The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-06-20
THE STATE OF CUBA.

passed by the house of representatives
providing for the admission to state
hood of the territories of Oklahoma
Arizona and New Mexico The Messen-
ger on May 18th, expressed the opin-
ion that Cuba would most likely close
iy follow those territories into the
union of federal states. Just a month
after that statement. a resolution is
introduced in the senate providing for
the admission of the republic of Cuba
as the state of Cuba" within the next
eighteen months.
That this resolution will finally b.
adopted We have no doubt. and it will
be adopted by this congress-. If the
congressional elections next fall
should change the political complex
ion Of the house Of representatives or
or e greatly reduce the present
republican majority We shall certainly
SEE the president attach his signature
to this joint resolution before the
present congress expires. Cuba, of
course, when admitted will be a re-
publican state.
The only opposition among republic
cans to the admission of Cuba will
be based on the tariff questionable
free admission of Cuban sugar, tropi-
cal fruits. etc. In his message to con-
gress last Friday, the president in
urging the reduction of the tariff on
sugar said, regarding the objection
raised that American sugar interests
would suffer thereby:
"Some OF our citizens oppose the
lowering of the tariff on Cuban pro-
ducts, just as three years ago they
opposed the admission of the Hawaii
an islands. lest free trade with them
might ruin certain of our interests
here In the actual event their
fears proved baseless as regards
Hawaii. n their apprehensions as to
the damage to any industry of our
own because of the proposed measure
of reciprocity with Cuba seem to me
equally baseless. In my judgment no
American industry will be hurt, and
many American industries will be
benefited, by the proposed action. 1t
Is TO our advantage as 2 nation that
the growing b market should be
controlled by American producers.
TIL" events following the war with
Sp"sn I'D prospective building Of the
istr man canal render 1t certain that
we must take in the future a far
gre Ter interest han heretofore in
VIII happens throughout the West
Ines. Central America and the ada
GER coast and waters. We expect
Gu Y to treat us on an exceptional
footing politically, and we should put
her in the same exceptional position
economically"
We may safely say that with the
--4-,J--- - III
ton OF tariff on Cuban products for
protection of the same articles Of
American production will not stand in
the way of the admission of Cuba.
This resolution of Senator Elkins.
following so closely upon the heels Of
the presidents message. forces one to
think that there was close connection
. between h wo: that the former was
in consequence of the latter: that the
president in the language above quot
ed was laying the foundation-open-
ing the way-for the admission of the
new republic. One could make the as
sertion without much fear of truthful
contradiction hat the Introduction of
the Elkins resolution was determined
upOAi CT NA% NAAAS VI IN
the presidents message. it comes as
such a natural sequence of the first
document
OF late the boast has repeatedly
been made by republicans in both
houses OF ngres hat where the
American flag was once raised it was
never lowered. When its lowering in
Cuba was referred to. they said it had
not been raised to stay. but under
solemn pledge of lowering as soon as
Cuba was prepared for s~elf-govern-
ment and that this pledge was being
carried out. The boast with the ex-
ception eliminated will come nearer
the truth than with it. 1t must be re-
membere that the American flag still
iioats on Cuban soil. The American
army vet maintains posts on the island
where the Stars n Stripes still
floats, and where it will continue to be
hoisted every morning. until some
day it VIII be flown to the breeze with
more han ordinary ceremony and
and with a salute of forty-siX guns in
honor OF the new star in its union