The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-07
TrnE NEwLANDs RESOLUTION :

THE NEwLANDs RESOLUTION.
The joint resolution introduced into
| Congress by Representative Newlands,
inviting Cuba to become a part Of the
| United States, causes no surprise.
! Although Mr.. Newlands was elected by
! the silverites and Democrats there APP
/ pears to be some ground for thinking
! that his action has the approval of the
Republican leaders. He introduced the
resolution for the annexation of Ha-
wall and that may be another reason
for surmising that he was put forward
as the author of a resolution for the
annexation of Cuba. But whether he
acted independently or was chosen to
father the resolution its Importance
cannot well be overestimated.
There is no doubt that the great ma
jority of the American people have felt
ever since the close of the Spanish
American war that the destiny of Cuba
was to become a part of this country.
Indeed, at the very commencement of
that war, it was freely predicted that
eventually Cuba would be annexed.
The reason for thinking that the Re-
publican leaders favor annexation is
that they are having trouble in their
party over the question of granting
help to Cuba in the shape of lower
duties on her sugar and tobacco. The
high protectionists are taking the po-
sition that the United States have done
enough for the Cubans and that to re-
duce the duties on Cuba products would
not only injure certain agricultural in
terests of this country, but would
create dissatisfaction with it's whole
protective system-would, in fact, bring
about strong demand for a radical re-
form of the tariff On the other hand
big faction of the party led by the
President, takes the position that
having released Cuba from Spanish
rule, and halfway promised to assist
her on the road to prosperity if she
would make the Plat amendment a
part of her constitution, we are bound
to see to it that she is not forced into
revolution by agricultural and indus
should ask for annexation public senti-
ment would be so strongly in favor of
it that the protectionists would not
dare to object to it and the other fac
ton of the Republicans would be salts
fed. We assume of course that the
alton, though the Republicans, having
control of all branches of the govern
ment, will do as they please in regard
to the matter.
But are the Cubans ready for an
nexation? Mr.. Newlands seems to
think So If it were possible however,
to take the sense of the Cubans on the
question at this time it is probable
that 1t would be found that there is a
big majority in favor of independence.
The business men and planters un-
doubtedly want annexation, because
they see that without it Cuba will find
it difficult, if not impossible, to main
tain her population. She can find
market for her tobacco easily enough,
but where can she sell her sugar, which
is her chief crop, and on which she re-
lies chiefly for the support of her peo-
pie? The beet sugar of European coun-
tries is now more than sufficient to sup
ply the European market, and it can
be sold so cheaply that Cuba finds no
profit in competing with it.
The great majority of the Cuban
people, however cannot, all at once, be
made to appreciate the full force of
the reasons for annexation. Besides,
there are thousands of Cubans who,
having served in the Cuban armies, are
looking forward to pay for their ser
vices and to offices under a republic
Their influence would be against an
neXation. Perhaps after a short ex-
perience with independence even they
would be forced to concede that an
nexation would be better for their
island.
The Cuban people will soon be in
position to express themselves on the
question of annsxation. viii it be sub
mitted to them as soon as they are in a
IN