The Topeka state journal., 1903-05-07
THE ISLAND OF CUBA.
The Value and the Sustaining Powers
of the Queen of the Antilles

of the Queen of the Antilles
To the Editor of the State Journal:
was glad to see. by your article a
few weeks ago. that you felt sufficient
interest in the queen of the Antilles to
make her visit, and that your conclu-
sions about her were so sound. I am
an annexionist-limited. I do not care
to see our flag planted permanently,
further north than the north pole, nor
further south than the south pole But
within those narrow limits [ should like
TO see II wave over any American ter
rltory whose people are willing to live
under it. The entire American hemis-
phere needs Us. but, While the reverse is
not true, we do very greatly need some
additional sections OF it, and prominent
among these is Cuba.
The strategic Importance of this
island can hardly be over estimated. Be
sides being a paddock on the gulf of
Mexico. it commands the windward
passage into the Caribbean sea, and, as
Porto Rico guards the "IeeWard pass
age" its annexion would require every
European vessel entering that sea to
pass within sight of our shores, or go a
long distance out of It's way. The an
neXi0n of Cuba would also surely be
followed by that Of San Domingo, which
though smaller. is for some reasons,
even more desirable and, although the
population of these two countries is now
less than $500. 600, they can and some
day wtl easily support ten times that
number. In other words the American
ization of Cuba means that some day
more than 10000 600 loyal Americans will
live on the northern line of the Car
ibbean sea-Which would be of meal
Culable advantage to US in case of a
war with any European power or pow
ers, and the simple recognition of this
fact would greatly reduce the probabili-
ty Of war In short, the acquisition OF
Cuba would make for peace more than
the expenditure Of hundreds Of millions
on forts, armies and fleets.
But the economic reasons for the an
ucNIOn of Cuba are even more import
amt No equal body of land anywhere
possesses so many of the advantages of
a tropical situation with so few of its
disadvantages Lying just south of the
Jropie of Cancer, surrounded by water,
and having a general elevation of
thousand OF more feet above sea level,
its climate is less sultry and more
healthful than is usual in that latitude.
Ut has comparatively little waste land;
its soil is generally rich and we'll drain
ed; it grows a great variety of products,
some of which are of exceptional excel
ience; and. as less than 3 per cent of its
soil is now under cultivation, the most
of its population viii some day be immi-
grants from the United States, and their
descendants.
Every agricultural product reaches its
greatest perfection, or can be grown
with the least labor. in some certain
narroW-and it is because the exchange
of such commodities is profitable to
both sides that the natural lines of
trade are north and south Cuba an
neNed and inhabited by ten or fifteen
millions of prosperous Americans, would
furnish a larger and surer market for
our products than amy nation OF Eur
ope. Nearly every Industry would pro-
fit by 1.-THE only exceptions being
those that have to contend against nat
ural laws. such as the raising of or
anges where the trees are frequently
killed by the cold. Moreover while we
would sell to them hundreds of millions
of dollars worth Of agricultural prod
ucts manufactures. etc. we would buy
from them Instead of from foreign
countries an equal amount-and the ex-
change would be made in American Ves-
sels
Cuba is also natural winter resort
for the residents of a large part Of
North America Its different sections
present every kind OF attraction and ad-
vantage for those that seek health hap
piness or longer life in a warmer eli
mate. Even California cannot equal it
IN this respect-hut space will not per
init one to dwell on this subject here
Whlle columns would be required TO
even briefly mention the many benefits
that would accrue to us from the alb
sorption OF Cuba. the objectOrs belong
mainly to three classes-which have al
ways opposed every proposition for ex-
pansion I'm any direction
The first consists of little Ameri-
cans who instinctivelN distrust or des-
pise everybody out of sight of their own
door sills. and those in whom sectional
feeling is so strong that they insist on
securing for their own state or section
the lions share of the benefits exnected
To result from everything done ostensi-
bly, for the benefit of all
The second comprises those that are
alarmed about the race question On
this subject it is sufficient here to sav
that comparatively few Cubans viii
ever come north to live: that. although
naturally indolent the Cubans are do
cile, quick-willed and teachable; that,
having been freed from Spanish mis-
rule they viii certainly improve, and
that in the near future the island is
certain to- be what our people make it.
IL IS for us to make or mar its fu-
ture.
But the fighting force of the opposi-
ton is the beet sugar wing of the sugar
combination, and some other producers
VINO, fearing Cuban competition. wrap
Iffe flag Of protection to American in
dustries' around their pet product and
subordinate everything else to it. I have
4lWays been a radical protectionist. but
insist that that principle does not re-
4uNe the shutting cut of those indus
liouS and honest Europes-.s that desire
90 become Americans. and to helm de-
Nelop inns counry's resources and in
crease IT'S educating, humanizing and
upAiths power. nor Will ii Justify our
refusing 10 transform Into Americans
those adjacent peoples that are prompt
ed py the same impulses and psopose
70 bring their country with them-as
the Texans did. If cane sugar can be
produced in tropical America with less