New-York tribune., 1901-12-06
CUBAN PROBLEMS.
nT-TIFS ON SUGAR AND TOBACCO-AN-
NEXATION OF DISCORDANT
ELEMENTS.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The arrival in this country Of delegation
of prominent Cuban business men to urge upon
the government at Washington the reduction Of
duties Cuban sugars and tobaccos is an incl
dent Of greater moment than is perhaps gener-
ally supposed by the American people.
1t must be understood that the two above
named products form almost the entire wealth
of the island. Other. many other. resources she
possesses. but they are for the most part in the
latent state and at the present time all that
she can offer in exchange for food and clothing,
all that she has 10 support her government
when she gets one-and all that she has with
which to pay for her many much needed public
improvements are her sugar and tobacco If
she cannot raise and sell these products at a
profit she must be reduced 10 the extreme Of
poverty. at least until her other resources shall
be developed. Should this be her fate, she must
pass through a period of dire distress before she
begins to reap the benefits of what would be for
her an entirely new departure
Cuban tobacco Will always to certain. though
.rery partial. extent take care Of itself. There
are certain grades which cannot he duplicated
elsewhere and which will always be in de-
mand With sugar the case is different. Sac
charine matter is much the same wherever pro-
duced. and homemade beet root sugar will
sweeten tea and coffee as well as that derived
from Cuban cane. The vital question in regard
10 Cuban sugar is Can it be scd al a profit in
the United States? for that is the market that
Cubans look TO. The actual cost of making
sugar in Cuba is wrapped in mystery, and trust
worthy figures are hard to come at. 1t is prob
ably not far from the truth. however, to say
that 96 per cent centrifugaIs cost free on board
at the Cuban shipping port about cents a
pound II is clear that to sell at a profit in the
onto AZ a
lower rate Of duty than at present.
The mission of the Cuban delegation is, there
fore a matter not of greater or less profit TO a
certain class, but OF life death TO the whole
island. Its failure would mean at least tenn
porary bankruptcy and distress, and its success
salvation. That leading Cuban business men are
alive TO this fact, and have. at thelr own eA-
pense. undertaken a pilgrimage to TINS country
TO seek relief instead of awaiting their tate Win
folded arms speaks we'll for their intelligence
and energy, and should command respect on al
hands
In this connection a few words may not be
amss upon the question which is from time "
time agitated in the newspapers nancy, tndt
OF annexation When the mind dwells upon the
glorious climate and the prodigious resources
of that wonderful little island. ana NheL
sides its geographical position in relation TO tiie
United States is taken into consideration ihs
somewhat covetous desire to become possessed
OF this exceptionally valuable piece OF ieai
estate is say the least. natural 90 iloI ! p!o
pose to argue either the need or the deslt
only throw out this pregnant reTnlilutl
,annot annex Cuba without also anneHlnS @ I@he
Lubans Let me hasten TO dlsclalIn the siul
which these words may seem 10 IMPLY. lhei
is good and bad in the Cuban as there is IN uie
Standard and the American. and, perhaps, IL
equal proportions. l merely wish TO can at'Tii
ton 10 the fact that ne is, morally splfituaI,S
intellectually. and to extent physically lie
antithesis Of the American He does not unoeI-
stand Us nor we him. and in admitting IN d
compact mass these discordant elements aa lnto
our body polite incur an easily lo-eseehi
danger. . ~
Another thought: Under whatever form OF goN-
ernrneut Cuba may eventually come. a serious
menace looms UP in the race question IToupIe
has already arisen along the color line IL seems
to me that this circumstance becomes factor III
the problem. -
In the pride of our nationality we are apt 70
assume that this want Of homogenelty Woulu
regulate itself after annexation. and that tle |
Cuban element would be rapidly aSslTfliateu pS
the American. Keen observers OF events lli
Cuba however. have been led to suspect tnat
the American is as likely TO become CupanIEeu
as the Cuban is to become ATnericanlzed w men
will gain the greater advantage inns is an
omen question and admits of variety o. reIolieS-
But my purpose is simply to raise questohs'
without pretending to answer them.
E SHERMAN GOULD.
vorllzers y. Y, Dec. l, 1901