New-York tribune., 1902-01-02
SELF RULE FOR. CUBA.
THE PEOPLE NOT TO BE ABANDONED
TO STARVATION AND RUIN
IRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE 7


Washington Jan 1-Yesterdav's nonuIar hal
lot in Cuba was preliminary TO the real cleo
uon to be held on February ~, so far as the
President Nice-President and Senators are con-
cerned- Members Of the House Of Representa-
ives, Governors of provinces and members of
the provincial councils were elected yesterday
and at the same time electors were chosen TO
take part In the final formaIities for choosing
the higher general officials next month The
Presidential and Senatorial electors are to meet
IN the various provinces on February Is and
elect and announce their Senators six davs later
Certihcates Of the action of the electors will
then be forwarded TO General Wood. who under
the law must then announce the dates for the
assembling of Congress and for the procIaua-
ton of the President and Vice President and
for the formal transfer Of the government Of the
island to the government to be established"
SUPPORT NOT TO BE WITHDRAWN
Nothing definite : 10 these dates has yet
been determined nor is any decision likely until
the United States Congress reaches some agree
ment in regard to the future commercial reIa-
tions between this country and the island
With enactment at Washington which will
permit fun measure Of reciprocity making
substantial tariff reductions on Cuban products
in return for like reductions by the new re-
public on United States products which Cubans
the island government will be prompt But in
the absence Of such legislation the Washington
administration has no idea of setting the Cubans
adrift with the reasonable certainty of state
Of anarchy following the impovershment that
cannot be avoided in a few months when the
Cuban sugar and tobacco crops must find
market. Those crops having been planted and
natured with borrowed money. it is recognized
that they must be sold at prices which viii meet
the most pressing Indebtedness Of the planters.
or ruin viii follow 1t is also evident that the
crops must be sold in the United States and
that after meeting the shipping charges and the
existing customs schedule at United States
ports nothing viii remain 10 meet the expenses
OF labor. there viii be profit 10 encourage
the planting Of another crop. and the isls 1ders
viii be worse off than ever with Gestitution and
despair throughout the country. II is not pro
posed to withdraw the American military sup
port which has accomplished such remarkable
Improvement in Cuba's condition and leave
new government. unable TO collect taxes IN its
own support TO practically unavoidable failure.
Secretary Root sums up the grave problem in
these words.
The prosperity OF Cuba depends upon finding
a market Cor her principal products a reason
able profit Under existing conditions. or any
condition which is 10 be anticipated, she
find market FOR her sugar and 10 great
degree for her tobacco only IN the United States.
Under the existing provisions Of the United
States tariff law the prices which can be re-
allied for Cuban sugar and large part of
Cuban tobacco In this market not sufficient
to pay the duties. cost of transportation and
production, and yield. a living profit % the
producer The Cuban sugar planters, melted
by precept and trusting In our friendship,
have struggled TO retrieve the disasters under
which their country had suffered All the capt
tai they had could borrow has been invested
in the rebuilding OF their mills and the replant-
ing Of their land. More than half Of the people
Of the island depending directly or indi-
rectly upon the success Of that industry.
If IL succeeds We may expect peace, plenty,
domestic order and the happiness OF a free and
contented people TO reward the sacrifice Of
American lives and treasure through which
Cuba set free. II IL fails may expect
that the fields will again become waste the
mills will again be dismantled, the great body
Of labOTers VIII be thrown out of employment
and that poverty and starvation, disorder and
anarchy viii ensue; that the charities and the
schools which have been building up will
find no money for their support and VIII be
discontinued; that the sanitary precautions
which have made Cuba longer dreaded
source of pestilence, but one of the most healthy
islands in the world. viii of necessity be aban-
dOned and Atlantic seaboard must again
suffer from the injury 10 commerce and the
maintenance of quarantines at an annual cost
OF millions.
Aside from the moral obligation to which we
Of Cuba. and aside from the ordinary considera-
tiOns of commercial advantage involved in
reciprocity treaty. there are the weightiest rea-
for American public policy pointing in the
same direction; for the peace of Cuba is neces-
sary 10 the peace of the United States. the
health Of Cuba is necessary TO the health of
the United States; the independence of Cuba is
necessary 10 the safety of the United States.
The same Consdera tions which led 10 the
with Spain now require that a commercial
rangement be made under which Cuba can live.