Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-02-27
NATIONAL BAD FAITH.

in regard to Cuba has never had It's
match for injustice and double-dealing'
not only to the Cubans but to the
bulk of our own people ms well
The case was this; We had inter-
fered to relieve Cuba from Spanish
oppression. Cuba's master grievance
against Spain was the illiberal and
narrow policy of the latter in matters
of trade, and we were, upon every
consideration, bound to leave the island
at least no worse off In this respect
than she was before we intervened
I'm her behalf. After Spain had been
expelled and Cuba had framed con-
stitution for herself, Congress again
interfered and prohibited its adoption
unless there were grated upon lit the
so-called Platt Resolutions. These
were wholly to our advantage, and
among them was an absolute inhibi-
tlon of any treaty to be made by the
Cubans without our consent. This
tied the hands Of the islanders conf
pletely from seeking avenues of trade
elsewhere than with us; and they had
right to infer that unless we were
indeed n race Of sharpers and knaves,
deserving of even a worse name than
our enemies ever have imputed to us,
they would be met at the doors to
our markets with open hands and fair
treatment.
Accordingly they raised crop Of
Sugar and tobacco last year, and har-
vested 1t. In going so far they cx-
hausted their slender resources of
ready means already sadly taxed by
q long and devastating war. But
their crop was raised, and all that was
needed to reward their industry and
pay their debts was an opportunity
to sell 1t. When they tried to do this
they found the Platt Resolutions stand
ing across the path to every market
Except ours, and when they approached
ours, they ran against tariff wall of
more than rs per cent, which shut
them out from our ports AS effectu-
ally as If we were on the planet Mars.
Their crop was valueless and they
saw nothing but starvation before
them, and only because they were moi
allowed honestly To sell what they
honestly had earned 1t was preciscl.
the same treatment we applied to thu
Southern people during the OWL wal
In the shape Of blockade, only W,
the Southerners, instead of pretendn,
to be their deliverers and friends.
The President and his Cabine
warmly cspoused the cause of TN
islanders-as indeed they could hay
done no less and claim the name o
Christians, and insisted that reduc
ton of so per cent of existing dutie
would be the least we could wit
decency make. The Ways and Mean
Committee took tho alter up, an
the beet sugar lobby, and the Loui,
lana sugar planters lobby and tn
tobacco lobby, and the agents an
retainers of these. hurried TO Washlnl
ton. Soon II was announced tina
the Committee was indlsposed to tai
any favorable action, and the men
bers were sent for to come to tb
White House, where they took an e,
ecutive scolding. The people throug
the country became interested as we
they might; for the entire scheme {
levying tax on sugar is one OF Ii
most indefenslble OF the robberies ,
the entire tariff system,-laid as II
on an article OF prime necessity al
universal consumption, and bearing ,
II does the hardest on the poor
being their luxury. Mr.. Edwai
Atkinson has recently shown that tn
tax, ut its present rate, amounts to
third OF the cost OF the flour consume
per capita. in the country. and
asked whether the statesman wi
shouldt propose to cheaper flour
one-third would not be hailed as
benefactor to his race. And all II
for the honefit of paltry number
trust magnates, who can afford
maintain expensive lobbies at I
Capital, and without taking into 4
count the matter OF justice to Cuba
pii
suddenly II was announced that I
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