The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-17

where. Labor found work at living
wages Capital invested generously. Pop
ulation increased. All industries grew
strong. The people were contented.
Then came the Wilson German law, I'M
der the Cleveland administration, which
put prohibitive tariff on Cuban sugar.
The American market for Cuban sugar
being closed, the sugar industry in the
island languished. Within year 1t
was ruined. Labor was idle, for the
other industries of the island were de-
pendent upon sugar growing, and all
trade was paralyzed in Cuba. -
"Now the Latin race differs little from
the American amalgam. When. the
American forms a mob, after the first
impulse of rage leaves him he passes reso-
lutions and appoints a committee to do
something. The Latin mob organizes
an insurrection. Coxey's army in the
United States was marching when the
idle laborers of Cuba opened the rebellion.
CoXey's men did little damage to property,
but every time the Cuban rebels found a
sugar plantation, or a, sugar mill they
wrecked it. It was the outward and
visible sign. of their anger at Spain. But
the actual oppression of Spain was
small matter compared with the economic
| troubles that came when Cuban sugar
was shut out Of the American market by
American laws. America was as much
Spain was. Indeed, when the Maine
blew up Spain was trying to settle the
Cuban rebellion in the only way it might
have been settled. A Spanish agent
was trying to negotiate a reciprocity
treaty which would restore Cuban sugar
to the American market. If the Maine
had not blown up in Havana harbor Nc
Kinley would have settled the Cuban re-
bellion without Intervention, and with
out shedding a drop of American blood,
| by securing reciprocity law; for Cuba's
woes had their rise more in economic
causes than in social and political ones.
Therefore it was natural that the first
| thing the CubanS asked from their Amer
| lean benefactors was a restoration of the
| trade relations enjoyed before the rebel
| lion. It was natural that upon the mere
| promise of Mckinley to use his influence
| to secure a reciprocity treaty, the Gu
| bans should grant every request made by
| the United States; for upon the opening
of the American market to Cuban sugar
| depends the economic future of the
| island, and upon that depends the main
| tenance of the public. peace there. 1t is
! important that Americans. should know
that history is about to repeat itself in
Cuba; for the Cubans had faith in Nc
Kinley's power to bring about the reci-
procity treaty which they desired. In
dustry revived on the strength of that
| promise and the Cuban planters put in a
big sugar crop. Labor again found en-
ployment. Again there was contentment
| in the island. But the treaty failed to
pass The duty against Cuba1 sugar in
American ports is prohibitive. Sugar sold
4 on the wharves of Havana for 81 .63, and
the admitted cost Of production is 81.
/ This year small crop is going in.
Labor hardly finds employment Capital
is shy No other industries are moving.
A slow paralysis Is binding the island.
The next step will be rebellion, and some
American general who will intervene in
the rebellion to protect American prop
erty in the island will be known in Cuban
history as the American Weyler. This
4 will be a pleasant ending of all the fine
promises we Americans made to humanity
when we drove Spain from the island to
protect Poor Cuba Yet Cuban revo-
/ luton, American Intervention, American