The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-04-16

Of lsthmus In the future occupy a {;
W larger place in our natiOnal policy lha
in the past. This Is proved by til
Al negotiations for the purchase of th
20 Danish islands, the ~ qusition of Port
II II Rico, the preparation for building a
q isthmian canal and finally by tn
a changed relations which these year
:. have produced between us and Cubs
AS nation we have an especial righ
to take honest pride in what we hav
h done for Cuba. Our critics abroad an
a at home have insisted that we never in
h tended to leave the island. But Of
the goth of next month Cuba become
= a free republic, and we turn over t.
a the islanders the control of their OWL
government. 1t would be very Difficult
to find n parallel in the conduct of an,
l great Stlte that has occupied such
D position as ours. We have kept ou
word and done our duty just as al
honest individual in private life keeps
his word and does his duty.
BE it remembered, however, tha
after over three years. occupation OF
the island, we turn it over to the Gu
bans in a better condition than it ever
} has been in the centuries of Spanish
rule. This has a direct bearing upon
our own welfare. Cuba is 80 near to
us that we can never be Indifferent to
misgovernment and disaster within its
limits. The mere fact that our adj
miulstration in the islands has mini
mized the danger from the dreadful
scrouge of yellow fever alike to Cuba
and TO ourselves, is sufficient to empha-
size the community of interest between
us. But there are other interests which
bind us together. Cuba's position
makes it necessary that her political
relations with us should differ from her
political relations with other powers.
This fact has been formulated by us
and accepted by the Cubans in the
Platt amendments. 1t follows as corol-
larry that where the Cubane have thus
assumed a position of relationship to
stand in peculiar relationship to our
economic system.
"We have rightfully insisted upon
Cuba adopting toward US an attitude
differing politically from that she adopts
our political system they must similarly
toward any 9th er power; and in return,
as matter of right, we must give TO
Cuba a different-that Is a better
position economically in he1 relations
with us than we give to other powers.
This is the course dictated by sound
policy, by wise and far.sighted view
of our own interest and by the position
we have taken during the past four
years. We are wealthy and power
full country, dealing with much weak
er one; and the contrast in wealth and
strength makes it all the more our
duty to deal with Cuba as we have al
ready dealt with her, IN spirit of large
generosity.
"This Exposition is rendered posi-
BILE because of the period of industrial
prosperity through which which we are
passing. While material well-being is
never all-suflicient to The life of ma
ton, yet it is the merest truism to say
that this absence means ruin. We
need to build higher life upon it as a
foundation; but we can huid little
indeed unless this foundation of prog
perity is deep and broad. The we'll.
being which we are now enjoying can
be secured only through general busi-
ness prosperity and such prosperity is
conditioned upon.the energy and hard
work, the sanity and the mutual re-
spect of all classes of capitalists, large
and small, of wage-workers of every
degree. AS is inevitable in time of
business prosperity, some men succeed
more than others and it is unfortunate
| ly also inevitable that when this is the
case some unwise people are sure to
try to appeal to the envy and jealousy
of those who succeed least 1t is a
good thing when these appeals are
made to remember that while it Is diff
cult to increase prosperity by law it is
easy enough to ruin it and that there
is small satisfaction to the less pros
porous If they succeed in overthrow
ing both the more prosperous and
themselves in the crash of a common
[ disaster.
"Every industrial Exposition.of this
type necessarily calls up the thought
of the complex social and economic
questions which are involved in our
present industrial system. Our as
founding material prosperity, the sweep
and rush rather than the mere march
OF our progressive material develop.
ment have brought grave troubles in
their train. We cannot afford to blink
at these troubles any more than because
of them we can afford to accept as true
the gloomy forebodings of the prophets
of evil. There are great problems be-
fore lis. They are not insoluble, but
they can be solved only if we approach
them in spirit of resolute fearless
ness, of common sense and of honest
intention to do fair and equal justice
to all men alike. We are certain to
fail if we adopt the policy of the demo-
gogue who raves against the wealth
which is simply the form of embodied
thrift, foresight and intelligence; who
would shut the door of opportunity
against those whose energy we should
especially foster by penalizing the
qualities which tell for success. Just
} as little can we afford to follow those
who fear to recognize injustice and tc
endeavor to cut it out because the task
is difficult or even-if performed by
unskilied hands-dangerous.
"This is an area of great combina
r tions both of labor and of capital. Ii
many ways these combinations have
? worked for good; but they must worl
r under the law end the laws concerning
8 them must be just and wise or they
Q will inevitably do evil; and this applies
d as much to the richest corporation a
r to the most powerful labor union. Gu
q lava muat bn wise sane N alIbv con