The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-06-30

The Cuban reciprocity question was
not helped much by the Presidents
message to Congress- Indeed such
message was far more likely to anita
gonize the Senate than to make it sub
servient. The Senate is very jealous
about its prerogatves and resents any
effort to coerce its action. President
Roosevelt did not air at coercing the
Senate, but he aimed at making a GER
tain portion of the Senate change its
mind. 1t has not changed its mind,
but has become the more fixed in it's
former views! The beet sugar inter-
ests are arrayed most strongly against
the measure, !and practically control
the situations:
Cuba has at large cost to the United
States been make an Independent Re
public. 1t has elected its own Presi-
dent, who is a Strong sympathizer with
the United States. There is strong
annexation party, and there is prob
ably very much stronger cuba libre
party. The United States has admin
islered the Government of the Island
since the end of the war. American
affairs have taken the finances in
charge and havS ieft treasury with
$4,000 in cash in its vaults and an as
sured annual income of $17,oOO,OOO
Great improvements have been made,
the cities have been cleaned, disease
has been curbed in it's ravages, the
plantations can go ahead with their
work, and a considerable crop has been
harvested and ground.
1t would certainly be better if Cuba
were allowed to show what her capa-
bilities might be in the direction of
self government and self management
Of her financial affairs, before the cry
for help came as it has done. That
Cuba win be ruined if reciprocity is
not granted, Is Fall nonsense. Cuba is
in better position as far as her agri-
culture and her finances are concerned
than ever before. What she may fail
in is the wonderful expansion that the
United States spectators calculated
upon.
The argument used in the Senate is
just one, The Cuban agriculturalists
will not obtain the advantage of the
S6,OoOOOO which reciprocity would give
Island, the Spectators will get it. This
has been clearly demonstrated by the
fact that oyer two thirds of the sugar
crop has been stored up on the Island,
waiting for the action Of the Senate.
The crop has been raised under one set
OF conditions, and would be sold under
an entirely different set
That such action would be subver-
sive Of the beet interests and Of Louisi-
ana has been, shown, but it would be
subversive of our own interests. We
are bound by the United States labor
laws. Our customs. receipts and our
post office receipts go into the Federal
treasury. Cuba will not be bound by
United States labor laws, it has
large field close at hand, besides hay
ing a large IabQring population on the
Island itself Every cent of its income
goes into its own treasury. We. an
integral portion Of the United States,
would certainly be Disseminated
against. This is rot the policy of the
protecuonists. We have been outside
the fence ourselves, and now that We
are within it, we 40 not, want any holes
to be left unguarded or any bars to be
taken down. 3d."
The Indications when the last mail
left the coast, We're that nothing would |
be done this session. 1t all depends
upon whether the President will send
a reciprogity opeRtyrwit Cuba to the
Senate. This win mo doubt cause a /
lengthy discussion, Now the question
is, will the President send such a
treaty? Upon .that"hinges a great deal
more than the Cuban proposition in all |
likelihood.