The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-03
CUBAN SUGAR AND TOBACCO.

While western republicans are an
tagonizing the Mckinley project OF
bringing Cuba into the American en-
pire, there are other republicans OF the
commercial stripe, and their political
tools. who are for putting Cuba in at
every cost Of promise, principle, honor
and precedent. The western high
tariff republicans declare it will ruin
the great beet sugar product of the
west if Cuba comes in, for then there
can be no high tariff wall to shut out
the great sugar product of that island.
1t is reported recently that many Gu
bans are ready to accept McKinleyism
and come into the union. provided that
sugar and tobacco may come in free
Of duty. Judging by the infamous
d of the republican party in
dealing with Porto Rico and that viii
famous tax the United States govern
ment now levies upon it's products, and
that too when that island is as much a
part of the United States as Massachu-
sets OF Ohio is the Cubans will have
no guarantee of fair and equal deal
Ai6 90 ~ TIC (dII1 IL lnGIT lSldnQ is
made a part OF the American union.
To bring in Cuba and keep up the high
barbed wire fence would be mean and
rascally- But that is just what the
u~nprincipled republican party is doing
today with Porto Rico
We have no doubt Mckinley will
make the most agreeable promises
while not having any serious intention
to carry them out in good faith. We
are merely judging him by his roken
promises and disgraceful a~nticedents.
Congress must settle the matter. II
adopted the Plat resolution, but re-
publicans have either perverted it or
~repudiated it. and there are democrats
save the mark!-in the south who are
ready to act with the republicans in
this matter, n to treat cuba un-
kindly and unjustly. Mckinley declar-
ed that it was "our plain duty" as TO
Porto Rico. to do what? Listen. Ii
was "our plain duty to admit all of
the products of Porto Rico, our new
possession now but then outside, free
of tariff duty. But To- when the island
came in. the declaration of the presi- |
dent. was forgotten. was despised, |
and the plain duty went the way |
of other opinions and promises of the |
wiry demagogue now president. The !
tobacco interests tied McKinley's hands |
and stupified his conscience. It |
will be repeated as to Cuba if the sugar |
men of this country takes little Mac in |
hand. for he is as soft as putty and as |
plant as wax before a hot fire.
It is well known how great sugar and |
tobacco producers are in Cuba and |
Porto Rico. 1t is held by informed
writers that combined they alone can |
produce all of these products that will
be needed by the entire United States |
If true then o can see how the two |
interests here may lead the sugar and
tobacco producers in this country to |
fight IAN open door" for these two |
most productive islands The Savau- |
nah News that probably favors bringing |
Cuba in, has the following sensible re
marks: |
1T is not reasonable to |
however, that congress is going to ruin |
any class of producers in his country |
for the purpose of helping the Cubans.
This country has spent enough money |
and sacrificed enough lives already in |
helping Cuba. 1t is true that Cuba |
might close her markets to us, by |
putting the duties on American goods
so high that he entire Cuban trade
would go to European markets, but
there is very little probability of he's
doing that. The best we can do for
Cuba is to favor her as much as we
can without iniuring interests of our
own people. AS for the Platt amend
ment. that is really for the benefit OF
Cuba"