The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-06

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structed It in three years. win be ruined,
and we shall have to step in and re-oc-.
cupy tho country or continue in occupa-
ton and do over again tho work which
we have spent thousands OF lives and
much treasure in doing UP to date.
The proposition of Representative Gros-
venor to appropriate 100000 for dis
tribution among the planters is vicious
and unsound, as is we'll pointed out by
the Evening Sun. We. are not IN the
charity business, and there Is no reason
why a hcavily-taxed people should con-.
tribute s25Ooo,oo0 to the needs of Cuba
out OF our war taxes, when we can both
benefit them and ourselves by making
a reduction In those taxes and allowing
them a market in which to sell their
goods We admit that the sugar situa-
ton in the British West Indies does not
require US to open our doors to them II
there is any good reason why our doors
should stay shut
But the situation IN Cuba cannot be
treated by indirection or by homeopathic
doses, says the Evening Post The is.
land has been delivered from Spanish
:nsrule by our arms. We have assumed
q certain responsibility for her welfare
under the terms of the "Platt amend
ment" we have taken command of her
foreign relations and her treasury. She
cannot negotiate treaties or borrow
money without our consent, Under the
old regime she had certain commercial
advantages in trade with Spain. We
have taken these away from, her, and
have given her nothing in place of them.
She is now in the presence of bank
ruptcy; she is tied hand and foot, by
us, and we will neither do anything for
her nor allow her to do anything effec-
tual for herself. If the disaster which
General Wood predicts shall come upon
her, somebody will be held responsible
for it. The Republican party will be
really responsible, and will by no means
escape punishment.
1t has been suggested that we can
force Cuban annexation by starving them
into submission. Away with such sugges-
tons! They have their own lives to lead.
and their own destiny to work out, and
as long as they are in the position to-
wards us which was created by the out
come of the war, we owe it to them and
to ourselves to show that liberal policy
which should characterize our national
duty.
American sugar interests are attracting
to themselves most unwise and unpleas-
ant criticism. There is no surer way to
repeal bad law than to enforce it, and
the iniquity Of our system of protection
is becoming painfully apparent under the
light of the Cuban situation.
A lucid contribution to the discussion
is General Wood's letter which has just
reached Washington. 1t is the last word
from man whose reputation is an as
surance that he exaggerateS nothing
and speaks from a solemn sense OF duty.
General Wood says that the average cost
of producing sugar throughout the
island, which includes grinding, sacking
and placing On the dock, is two cents
pound. The present selling price is
16 cents per pound. or $3.50 a sack.
The sack of sugar costs the planter Sc.
The duty on that sack is S5.04. "a re-
ducton Of SO 1-S per cent. Of this duty"
says General Wood. will give a reduc-
ton of $1.6S per sack. which. added to
the average selling price of $4.S0 per sack,
gives S6.4S. or an average profit of as
cents on each 800 pounds Of sugar pro-
duced' moderate profit.
Here are the facts which are becoming
clearer to the American people daily.
When once they are grasped in their full
significance there will be trembling IN high
places, Il relief is not granted.