The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-12-17

that island and its inhabitants sdrift
10 shift for Themselves upon the
sea q trrde. commerce and isde-
pzudeuee. It Won { Be an unnatural
act. it might even be termed a ward
IL one. Reciprocity may not be se-
corded To the Cubans but the sane
result can be accomplished b. q spe-
cial treaty Of commerce As IA the
c1se Of the Philippines. the Demo
Gratis win favor the free admission
OF Cuban sugar. II only for the sake
o. reoraufng thu entire tariff question
and Offering an abundance Of amend
meats that vil affect fndu tries CT
the Mankind. The President II the
United States IS Strongly in favor Of
aiding the Cubaas. and at the nom
eut Il IS a moot question whether
or not reciprocity in some form viii
be granted to the West Indian isl
anders- There Is no certainty that
this will not be done and the posi-
billty must b. looked squarely in the
face.
Why gh-uld not Cuba have recipro-
city? For upwards Of thirty years
these Hawaiian islands enjoyed spe
cial privileges at the hands Of the
Unitei States. privileges that enabled
the extension Of our one crop and thu
enrichment OF those engaged in its
profncfion. There was constant Dem
oeratic opposition to Hawaiian reel
procitY but the Republican party
steadfastiy adhered TO its policy. Am
erican and European capital were in
vested here. American and European
capital are invested in Cuba The
prepondersnce OF population where
was other than whites. It is the sa.no
there. II this group OF islands in the
Pacific were so long favored by the
Republican party. and partly for
strategic reasons. why should not the
island in the Atlantic be similarly
favored when the strategic reasons
exist in a far stronger degree owing
to the proximity of the Atlantic sea
board to European attack. Knowing
so well the advantages of reciprocity
10 these independent islands, is it
a true American spirit for Americans
IN the territory of Hawaii to oppose
a similar concession TO an island sit
uated as we once were, simply be
cause il is of the Atlantic aad not of
the Pacific coast OF the Mainland? It
NAV be asked. if this IS a reciprocal
feeling toward our fellow-men, or If
we are acting in a Christian spirit in
this Christian territory? Look this
Cuban question squarely in the face.
Sooner or later Cuba will be an
nexed to the United States. just as
these Islands were Sooner or later
Cuba viii supply the United States
annually with million tons Of sugar
produced bv the a'd Of American and
European capital, and sold there on
exactly the same basis, terms and
conditions as is the sugar from Ha-
waii. The territories of Cuba and o.
Hawaii will stand upon the same foot
ing. Cuba will have the advantage
because of its proximitv to the largest
consuming markets and because of
its more abundant supply of labor
working at lower wages than are
paid in this Territory.
This is of the future. For
today we have before us tha
exclusion of Chinese labor and
the possibility Of special trade con-
cessions in sugar being granted to
Cuba. The former cannot be avoided
The latter may be by concerted.
quick and vigorous action on the part
OF all business interests in the Ter
ritory. The fact that the President
feels that the United States is moral
ly bound to aid the Cubans renders
this Territory's task the more diff
cult. But this must be looked square
" in the face by mill-owners. by
planters and by merchants. squarely
and with determination. Who will
take the leadership in facing the
stern truth?