New-York tribune., 1902-03-25
CONCESSIONS TO CUBA NAY COME TOO LATE
i SERIOUS OUTLOOK n THE MEASURES OF RELIEF ARE IN
IDEtLATE OR LONG DELAYED.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Unwillingly, after months of study
reach the conclusion that the situation IN 'e
land is much more threatening than our people
at home believe II to be. Just before sailed lot
Havana the reality of the distress, actual ana
prospective. occasioned by high tarin on
articles imported from Cuba was quesuoheu'
and an emphatic denial made in the most
public manner by some influential persons In
washington and New York. This denial of the
urgency of the Cuban claim upon our consld-
GRAFTON has been repeated, as l learn from the
dispatches received here during my visit
Now. let me say at the outset that it is not
necessary to question for a moment the soou
faith Of those people in the States who assert
that this island appears TO be getting along
fairly well. Here also the same view Is eN-
pressed in certain quarters. good deal OF
work is being done in the fields and mills OF lhe
sugar plantations at present. and this activity
will continue for about six weeks (though with
a marked falling off in April and May un'h
the harvest season is at an end. Observers VINO
put the usual Interpretation upon this apparent
activity report that the people are not unproS-
porous You will easily find a number OF en-
tirely respectable witnesses who will give tesu-
mony to bear out the optimistic view Inc
trouble is that these men do not look forward
to the end Of May l refer now, OF course 10
those who are thoroughly sincere without beihg
thoroughly well informed-the more easily ap-
preached English speaking people But. turnil.s
TO the Spaniards and the Cubans even amons
those who are we'll informed and who do look
forward to the end Of May, you will discover
very few who are willing to admit that there Is
good reason to fear the outbreak of another
insurrection. of labor riots, in case the
troops from the United States shall be With
drawn before our government holds out a
helping hand TO Cuban industries. The best
and most patriotic inhabitants are especially
sensitive on this point They are, If anything
overanxious TO change the common impression
that their people are prone to and reckless
Of its consequences. They think that they have
already been sufficiently dscredited in the eyes
Of the world on this account. Therefore, with
their assistance. any one whose interests prompt
him to do so may readily corroborate pre-
conceived opinion, and claim In good faith that
the failure Of Congress TO make the concessions
which have been so earnestly requested would
not have the most serious consequences. There
is a Spanish saying, Soldiers do not exchange
compliments" but need not forget our cour
tesy in this fight. think that student who
approaches this subject entirely without pref
udice collecting evidence from every trust
worthy source and testing each statement by
will learn TO make allowances for those who
, take a more cheering view of the actual condi-
tions. Their error Is entirely natural, and COM
Portable while it lasts
But their error. by influencing our legislation
unfavorably may eventually lead both
tries into terrible and shameful difficulties So
long there was a vestige Of doubt in my own
mind. I would not touch this aspect Of the
question, and I have not written a word for
publication since I came to Havana. Now that
my studies finished let me select from
large number of observations made on the
ground a few that most significant.
We are, let say visiting a sugar plantation
! at great distance beyond Matanzas. The
/ nearest pOstOffice is Limonar. We have chosen
this one because It fairly represents an average
plantation. both in extent and in its financial
condition; and wish to Judge OF the effect Of
! the waves vessels Of moderate size, rather
than on the few great ships that proceed on
+ their course in spite Of storms. Standing near
/ the mill. look around all sides. AS far as
( you can see (even TO the furthest visible palms
! that show like planets with dark rays against
the horizon) the land is devoted TO sugar cane.
and practically all the people living IN this wide
and fertile region have one single occupation
all identified with the work Of producing
raw sugar, They know how to do nothing else.
the owner Of this mill and of the adjoining fam
| lily homestead One hundred and twenty men
work in the MILL between fifteen hundred and
twenty-five hundred in the fields. At this busy
season the lack Of sufficient labor very appar-
! ent: the steam whistle calls impatiently to the
! colonists at short intervals: More camel More
! canei We consult the members Of the
! family and the family attorney, who has come
| from Havana to supply such explanations as
! may be required.
IF the concessions are not granted definite
ly promised within month Il. e. before the
middle Of APRIL there will be violent demon
! strations here" they tell with reluctance
| The attorney, a man Of good ability, explains
! that the owners have been borrowing money for
a long time-borrowing to make advances to the
| field hands and TO pay the mill operatives. bor-
! rowing what necessary for the maintenance
| Of the family, and for improved machinery (as
part Of the general plan and effort 10 lower the
cost of production)-n word. borrowing for
! the privilege Of making sugar at a loss always
| hoping for a rise in the price Of their product
which would put their business on a paying
basis. The limit Of their credit has been reached
| and they can borrow no more unless improve
| 1nent in the conditions begins Immediately. They
| viii soon be unable to give employment to their
tenants the "coonists; hundreds will be idle