The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-16

they must at least be accorded the same
favor which was shown them by Spain
of a favorable market In the governing
country, or the suffering Cubans will
sigh, not unnaturally, for the days OF
such rulers as Martinez Campos. Guzman
Blanco and even General Weyler.
The refusal of justice to Cuba in the
interest of the beet sugar growers is
fatally short-sighted even from the stand
point of sincere protectionistS. The cause
of extreme protection has already been
undermined by a long series OF events
which have opened the eyes of the Amer
lean people to the fact that this policy,
IL 1t ever had value in promoting Amerl-
can industry, has had its day, and that
a more liberal policy must now be an
augurated. The indispoSition to disturb
existing conditions might leave the pro-
tectionist bulwarks standing for many
years If attention were not sharply dl-
rected by some special incident to their
weakness and their obstructive character.
1t needs, however, only some such
blind folly as that of the beet sugar
growers to bring the whole editice OF pro-
lection tumblng about their ears ana TO
give a stronger impetus to the doctrine
of free trade that 1t has ever received in
this country. The revelation to the Amer
lean people of the sodden selfshness and
unfeeling brutality of the protectlonlst
doctrine. when pushed to the extreme to
which 1t is now pushed by the beet SUI
gar interests, will go farther toward dig
ging the grave of protection with its own
tools than all the argument or expendit-
ure ever made by its opponents. Enlight-
ened and moderate protectionists ought to
have influence enough and ought to have
interest enough in saving what Is valua-
BILE of the protectionists system, to call
off the lobby which IS resisting fair treat
ment to Cuba. and insist that protection
should not cut it's own throat in a fit of
emotional insanity.
Political leaders are sometimes brutal
ly Indifferent to human suffering. They
are. however, extremely sensitive to in
fuences which affect their political fu
ture. The Republican managers In the
present Congress should not shut their
eyes so tightly to the feelings of the
American people on this subject AS to i'm
agine that they can with IMMUNITY yield
to the mandate of special interests. 1t
is highly desirable for many reasons that
the Republican party should be continued
in power If 1t proposes to carry out the
constructive legislation to which it is
pledged, for strengthening the monetary
standard. for the creation OF flexible
paper currency, and the formation of an
Intelligent colonial system. If 1t proposes
TO neglect or evade these duties, and to
show itself the plant tool OF interests
which seem to have controlled several re-
cent caucuses of the Republicans of the
House. the people will have little further
use for such a party. Even at the risk
of seeming to be Illogical, they will be
able to administer rebuke which will he
~
jority In the next House This there is
little doubt that they will do If the pres
ent discreditable spectacle of party divis-
ion and inelficieacv continues to be pre-
sented at Washington. There were those
fatuous enough in 1890 to refuse to see the
handwriting on the wall. which was to
mark the overwhelming defeat of the Re-
publican majority of the Fifty-first Con-
gress. If the sane blind leaders at the
present time still affect to believe that
the people are not preparing reckoning
FOR them. they are likely to have a rude
awakening next November "
1t would be just retribution II this punic
faith toward Cuba should, at the next
elections, cause a transfer Of political |
power in the House: 1t would be poetic |
Justice If. through this abuse of the prin-
riple of protection, the people should he |
brought to realize the iniquity of it's prac- |
teal operations in many matters other |
than the sugar schedule of the Dingley |
tariff bill as 1t affects Cuba. As a politi- |
cal proposition Democrats might WE'LL
wish that the voice of the President may |
tlnue Tor the people would he certain to |
rebuke them at the polls. But 1t Is the |
voice or humanity that calls to us again |
from the little island. as 1t called in 1898 |
and the cry of distress is above all other |
human considerations and the one that |
demands first answer
This discussion cannot be better closed |
FOR the present than by the quotation of |
:
conservative New York Evening Post of |
There is no installing the profound de-
lection which the pitiful indecision of the |
of the House Is causing In |
Cuba. The native newspapers speak in |
either anger or alarm. At last the game |
$ made clear saws The Republica Gu |
1ana: the United States means TO make |
Is an absolute dependency, like Hawaii |
and Porto Rico Cuba. declares FL |
Mundo, is hopelessly condemned to serv- |
tudc.' Spain could not have done worse |
than that, The Spanish Coptes never had |
1 more heartless way than the Ameri- |
IAN Congress appears to have of turning |
is hack upon Cuba. 1t lisa pretty figure |
hat the hahhy leadership of the Repub- |
leans is making us ont as a nation. They |
are prating about tho danger to their |
party. Tho are moving heaven and |
,srth IN hing about harmony N""u- |
While cub faliuS into despair. Rob |
oers are he-inn!ng to reappear in the !
province Of Santiago and 10 make prom |
srtv and life on the plantations unsafe. |
And all we have to pin our faith to Is |
.,sgs1..H