The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-08-12
PROPOSED CUBAN BOND ISSUE.

The Cuban government is preparing
to negotiate two loans, one Immediately
of $4,000 00, this money to be used in
relieving the sugar planters, Inc anoth-
er within the next six months OF $780,
100000, the funds derived from the sale
of these bonds TO be used for various
purposes, such as paying the revolu-
tionary soldiers and liquidating. the
debts contracted by the provisional
of the island which man
aged the affairs of the Cubans before
the United States established its mill
tary authority in the island. The
agreement between the Cubans and
u government on the establishment
OF the new republic gave the latter su-
pervisory Jurisdiction over this matter
of contracting public debts. Cuba now
being an independent nation can violate
that agreement if she so desires, n
her issue of bonds would be legal, for
there is no court that could declare
them otherwise; but were our govern
ment to pronounce against their issue
il would render them worthless in the
klAA<AAlNAdA ma h-ASB "
be afraid TO purchase the bonds were
their issue not sanctioned by the Amer
lean government. This sanction, we
would have to come from the
executive branch of our government,
the legislative having nothing to do
with the matter.
What will President Roosevelt do
-.-,~J:,r +hf- nrnnncaH Inan2 Here
is where the president can get even
with those of his party in congress-
the men on whom he relied for support
and who tricked him-who defeated
his plan for carrying out the pledge OF
the government to aid the Cubans-
Here the president can checL-mate
those republicans who defeated the Gu
ban deciprocity bill for the purpose of
placing before the islanders the alter
native of bankruptcy or annexation
If the Cuban government can tide
over the present crisis-can relieve the
financial distress of the people until
the agricultural conditions improve 1t
will postpone the hour of
and may possibly avert it altogether
Internal political disturbances result
ing IL lawlessness, with tendency to-
ward anarchy, and financial distress
are the two things that would cad
most quickly to annexation. The latter
would be the chief cause producing the
former. With the Cubans prosperous
there is greater probability of the con-
t~inuance of the life of the republic.
Tlis proposed loan will give temporary
financial relief, for most of the $685.
900, 900 will be used in paying the revo-
lutionary soldiers and relieving the
distress of the planters
Mr.. Roosevelt felt that our govern
ment was in honor bound to aid Cuba
by passing the reciprocity bill. Con-
gress refused to adopt his ideas Will
he not then feel the same obligation
upon the administration to sanction this
loan as the next best means of carry
ing out the pledge? We hope he will;
for no matter how people may differ
as to the desirability Of Cuban annex
alton, none desires that the Cubans
should be starved into it, except the
monopolists who wish to control the
sugar output of the island at any cost
to the islanders.
The news comes from Washington
respecting the object of this loan that
surprise is expressed that the Cuban rev
dictionary soldiers should demand pay
for their services. This comes from
a people who thirty-seven years after
the close of the civil war are still paying
out $40, 600, 900 a year to the soldiers
who saved the union" There are on
our pension rolls a few less than 1.OOO,-
600 of the patriots who fought for
their country. 1t is all right for these
TO continue to receive pay as long as
they live; but it is a cause of surprise
that these poor Cubans who lost their
all in their fight for. liberty should be
willing TO receive a small compensa-
ton.
C<SUnUI MOVE