The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-05-20

ia similarly vague political position.
President Estrada Palma has amply
justified his election to the leadership OF
his people. Some friction has been in
evitable between the two houses OF Leg
isIation, and between the legislatures
and the executive. But it is not for the
American people to criticise the CubAns
for that.
Industrially, the island is showing a
slow but steady Improvement SO far az
the great mass Of the people are con-
cerned. Their patient industry is bear
ing fruit in increased domestic COM
forts, although the life of the majority
of Cuba's peasantry. even as it is today.
would be regarded by Americans as
barely removed from pitiable and abb.
Ject poverty. Small farmers compose O.
notable percentage of the population OF
the island. The census of 1899 shows
upward of 50.0 900 of these farmers whose
holdings, either owned or rented, are
under fifteen acres in extent. It is the
large planters who have been and who
are now most heavily hit by the indus
trial conditions. These are compare
lively few in number, but the fact that
each of them is a possible employer or
anywhere from 500 to $500 hands, for
their field operations, makes their reas-
liable Importance TO the welfare of the
island, and makes their misfortune q
danger to all. Many, probably most OF
these, at the time of the American oc-
cupation, were little better than bank
rupt They have borrowed money upon
such terms as they could for a reestab-
Iishment of their devastated fields ana
their damaged or destroyed machinery,
and have held on in the hope of condi-
lions which would operate for their SAL
walton. The hoped for relief has not
yet come, and the outlook for these
pIanters and their many thousands of
dependents is not notably encouraging
The future Of the island and its Gov
eminent may not be predicted with
safety beyond the fact that any armed
revolution, any warlike insurrection, is
quite as improbable in Cuba as 1t is
in any State in the American Union
Political peace and governmental
stability depend there, as they do In ali
countries. primarily upon reasonable
Industrial prosperity. Poverty means
discomfort and political unrest in Cuba.
as it does in England. France, and the
United States A hungry people viii be
dissatisfied with government which
is, as a system of government ideal
A highly prosperous or a reasonably
prosperous people VIII 10 ~
prevail of it's existing administration,
just as do the people OF the United
States.
1t would be supreme folly for any
annexation element in this country to
seek to advance it's aims by forcing the
Cubans into a poverty from which
there appeared no relief except through
political union with the United States
Cubans may be led but they cannot be
driven A suspicion, which is easily
aroused, that an effort was being made
to coerce them would call out per
sistent stubbOrnness little short Of u
possible to overcome. A generous and
liberal attitude toward them is the only
course Of wisdom for this country
Poor people make poor neighbors."
They also make poor customers. Cuba's
prosperity depends on the people OF the
United States. According to the meas
ure of our commercial liberality VIII
stand the measure OF her prosperity
According TO the measure Of her pros
perity viii stand the measure of return
for benefits conferred upon her.