New-York tribune., 1902-08-30
CURA NOT AFTER CHARITY
CAN GIVE AN EQUIVALENT FOR
AII. Sill. GETS
All. SHE GETS

Sir william G Van Horne, OF Montreal. was
:. +be Manhattan Hotel yesterday with his wife
- his daughter. They had come down to see
-,ai- son and brother. who is III here with
-vrhoid fever. Sir William said that his son
vas making satisfactory progress, though the
course Of the illness was slow. Speaking OF
Conditions n Cuba. where he has large inter-
ests he said:
-rThe Immediate outlook is not brilliant as
should wish But I have doubt at all OF
--apptacent future for Cuba Just now busi-
.sss Is more or less demoralized and confidence
n the future is or less shaken by the fail
r-e Of Congress to g-'-e Cuba the tariff relief
which she looked for and was led to expect DO
mt however, look up the situation darkIy as
-7snv people here do An anelioration OF the
sugar duties would help enormously at this time
toward putting Cuba on her feet But she is
far from being al object Of charity. The assur-
ances OF President Mckinley, President Roose-
,elt. General Wood and others that relief would
he given caused the Cubans TO look upon this
relief as certainty. and they shaped all their
rlans and business arrangements accordingly
The failure OF Congress TO grant this relief re-
s,Itad in damage TO every one in Cuba and dis
aster 10 many.
Put I look upon It as unfortunate, chiefly be-
cause Of the irritation and lack of confidence il
created Il may be that the expectations Of the
Cuba1s were not fully warranted by any Of the
promises assurances which were given them
But their belief was unQuestioning and their
disappointment was bitter.
From the spring Of 1901 TO the spring of 1902
there was q great change in the feeling Of the
Cubans throughout the island towards the
United States. and 6 feeling Of suspicion and
distrust which had before prevailed gave way
70 pretty general feeling Of confidence and
gratitude I am sorry to believe that this bet
ter feeling has received turn backward Cuba
is IN z position TO give TO the United States
much more than an equivalent for any tariff
concessions the United States may make 10
Cuba And I hope that this matter may YET be
dealt with a business matter and not as
matter Of charity. For Cuba wants no charity
and Is willing 10 pay well for all she gets This
talk about Cuba's poverty stricken condition
and her certain ruin unless assistance Is given
has had e damaging effect on every enterprise
and every interest in the island. and has made
II difficult 10 get outside money for any purpose
IN Cuba This has made the situation there
much worse than il otherwise would have been
Il believe the new government 10 be an abso-
luIely honest one. and can imagine no clrcurr1-
stances likely TO lead to disorder The people
throughout the island quiet. and well dis
posed And I an sure that life and property
viii continue TO be just safe as in New
England There is perhaps some little friction
be-ween the President Of Cuba and the Cuban
Congress, but the differences are OF small con-
sequence, ard know that both the President
and Congress are for good government &c
not believe that any friction that may exist
viii continue long"
In regard TO the railway Of the Cuba COM
pany, Sir William said II was nearing cOmp4e-
ton The first week in November would prob
ably see II in active public service By that
time the ballasttng would be completed. and the
equipment provided The line covers, from san
riago TO Santa Clara. 360 miles and will open up
with its branches between 400 and oVO