Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-07-04
ELKINS FOR ANNEXATION

Washington, July 1.-When the sen.
ate convened yesterday morning Sena.
tor Elkins addressed the senate in sup
port of his resolution providing for the
annexation by the United States of the
Island of Cuba, as follows:
Mr.. Elkins said that his resolution
had been misunderstood. 1t had no
bearing upon Cuban reciprocity and
was not intended to have any. 1t SIM
ply voiced in concrete form his judg-
ment that Cuba ought to be annexed
to the United States and the sooner
the better for that country. The reso-
luton did not suggest the annexation
of Cuba in an offensive way. 1t pro-
vided that Cubans must take the initia-
tive and only after they had asked for
annexation could the United States
act.
For nearly a century. he said. the
annexation of Cuba to the United
States had been the ambition. of Ameri-
can craftsmanship He pointed out
that many distinguished and patriotic
American statesmen from jefferson to
he thought the present was an oppor-
tune time ito carry into effect the
we'll defined wishes of a majority OF
the people of Cuba and the United
States in regard to annexation. 1t is
in the highest interest of both coun-
tries. The environments of Cuba with
the trials and difficulties that beset
uer on the threshold of her national
~, ho Of hnr
an independent nation, while as
state in the American union her PEG.
pie would be prosperous and progress.
sive and enjoy the liberty and bless
inss that would float from being part
of the best, greatest and freest gov
eminent in the world.
After annexation the products of
Cuba would not come into hurtful com.
petition with those of the United
States. Free trade among the states
has never lowered the price of labor
or worked injury to American inter-
ests. Wherever our flag floats the
price of labor advances.
1T is claimed that annexation would
destroy the promising and growing
beet sugar industry in the United
states. 1t was not so. however. The
price Of products among the states
always seeks an equilibrium. With
proper protection in favor of the cane
sugar of Cuba, which she will enjoy
as state and the beet sugar OF the
United States within fifteen years, the
United States would not only produce
enough sugar for its own consump-
tion, but largely compete with other
countries in the markets Of the world.
But for the war with Spain, al.
though so successful and glorious,
Cuba would now be part of the
United States.
Even with the war. had it not been
for our declaration that the war was
not waged for conquest or aggrandize-
ment, known as the Teller amendment.
Cuba would be today part OF the
United States just as Porto Rico and
the Philippines are This amendment
mas proved both mischievous and IN
wise.
when Cuba shall become part of
the American union and the isthmian
canal shall be completed, which is now
assured, Porto Rico Cuba. Hawaii and
the Philippines Will be the outposts
Of the great republic standing guard
over American interests in the track
of the worlds commerce in it's trium-
phal march around the globe.
There is a tendency in all human
affairs, ingovernment, trade and COM
merce, to concentration and combina-
ton. Meteors go to the sun; small
nations are becoming parts of great
nations, and Cuba in her present en-
vironment, situated as she is, cannot
be expected to resist the tendency.
The effect of the Platt amendment
will be to help to bring about annexa-
ton A nation cannot long remain
half free and half dependent. Such a
condition embarasses healthy progress
in national life and leaves but little
room for the exercise of the genius
and intelligence of people in the
affairs of a government especially
when under such restrictions as this
amendment imposes.
THE question of annexation forces
itself to the front and will claim from
now on the attention of the people of
both countries. Reciprocity with Cuba
affords no adequate remedy for what
threatens her interests. A 20 per cent
reduction in her tariff and ours will
40 Cuba as people or government
little or no good. while it will work
great harm to the interests OF the
United States.
There was long discussion and
fierce opposition to the annexation of
TeXas-much more, think, than there
will be to the annexation OF Cuba
but it came at last as surely as the
annexation of Cuba will come. There is
not loyal and true American to be
found within the confines of the re-
public who would give up Texas, and
within few years after Cuba becomes
a state in our union not an American
will be found willing to part with the
island