The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-22
By r. NJ. Larner.


Washington, March Ex-senator
Newland's transfer from the House of
representatives to the Senate has not
changed his views in favor of the an
nexation of Cuba. He was one of the
new senators, who not only voted
against the ratification of the Cuban
treaty last Thursday, but ventured into
the debate, selecting this subject for
his maiden effort as a member of the
minority. He has made frequent visits
to Cuba, and as q practical and sue
cessful business man, he has given
careful consideration to the question.
In urging annexation at this time he
is little in advance of many of his
senatorial associates. on both sides of
the chamber; who privately declare
that annexation is inevitable.
There are other senators who ven
ture the prediction that the annexa-
ton of Cuba will be accomplished
within the next eight or ten years, if
not sooner. Others declare that in the
due course Of time-it may require a
half century or more to work out the
programme of the Republican party
South America, including Mexico, will
come under the control and domina-
ton of the United States. They base
their opinions on the proposed building
of the Isthmian canal and the hun
dreds of millions of dollars of Amer
lean money yearly being invested in
South American enterprises. This may
be looking a long way into the future,
hut IF he oh
gress entertain these views, which
they express to their friends on the
quiet.
I'VE should give Cuba, clearly and
unequivocally, to understand that if
she wished commercial union with this
country and conditions of commerce
not enjoyed by other independent ma
tons, she must seek political union
with us in the form of annexation as
a part of the Republic"
This is the concluding sentence of
an exceedingly interesting statement
in which Senator Newlands of Nevada
sets forth his reasons for opposing rec
iprocity legislation for Cuba unless it
is accompanied by a formal invitation
to membership in the American Union.
The speech of Senator Newlands in
support of the amendment he proposed
to the reciprocity treaty is regarded
by his fellow senators, Democrats and
Republicans alike, as one of the ablest
and most interesting discussions of the
issues involved in Cuban reciprocity
that has been heard in either house
since the Cuban question first began
to demand the attention of Congress,
not only because of the strong stand
he took for Cuban annexation, but also
because of his strong presentation of
the objections-as he sees them-to the
whole idea of reciprocity. treaties. In
deed, with many senators his clear
analysis of the results to follow the
adoption of a system of tariff changes
through so-called reciprocity treaties
is regarded as one of the most valu-
able of recent contributions to the dis
cussion of tariff-making and tariff
changing-a question which is sure to
play a most prominent part in the
legislation of the new Congress and in
the political contests of the near flu
ture.
The speech of Senator Newlands was
delivered at an executive session of
the Senate. and, therefore, will not
be published. In view of the talk it
has created, 1 have asked Senator
Newlands for a brief statement of his
views, which he has given me.
With regard to annexation, the pur-
pose he seeks is set forth in the fol-
lowing amendment he proposed to the
Cuban treaty:
THE Republic of the United States,
recognizing the intimate relationship
between the republic of Cuba and it
self, and being DESTROYS of still fur
Their promoting freedom of trade and
commercial union, of strengthening the
bonds of amity and friendship between
the people of the two countries, cor
daily invites the republic of Cuba to
become a state of the Union under the
constitution and laws of the United
States"
That amendment will doubtless be
proposed when the Cuban bill or joint
resolution, approving the treaty, gets
before the Senate at it's next session
whether that be the regular session in
December or an extra session to be
called earlier.
Senator Newlands contends. In sup
port of this proposition, that annexa-
ton involves the best commercial UNI
ion. Commercial union with Cuba is
desirable" says he, "but the best kind
of commercial union can be secured
through political union. Political I'M
ion means absolute free trade between
this country and Cuba. 1t means the
proud position of a sovereign state in
the American Union, a position much
higher than that of a weak republic
tied by the string of dependence to
great republic. IeNdS was an lnue-
pendent republic; is there any doubt
that her position was improved by be-
coming a state in the American I'm
ion?"
Speaking from the standpoint of the
United States, Senator Newlands said:
Whatever may be thought of i'm
rerial expansion, there has never been
much serious contention over the ex-
pansion of the republic, embracing,
according to it's traditions, the acqui-
sition of contiguous continental terri
tory and adjacent islands essential to
our coast defense. There never has
been day since the time of Jefferson
when the annexation of Cuba as a part
of the United States has not been re-
garded as desirable by the American
PEOPLE.
"Cuba's soil is unsurpassed in rich
ness; 1t is unequalled in any part of
the United States. Our people can live
there without degeneration. The is
land is capable of supporting twelve
or fifteen million people. Her people
are less undesirable now than they will
be after ten of fifteen years of indie
pendence. Cuba as State in the Union
will be unsurpassed in wealth and pros
perity. The island win be the SANTA
rum of the entire country. The cli-
mate of Cuba is milder in winter and
cooler in summer than that of the
United States generally"
In arguing with his Democratic col
leagues, Senator Newlands contends
that Democrats should advocate ex-
tending cordial invitation to Cuba, as
IA "a