Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-01-31
A MATTER OF JUSTICE.

requested concessions TO the sugar
planters of Cuba is nothing short OF
fiisgraceful. We went to war with
Spain upon the pretense of freeing
Cuba from economic oppression. In
doing this we deprived Cuba of the
benefit of trading In the Spanish mar
kets. and having done this we still!
refused to give the island any more
than n qualified independence. That
is 10 say by the Platt resolution we
reserved tie right to interfere In her
affairs OF government In certain con-
tingencies extremely likely TO happen.
we retained the choice OF some of her
ports for coalinG stations, and re-
quired her to submit to our perpetual
supervision and guardianship. Cuba
agreed to these humiliating terms only
when they were forced upon her by
power which she was in no condition
to dispute.
Having thus shut our formerly op-
pressed and injured neighbor out from
the markets in which she used to
trade, she comes TO Congress stagger-
ing under burden which means bank
rupfcy and ruin to her principal in
terests, unless our markets can be
substituted for those she enjoyed when
q Spanish dependency. \ crop of
sugar has been raised In the slnnd.
the cost OF which, up TO the time OF its
harvest, has strained the resources OF
the planters-whether of money or
credit. TO their utmost tension.
In this plight they come TO us,-to
the nation that boasts not only of ns
own freedom, Int of having given
them theirs,-to government con
trolled by party which ten years ago
had good deal to say about the
beauties of a free breakfast table"
and so coming. they ask-what: Why
the privilege OF selling 10 our people
some sugar which the latter need aud
must have. and which they must
themselves sell or starvc. They com.
too with the certainty of buying IN
turn from us things we desire TO sell.
such as plows and provisions and the
like, IL by marketing their crop To MS
they can get the money TO purchase
our wares. Here then we have con
dition of things which a Boxer or "a
Bulgarian brigand, or some other
benighted ones TO whom we are send
ing funds, would think might be i'm
proved 20 the mutual advantage of all
parties.
But no. The planters run up against
q high tariff wall. built for the enrich.
ing OF a few planters in this country
and a bury trust. at the expense OF
the consumers latter comprising
every man. woman and child Of our
people.
But the CubznS do not ask that the
wall should be levelled to lne ground,
although that would be the case IL
the free breakfasi-iable" had been
anything but Il grinning hypocrisy.
They only asked that a few Of the
top course be taken of. that il be
torn a half or quarter way down.
themselves of.-ring TO lower any walls
of theirs which our industries may
eneounter in seeking 20 trade al their
ports. 10 the same extent
No proposition could seem 10 be
more equitable Than this: nor one OF
greater benefit to our people And
added 10 this is the urgent advice OF
the President, the Secretary OF War.
the General commanding our forces
in Cuba. the commercial bodies Of
New York and our other great sea
ports, that this small measure OF re-
lief 10 the cubans. OF justice and ad-
vantage 10 our own country and its
honor be granted 1t is indeed mean
policy which keeps weak and de-
pendent people tied 10 us. and kept
by us from getting food elsewhere.
snd at the same time kicks il down
fhe steps when IL comes 10 our door
begging for crumbs
And what makes il the more unjust
70 our neighbors and more degrading
- ~ Is the fact that one man ds able
% camp out for the winter in Wash
tnsteu- and by shaking the rod ovel
- majority in Congress may driv,
- lsttas from its sworn and obvious