The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-16
POLITICS OF THE
CUBAN QUESTION
Charlotte Observer.

Charlotte Observer.
We had somewhat to say yesterday o.
the duty of this country to Cuba in tn,
matter OF tariff concessions as relates Il
its sugar. The President and Secretar.
of War are right on the matter; the Ways
and Means Commute is willing for pitt
full 20 per cent. reduction of the duty or
Cuban sugar, but the American sugar in.
terests appear to have the majority OF
the House Republicans by the throat anC
they are willing to break faith with Cuba
and let the Cubans starve rather than
obey the voice of duty and give these
special interests a stand-up fight. They
are afraid of the political effect of JUS
tice to Cuba. and therein they are short
sighted-thedr danger is anSinjustice to
it. We have seen the whole case stated
editorial in The New York Journal of
Commerce of Saturday. Whatever bias
the paper in question has Is toward the
Republican Party; certainly 1t is a pro-
tectionist paper; but it is. primarily, a
business paper, as its name implies, and
one distinguished at once for its ability
and conservatism. In its discussion of
the Cuban tariff question it considers 1t
in both its business and political rela-
tons and in reference To the obligations
of honor which the United States owe to
Cuba. This editorial is so luminous and
so very excellent that we do our readers
a service in reproducing it entire:
THE firm stand of President Roosevelt
for justice to Cuba seems at last to be
making an impression upon the leaders
of his party in Congress; but the beg
carly concession of 20 per cent. in duties
is wholly insufficient for Cuba, and will
inevitably work Injury in domestic poll
tics.
ut is high time that the subject was
dealt with rightly if the party in power is
to escape disaster at the hands of an in
dignant public. The refusal of justice
would be likely to prove as hazard
Gus a political experiment as has been
tried in this country since the passage
of the Kansas Nebraska bill. The pe0-
pie of the United States understand the
nature of the Cuban problem. 1t pre-
sents a moral issue. clearer than amy
on which an opportunity has been at
forded for many years for an emphatic
expression of public opinion On the
one side lies plain duty, so described
by the President, the Secretary of War
and the other responsible leaders of the
party in power. On the other side lies
the sordid selishacss of special inter
ests, which care nothing for the obliga-
tions of honor imposed upon the United
States by the war with Spain, nor for
the real economic prosperity of this coun-
try and her nearest neighbor.
THE attempt to divert popular indig-
nation away from the faction which is
blocking the wheels of legislation in be-
half of Cuba, by railing against the sugar
trust, will not deceive a single intelli-
gent voter. 1t may be that the present
sugar crop in Cuba is controlled by
American syndicates or by a few capital
lists. The question whether they will be
among those benefited by the proposed
grant of market for Cuban sugar is
beside the mark. The essential feature
of the situation is the necessity that the
masses of the Cuban people shall be
given employment and afforded a market
at once for their labor and it's products.
The starvation Of Cuba may deprive the
sugar trust or a few capitalists of certain
profits. and this might be a matter of in
difference to une American people. but it
will also sentence the entire Cuban peo-
pie to economic disaster, such as they
never suffered under Spa nish rule. and
icy far into the future. II cordial feel
ings toward the United States are to
be promoted among the Cuban people