Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-12-14
CUBA.

has visited this country recently. He
zane with delegation of Cubans who
were here to seek some relief from
our government from the present in
dustrial and agricultural depression in
their island.
Their mission has failed, and Gen.
Wood sailed for Havana yesterday.
Before leaving he published a letter
IL the New York Independent, which
suggests startling condition of moral
obliqulty among those men who con-
troll the commercial interests, and
through them, the entire legislative
and executive policy Of the country.
1t appears that the suspicion expressed
by Senator Hale IN Congress last sum-
mer, that the trading element which
centers in New York did not intend to
let Cuba ever have Il government OF
her own, but would coerce her into
annexation by hostile legislation in this
country, and by thus starving her peo-
pie till they should acquiesce, has
passed into an actual fact, ana that
this policy is being pursued effectual-
ly. 1t was not necessary for Gen.
Wood to point out, AS he does In his
Independent article, that such con-
duct is highly immoral, and that it Is
something new in American history.
|. would be hard to show that 1t is
any better in that Iespect than the
treatment Cuba was receiving from
Spain before we interviewed for her
relief. And, unless the teachings Of
experience are all at fault, such prac-
tees will, sooner OF later, bring any
country which pursues them down to
Spain's level; nor Is Providence Il re-
specter of nations, any more than OF
individuals, in its dealings with them
Gen. Wood was given to understand,
Il Is said, by the majority members
of the Ways and Means committee
that no lowering Of duties would be
made upon products Of the island
brought to our markets for sale, and
that our custOm-houses would deal
with her just as they do with those
countries which we have not promised
to free from their oppressors.
Now the Cubans are In hard lines.
Their plantations were devastated.
their sugar-houses burnt and their re-
sources crippled, by the Spaniards.
But with their genial climate and OK
uberant soil crops have grown again,
and 80 they have tobacco and sugar
10 sell. All they want Is IA chance to
sell; and In America they find people
who are willing and even anxious to
buy, and who have things themselves
To sell In exchange for the Cuban pro
ducts upon terms of advantage to both.
The American farmer and mechanic
thus have offered to them market
for the disposal of their surplus
wares. at profit to them, and In the
transaction they could open a market
to bring IN goods which they need and
must have, at lower rate than they
are now paying for them. This state
of things Is calculated TO- aud ought
TO, furnish work for the workman and
sustenance for his family, Inclden.
tally II would help the Cuban too, by
enabling him to recuperate from the
disasters of war, and this benefit would
accrue also TO the large amount OF
American capital invested in that
island.
This wish to trade is defeated by
the high wall OF duties with which
this country has surrounded itself,--a
sort Of voluntary blockade The re-
fusnl Ia lower these duties aud permit
mn exchange which would be beneficial
10 both parties to II, comes from two
sources First, the trading Interests
referred TO- which hope thus to starve
the Cubans into annexation. And see.
ond, the tobacco ana sugar interests
OF the United states. OF course m.
nexatlon would bring about, when nc
compllslied. that freedom OF exchange
which the sugar and tobacco planters
oppose. So that these opposcrs of a
Just and equitable reciprocity of trade
are working from opposite uIterlor
motives. But just now their interest
Is found In working together, and,
thus bound 20 one policy by the co.
beslye power Of spoil, they unite TO
keep people whom we boast OF hay.
Ing set free, In the bonds OF Industrial
iayery. The tobacco interest has It's
hief habitat In the Connecticut val
~, around Hartford. There they are