The Atlanta constitution., 1902-04-14

the centuries Of Spanish rule. This mas
a direct bearing upon our own welfare.
Cuba is 50 near 10 US that We can never
be Indifferent to miSgoNernment ana
disaster within its limits. The m ere
fact that our administration in the
islands has minimized the danger from
the dreadful ScOurge of yellow fever
alike to Cuba and TO ourselves IS suiii-
cient to emphasize the community OF IN
terest between us. But there are other
interests which bind us together. Cuba
position makes it necessary that her po-
litical relations with us should diner
from her political relations with other
powers. This fact has been formulated
by us and accepted by the Cubans in the
Platt amendments. 1t follows as n coral
larry that whore the Cubans have thus
assumed a position Of relationship to oar
stand in peculiar relationship TO our
economic system.
What Cuba Must Do.
1--WE have riShtfully insisted upon
Cuba adopting toward us an attitude
differing politically from that she adopts
toward any other power; and in return,
as a matter of right, We must give %
ton economically in her relations with
us than We give TO otner powers This
is the course dictated 10y sound policy.
by a wise and far-sightcd view of our
own interest and by the position we have
taken during the past tour years. W.
are a wealthy and powerful country,
the contrast in wealth and strength
makes it all the more our duty TO deal
with Cuba as We have already dealt
with her i'm a spirit of large generosity
This exposition is rendered possible
because of the period of industrial pros
perity through which We are passing.
While material well-being is never all
Suulclent to he life of nation. yet il is
the merest truism to say that its alb
Sence means ruin. We need To build A
higher life upon il as a foundation; but
We can build little. indeed. unless this
foundation of prosperity is deep and
broad. The well-being which we are
now enjoying can be secured on'y
through general business prosperity. and
energy and hard work the sanity and
the mutual respect of all classes of can
halists, large and small. of wage-earn-
erS of every degree. As is inevitable in a
time Of business prosperity, some men
succeed more than others, and it is un-
fortunately also inevitable that when this
is the case some unwise people are sure
TO try 10 appeal to the envy and jealousy
OF those who succeed least 1t is a good
thing when these appeals are male To
remember that while 1t is difficult to in
enough to ruin il. and that there is small
satisfaction to the less prosperous III
they succeed in overthrowing both the
more prosperous and themselves in the
crash of common disaster.
Social and Economic Questions
Every lnuuSlrldl exposition of this tVpa
necessarily calls up the thought of the
complex social and economic questions
which are involved in our present indus
trial system. our astounding material
prosperity, the sweep and rush rather
than the mere arch of our progressive
material development. have brought grave
troubles in their train. We cannot az
ford to blink at these troubles aDv more
than because of them we can afford To ac-
cept as true the gloomy forebodings Of
the prophets of evil. There are great
problems before US. They are NOT in
soluble, but they can be solved only If
We approach them in a spirit of resolute
fearlessnesS, of common sense and nc
honest intention TO do fair and eoual
justice to all men alike. We are certain
To fail If we adopt the policy of the DEM
agoSue. VINO raves against the wealth
which IS simply the form OF embodied
thrift, foresight and Intelligence: who
would shut the door of opportunity
against those whose energy We shoui1
especially foster. by penalizinc the 0naI-
tiles which tell for success Just as III
tie can we afford to follow those who fear
10 recognize injustice and to endeavor 70
cut II out because the task is difficult ~.
eVeh-lf performed by unSkilled hands
dangerous
This is an era of great combinations
DOth OF labor and capital. In MANY wavS.
these combinations have worked for good
but they must work under the law ana
the laws concerning them must he inst
and wise or they will inevitably do evil
and THIS applies as much to the r1cbest
corporation as to the most powerful Iabo,.
union. Our laws must De wise sane
healthy conceived In the spirit of those