The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-09-27
CUBA may Be OUR RIVAL
HER SUGAR INTERESTS SEEKING
ANNEXATION.
Army Men Who Were Stationed There
Report Greatest Activity on Sugar
Plantations Throughout Island.

Previous to being ordered home to
prepare for service in the Philippines
the Fifth and Eighth Infantry regi-
ments' of the regular army were sta
toned on either end of Cuba. During
their stay on the Pearl of the Antilles
the officers of those regiments had am
pie opportunity of studying the COM
mercial prospects and possibilities of
the island. Much of this information
is of considerable interest to the people
of Hawaii and coming from the officers
of both those regiments, which are at
present in port on the transport Thorn
as, can be accepted as reliable.
When the troops were on the island
the devastation of the rebellion was
everywhere visible but in spite of the
ruin wrought, great activity was being
shown especially in the sugar industry.
The people of that island realize that
this is one of the mainstays of Cuba
and extensive sugar plants were being
erected throughout the entire island.
over in the province of Santiago de
! Cuba the plantations were subjected to
| frequent raids of robber bands but
even this danger did not stop the work
of regenerating the sugar industry, and
| it is expected that within two or three
years all of the largest plantations will
| be fitted with the latest and most inn
| proved plants for grinding sugar Be
fore the rebellion the sugar industry
was the most extensive in the island
and if the present plans of the capital
lists are put into execution, and there
seems little chance of failure, more
sugar will be raised there than ever
before in the history of Cuba.
AT the present time politics in the
island are Overwhelmingly in the con-
troll of the blacks and less intelligent
element but the sugar interests have
already begun to work to secure an
nexation with the United States and
the army men think that it will be but
a comparatively short time before Cuba
will be a supplicant to Congress for ad-
mission as a territory. 1t is the vast
sugar interests which will be the prime
factors in bringing about this meas
ure- All of the white people and the
wealthy plantation owners are already
in favor of annexation. The men who
took part in the recent rebellion against
Spain are naturally opposed to such g
measure for they do not relish the idea
of being deprived of the fruits of theil
labor. The great majority of the popu-
lation is utterly Indifferent whether the
island remains independent or is alb
sorbed by America.
Z With such interests working to con-
troll the island there can be, the Off
GERS seem to think, but one result-the
annexation of Cuba. The present tariff
on the principal staple of the island is
such as to discourage the sugar plan
| tiers and they are openly urging that the
! island secure profitable commercial
terms with this government even If 1t
has to purchased them by the surrender
of its sovereignty. 1t is of course pos
sible that congress may first impose a
special tariff similar to that which is
now in operation against Porto Rico
hut with enlightened and powerful in
terests working for the admission of
Cubas sugar it will it is believed, be
but few years until Cuba Is formid-
able rival of the Hawaiian Islands in
the production of sugar for American
consumption.