The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-19
Give Cuba a Chance.
(By Walter j .Ballard.)


~ N MAY 20. we surprised the
world by turning over to the
~ republic of Cuba ownership
and control of the island, to-
gether with all the improvements and
reforms we had built and instituted,
besides nearly s1,50O,O00 in cash and
bonds. This was only right. We had
promised to do it and we did it, cheer
fully. But that is not all we ought to and
must do. Cuba has suffered SO much
and SO long that the profits (?) of her
Industries are at the lowest possible
point. She is starting business anew,
practically without capital, and with a
heavy load of debt to pay off. as fully
so per cent of her planters are mort
gagged to the banks. Unless her
planters, particularly the poorer ones,
can be helped to such marketing fac
ilities as will enable them to produce
at living profit, they will go to the
wall and it will be case of Loves
Labors Lost as far as we are con-
cerned. AS we use 46O0, 100000 pounds
of sugar yearly, and only produce, in
Guiding Hawaii and Porto Rico, 6O0,-
600, 900 pounds, we want Cuba's sugar
and want it badly. Unless she can sell
it to us, she cannot well sell it at ALL
as she has no money to spend in OPEN
ing fresh markets.
There is one way, and only one way,
to give Cuba a chance to live, and that
is to give her limited reciprocity for a
term of years. 1t need not be perman-
ent. The fact that 400 years of Spanish
oppression failed to crush Cuba's spirit
and energy is evidence that our island
neighbors are capable of progress along
Industrial, and all other lines, If they
are given only half chance. The
moderation with which they have re-
ceived their, freedom confirms this.
There was no shouting when they saw
their single star flag raised but, as
Senator Mason of Illinois testified the
other day in the senate, strong men
fell on their knees in prayer and wept
tears of joy.
Give Cuba a chance. 1t Is our duty
nay, it is our privilege. We did not
plunge into the Spanish sea to save
Cuba from drowning. merely to leave
her naked and shivering on the shore.
Figures just issued further show that
Cuba must have help. Her exports for
the ten months ended April 30, 1902 are
over $lO,OOO,000 less than for the same
ten months of 1901, the figures being
s39.7a7,965, against $49,969,O5O. Her I'M
ports increased nearly 81 900, 900 in the
same period, or s55, 5,35O,952 against $54,-
4i2,o62. Just think for moment what
the loss of that $ll 100000 means to a
people who are utterly devoid of any
reserve wealth or capital. 1t Is like
taking ll,0OO,0 900 out of the live assets
OF struggling business firm ON the
eve of panic, This drain means bank
ruptcy II it Is not stopped. Whose in
terest is it, primarily, to stop it? Ours.
emphatically ours. We want Cuba's
products and we want her to buy our
products and manufactures. If she
goes into bankruptcy, as she will If not
helped by u.s. we will lose what will be
now, and far more so eventually, a
good customer, and not only that, we
shall also lose the use OF nearby
purchasing market for the sugar, tobac-
co and other products of which our
consumption is so large.
Let US also remember that Cuban
merchants are worth doing business
with. They are reliable. They keep