Evening star., 1901-07-13

vldual point Of view: A delay of month
or two in completing the new government
may mean delay of a full year in secur-
ing any concession from the United States
on the sugar duties To a planter whose
crop is 10000 bags that means considera-
pie 1t explains quite succinctly why the
whoie commercial and financial influence
OF the Island may become impatient and
querulous II the new republic is not set on
Its feet at once. In this matter the Cuban
polticians are better guide than the
business men and the planters. 1t is bet
ter Tor the Cubans to undertake their re-
sponsibilities gradually than to jump into
them head first
Says "Sugar is King"
ne Spanish planter who came to Wash
ington, while his view Of immediate events
Is short-sighted, has a good grasp of the
1uture I'VE know" he said las well as
you know that it is a question of sugar.
ana we know that ultimately you must an
mex us. But we realize since your states
men men nave let the Cubans set up their own
as soon as we hoped. Till you do annex us
you must treat US fairly. Our government
OF CuDa may not have been a good gov
Gshhnnent' Grh put 1t was not as bad as the
Cupans made out. Bad government did
not cause the last insurrection. 1t never
would have come If you had not taken
away from US the sugar market which Mr.
Blaine had given us. l tell your public
men that you cannot keep that market
away from us without having more trouble
In Cuba than Spain ever had When we
set lVlns prices fer our sugar the people
are contented. When our plantation are
losing money they are discontented with
the government and they always will be-,
Inc most significant part Of his talk was
ms explanation that while the Spanish
commercial and sugar-planting interests
are organizing for annexation, they realize
that since they failed to create q situation
which would have forced annexation their
movement must be gradual one
I'VE shall support the conservative
american party he said, whatever name
calls itself. but We cannot afford to do
TINS as Spaniards. We are going to act
who want the island annexed to the United
States because they think it is their des-
tiny. we want the new government or
ganlzed as soon as may be possible so that
we, we can snow how much better Off Cuba
VIII be as part Of your country, but we
Know this is going to take some time We
viii pay our taxes and support the Cuban
government so long 1t lasts. Then we
want to pay our taxes into your treasury
ana nave your protection over u.s."
Annexation Problem.
The planter had something to say about
the union of wealth and intelligence work.
Ing to common end. by which he meant
onnexation. Personally I think he overes-
Inmates the influence Of the wealth and in
tellfgence of Cuba. No annexation move
ment will gain much headway until the
masses are part of it. When they turn to-
ward annexation, either because their as
pirations for the Cuban flag and their own
government have been satisfied. or because
their chosen leaders have shown inability
to administer an Independent government
then the movement will sweep everything
before 1t. Until then the wealth and INTEL
lfgence Of the island probably will have to
be content with maintaining an annexation
propaganda. 1t was of especial interest to
learn from this leading Spanish planter
that he and his class are seeking to do II
inteiiigenhy and persuastvely. and that
they want the Cuban government estab-
lished right away, SO that their propaganda
may gain force.
CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.