enormous duties
which are placed on the Cuban article in
IN all countries. it is not everybody. he
went on. who can afford to buy good
Cuban cigars or cigarettes. Cuba could
produce as cheaply as others. hut the
duties killed her sales. and he added that
in EUROPEAN countries Germany alone
dufnlshea market 10 juoa Tor that pro-
duct. He noted. moreover that the United
States had tobacco interests to protect
and SO Cuban tobacco was IN a measure
barred from this country. In fine, he said
that Cuba exported little Of ANYTHING to
the United States while importing a great
deal, and that what She had to nav for
imports far exceeded what she received
from exports.
Another thing that troubled him was the
unstable condition of Cuba in the eyes
OF capitalists. american capital has
been somewhat shy during the past two
years said he. 1T seemed as though
the people OF the country did not yet feel
safe as to Cuba's stability"
This naturally led the American to whom
he WAS talking TO ask the Cuban If he
did not think that all this would be rene
died by annexation to the United States.
The Cuban did not think SO, but II is to
our mind foregone conclusion that the
thoughtful men OF that island will think
80 and that the time will come when all
Cnbans. except the political agitators, will
DE heartily in favor of making that island
part and parcel OF tho United States.
We so step farther and say that in our
opinion the time viii come when all
Fiiipines. except those who hope to profit
by instruction. footing or Office holding,
Will come to the same conclusion as to |
their islands.