The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-18
aa1vE CUBA A CHARGE"
Senator Cockrell Regrets Talk of
 Annexation.

Washington Special to Baltimore Sun. Senator Francis M. Cockrell, Democrat. |. of Missouri. deeply regrets the talk in Congressional circles concerning the sub tect of Cuban annexation Some months ago he made a tour of the island, and since then has kept himself informed con- corning conditions there
 He says he believes the Cubans will eventually succeed in their efforts at self government, and pleads that they be giv- en fair chance to show their capabili- ties in that direction.
 Il think and hope that the Cubans will be able to maintain their government" !" said MT. Cockren today to Sun corre- spondent. They have before them se- we're ordeal to devise satisfactory sys- tenn of taxation to maintain their provin- cial and national government, the eS- penses of which necessarily must be quite large.
 of annexation at this time. It probably make more difficult the problem of inde- pendence If Cuba were admitted as a State of the Union the people of the island would be still confronted with the problem of taxation, just as every State in our Union now has the same question
 "The people of Hawaii, a dependency, are experiencing trouble in devising a system of taxation adequate to the needs of government, Before admission the principal revenues of the islands were de- rived from imports, and until the estab-
 lshment of the new form of government they accumulated quite large fund from this source. The bubonic plague appear sort to extreme yet necessary measures to stamp it out. They accomplished this but in so doing they spent all of the ac- cumulated revenue and the government was left deeply In debt, They appealed to Congress for relief, which thus far has not been accorded. Congress, In the end, must provide for these losses. either by paying in whole or in part the indebted ness and authorizing the municipal gov ernment of Honolulu or the terrttorial government of the islands to issue bonds, the proceeds of which may be used to pay whatever part the United States will not assume, or all of the debt if the Uniteo States declines to give relief
 Tt seems best, both for the people or Cuba and of the United States. that the Cubans should be left free to work out the problem confronting them. The time may come when the Cubans will desire annexation. and. should this country wish 1t, there will he no trouble in arranging the terms. The:e has been no indication of any such desire on the part or the masses of the people in Cuba. certainly it is not to the interest of our people to undertake to force them to become part of the Union. But under all clrcum- stances it is our plain duty to make req sonable concessions to the Cubans Tn our trade relations. I regret sincerely that Congress adjourned without granting such concessions.
 ''I think it inopportune," concluded MT. Cockreil, flor our people to crlticise other nsfionaiities and races. The Cubans may not be able immediately to devise, legis- Iation necessary to raise revenue, to pro tect life and property and to enforce the rights of individuals as perfectly ana et- fectually as our several States have done. h,It we must remember the Cuban gov ernment is In it's infancy and that our States have had long experience In con- ducting their government.
 "Notwithstanding our great advantages, we have in various States from time to time made many changes. and are con tinuing to make them. Give the Cuoans a chance"