Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1902-09-17
CUBAN ANNEXATION.

neXatiOn 70 the United States hal
been regarded by the world al
large, and especially by the great
majority Of our own people, as TIE
inevitable fate Of Cuba.
AS the experiment Of self.gOv.
eminent in that island proceeds
the clearer does this prospect be.
come.
The new Cuban government is
involved In a complication Of diff.
6culties from which its escape
without the aid OF the United
States seems to be impossible.
But it is a foregone conclusion that
as soon as We rid Cuba Of one
trouble she will be into another.
The overwhelming consensus Of
opinion of those citizens Of the
United States who know Cuba
best is that her present popula-
ton is unfit for any form Of self
government.
1t is creditable to their intelli-
gence that this fact is becoming
more evident to them.
The recent resignation of Senior
Emilio Terry, secretary Of agri-
culture, in the cabinet Of Presi.
dent Palma, has proved the occa.
sion OF demonstrations which may
be taken as very significant.
Secretary Terry resigned be-.
cause his project of a $4,000, 900
loan for the benefit of the sugar
planters had encountered such
severe popular opposition. 1t ap-
pears that the main fight upon
this proposition was made by an
organization composed of veter-
ans of the various Cuban insur.
gent armies. They have "claims''
upon the Cuban government
which they insist shall not be
made to suffer by reason of boun-
ties set aside for sugar plantation
owners. These claims amount to
$50, 900, 900 and in order to secure
a priority of consideration for
them the Cuban veterans have or
ganized a fight upon the Terry
loan for the benefit of the rich SUI
gar planters.
The New York Times is con-
WINGED that the annexation of Gu
ba may be fastened very much in
the near future. 1t refers to the
fact that ga meeting of Cuban vet
Grams was held at Puerto Prince
two weeks ago, at which it was
said that 5000 old soldiers were
present. Senior Terry's loan was
denounced and steps were taken
to present to the Cuban congress
and President Palma the demand
of the veterans for the immediate
consideration of the question of
raising money to pay them. Gu
riously enough, if the Havana
Post is not misinformed, it was
also agreed to form a veterans or
ganizatiOn to march through the
streets with the American flag,
demanding immediate annexation
to the United States.
Substantially all the property
owners of Cuba, who are mostly
men of Spanish birth, favor and
earnestly desire annexation. The
old soldiers Of the Cuban army
belong mostly to the radical party.
If the Radicals and the COnserva-
tives-that is, the property own
ers-should unite in demanding
annexation, and if the pinch of
real distress should be felt
throughout the island in cOnse-
quence Of our refusal to reduce the
duty on Cuban sugar, events
might move very swiftly in Cuba.
The enlightened CUbans who have
desired national independence and
the Ofice-hOlding class who have
been made comfortable by govern
ment salaries might find them
selves in the minority"
It is quite natural that the in
telligence and property OF Cuba
should be arrsyed in favor of q
stable government, which is
equivalent to saying that they are
supporting the annexation move
meBt.
The republic Of Cuba cannot
last long. It will surely be ab.
sorbed before many years, posi-
bly, before many months, in the
great republic which seems to
have an ambition for unlimited
growth by one means or another.
One man in St. Louis has signed