The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-30
CUBA WILL ACCEPT
FATHER FREDERICK so DECLARES
of PLATT AMENDMENT.
SENATOR THINKS so, TOO.
CONNECTICUT STATESMAN so As
SURED FATHER FREDERICK.

PEtS OF GUbh Demanu Acceptance
of the observation-disclosures rcinI
Demands. IL Left Alone. would
settle the Matter-CathOlicism Is
Destined TO Continue Its suprema-
cy in Cuba.
The Platt Amendment" said Father
Bonaventure Broderick last night, will,
in my opinion certainly be accepted by
the Constitutional Convention of Cuba.
believe that the delegation that called
upon the President will recommend to the
convention upon arriving in Cuba that
the amendment be accepted, and / believe
that the convention will scarcely demur."
Father Broderick is secretary to the
Catholic bishop of Havana, whose diocese
includes the several provinces of more
than the western half of the island He
has been visiting his mother in Connecti-
cut the same state from which Senator o.
II. Plat. whose name the amendment
bears, halls. The priest left Havana. the
place of residence of the bishop, on Feb.
%, last and is now on his way back. He
will leave this morning for Port Tampa,
there to take steamship for Havana.
While in Savannah he has been the guest
of Mr.. A. A. AveiIhe on Gwinnett street,
east.
While in Connecticut, Father Broderick
CHANGED to see Senator Plat, with whom
he had quite talk on Cuban affairs. The
senator the priest said, entertained not
the slightest doubt that the amendment
would be accepted by the Cubans. Sena-
tor Platt. however. said Father Broderick,
honor of having the amendment named
for him. The instrument has gained a
place of such prominence before the
American people and the Cubans that the
senator hsstens to deny that he is en-
tirely responsible for it, and insists that
there is no reason why it should be his
namesake. His argument is that he was
only chairman of the committee that re-
ported the amendment and that. all agree
ing, 1t was the amendment of the commit
tee, and not his own.
THE Cubans," Father Broderick con-
tinued, "can do nothing else than except
the amendment. Its provisions are wise,
and they must appreciate what the
Americans have done for them. They
know that they could never have been
successful in their struggle against Spain
unless for the Intervention of the United
States and the defeat of Spanish forces
by the army and navy of this country
Before the last war the greatest crop
of sugar ever produced by Cuba was only
100000 bags, and only once was that fig
ure reached by the output. The island
NUT depend for its wealth upon It's pro-
duction of sugar and tobacco 1t Is an
agricultural land and necessarily those
conditions that will be most satisfactory
to the people and of greatest advantage
to the country will be those under which
agriculture may flourish with best re-
suits. Those conditions will only be I'M
der dependence upon the United States.
This year the sugar crop of Cuba, so
rapid has been the recovery from the
effects of the war, will be 100000 bags,
shortage of only 100000 bags in a compar-
son with the greatest yield ever recorded
Next year. with q continuation of Amer-
can supremacy there would be an out
put of more than 100000 bags, and there
is no reason why the crop should not in
crease year after year, the industry
would be enlarged and more capital would
be invested. t-.
This is but an instance of the ad-
vantages that Cuba has found under
American rule. The interests of the ISL
and certainly demand American prOtec-
tion, and the business and commercial
element of the Cubans recognize the fact.
To my mind the commercial interests of
the island would, if left to the task work
out an adjustment of this question OF
dominance and show clearly enough that
the welfare of Cuba is dependent upon
the care and watchfulness of the United
States. The United States are the great
market to which Cuba turns with her
product of sugar and tobacco. The bust
ness and commercial men of the island
want low duty to prevail upon Cuban
importations to this country, and they be-
lieve that this can only result from such
intimacy and close association as an
American protectorate would involve. The
Plat amendment and protection are
synonymous terms.
IF Cuba was to be allowed to dscon-
meet herself entirely from Fthe United
States, and the effect upon her business
interests noted by those in control 1t
would mean a demand for the restoration
of the conditions that now prevail
THE United States are seeking no OPP
portunity for territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
They were a potent factor in Cuba having
ever reached her present condition;
by the exercise of American protection,
there are benefits to be derived by both
America and Cuba"
Father Broderick was asked If much
talk of annexation to the United States is
heard in Cuba, and his reply was that one
scarcely ever hears from the annexation
lists. They have no strength. 1t is rather
difficult TO understand just what the po-
litical opinions of the Cubans are he said
for the reason that they are not given to
consideration of politics in the way that
is characteristic of Americans. Probably
the most popular party. he said, is that
which still shouts Cuba Libre." but the
party that recognizes that Cuba Libre
does not mean the best interests of Cuba
will prevail.
In discussing the church in Cuba
Father Broderick declared that he feels
not the slightest fear for the ascendency
of the Catholics. Ninety-eight per cent
of the people. he said, are Catholics, and
like all Latin races. they feel no desire
TO break away from the church. They
might do temporarily. as other Latins
have done from time TO time, but IL would
only be for brief period. Other denomi-
nations, the father said, have begun TO DO
evangelical work. but their success has
been indifferent The Baptists. he said
have been more active, probably. than
any other Protestant denomination in
Cuba, but they have not accomplished
much.
Those who have met Father Broderick
during his stay here have instinctivcly
liked him. OF large, commanding stat
are. his presence j. impressive but any
thing Of restraint that might possibly be
considered a. attaching TO his cloth " re-
moved ct once by the warmth ana cor