The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-05-19
INDUSTRIAL CONDITION.

INDUSTRIAL CONDITION.
Another point is to be noticed. The
present Industrial situation in the ISL
and requires some explanation. gen
eral misunderstanding has followed a
general lack of adequate information
concerning Cuba's industrial and COM
mercial condition. A year ago it was
asserted that the island was confronted
with the menace of widespread indus
trial disaster. The President of the
United States had urged, and continued
to urge, the vital need of American
tariff concessions to the products of
the island. The Secretary of War in
his report had stopped little short of =
prediction of anarchy in Cuba unless
something were done for the RELIEF OF
the islands industries. The Military
Governor declared that a continuance
of the existing tariff meant the utter
ruin of the great industries on which
the people of the island depend. The
press OF the United States, with few
and Insignificant exceptions, echoed
these expressions. But the American
Congress was obdurate and nothing was
done. None of these predictions OF
disaster was fulfilled. and Cuba actual
lY STANDS, at InlS immaculate III
better place than she did a year ago.
In view of these assertions and pre-
dictions the situation presents no small i
measure of perplexity for the superb
cial observer. Yet it is entirely plain to
the few who have made close and care
full study of the Cuban people and Gu
ban affairs. A clear understanding of
the causes of this unexpected outcome
is imperative for any intelligent COM /
prehension of the Cuban situation and /
of those relations TO it which the Uni
ted States must inevitably sustain.
THE CUBAN CHARACTER
The factors which have influenced
this situation, and which have brough. !
about the present condition, are of two I
kinds. One of these may be called !
moral, while the other is distinctly |
material. Beneath all the froth and |
fume which appear on the surface of !
Cuban life, and the volatile excitabilia |
ty which too many hold to be the DOM
inant Cuban characteristic, there runs !
a strong undercurrent of patient en- |
durance and a persistent tenacity of |
purpose and aspiration. The long years I
of Cuban submission TO Spanish exac- /
ton have been counted as evidence of 4
weakness and unworthiness of charac- !
ter. They were rather time of passive |
resistance and protest. marked with pc I
RODS of open revolt. Resistance and 1
protest assumed the form OF open and I
prolonged rebellion in the Ten Years
War 1S6S-7S), when there was hardly 1
less of ground for American interven-
ton than there was when that inter-
vention came, twenty years later. Revo-
luton came again in 1895, and had
lasted for more than three years be-
fore the American Congress passed the !
joint resolution of April. 1898. For i
nearly hundred years Cuba has
chung tenaciausly to her ambition for /
a broader and fuller life. At times she /
has struggled. At all times she has /
endured, maintaining her purpose
Cuba has seen periods of abundant /
but industrial distress is no /
stranger in her experience. These times /
Of distress have even called out another /
strongly marked trait in Cuban charac- |
ter. That is their charity and mutual /.
In days of need. those who !
have helm those who have not. They /
lend and they give. They stand to-
gether and battle through days of stress
as body rather than as individual |
units in suffering and struggling |
mass. Along with this there is a hope !
fitness of spirit. The deprecated and /
ridiculed doctrine of "manana" is not /
without its redeeming feature It may |
involve and does involve. procrastina- |