The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-13
AN ENGLISH VIEW or CUBA.

studying COn0tlOn6 IN SuDa III tno lnpoioso
Of his paper. His view is marked by no
little doubt and apprehension regarding
the future Of the island. He is not novice
in Cuba He has made number OF pro-
longed visits to the island, both during
and since the war. and his opinions are
therefore entitled to consideration.
He declares that "the existing state OF
things cannot last" He states that
feeling of insecurity, OF expectancy, pre-
walls throughout the island" He notes
APATHY on the part Of the intelligent class,
intrigues among the numerous political
factions, and lack Of public spirit in the
municipalities. He asserts visible dis
position TO revert to the conditions OF earlier
days, which would @drag the country down
to the level Of the less advanced republics
of Central America"
The general correctness Of all this as a
statement Of facts may be admitted. But
even a statement OF facts is not necessarily
a correct picture of conditions. In greater
or less measure, all that is noted by the
Times correspondent does exist In Cuba
To perhaps all of it, and to other features
to which he does not refer, The sun has
called the attention OF its readers. But
it does not at all follow that anarchy or
dissolution ia imminent, or that there il
cause for serious apprehension. Yet there
exists a state Of things which, as the Times
correspondent says, cannot last, Crises
never do last, and Cuba is passing through
one Of those critical periods which are
common to all political bodies.
To the crux of the whole matter the
English writer refers only casually and in
directly. That lies, as 1t has at all times,
in the question Of Cuba's industrial and
commercial welfare. impoverished nations,
like impoverished individuals are victims
OF feeling Of insecurity, OF expectancy"
and the island people, taken as mass.
are very poor. 1t will be said, perhaps.
that this disputes the statement Of Cuba 8
treasury reserve and increased sugar crop;
that it disputes many assertions of Cnba's
progress and prosperity. 1t may be that
it does so, but its correctness is capable Of
full demonstration.
Cuba has done wonderfully we'll in her
brief experience in self-government. More
than she has done should not be expected
from her. Very much less was, only few
months ago, a common prediction. She
has more than fulfilled the hopes and the
expectations of her most sanguine friends,
But the considerable sum of two or three
millions of dollars in her national treasury,
accumulated through administrative econo-
mics, is no assurance Of prosperity among
her people The fact that her last sugar
crop was 100000 tons, equal TO 81 per cent.
Of her record crop Of 1894, is no evidence
Of prosperity The 1894 crop gave Cuba
about $50 100000 The value of the 1903
crop may be given as about $40 GOO 900,
which is over rather than under the actual
amount The cost of production on both
crops would be about equal. Business men
need not be told that the volume OF mer-
chandise handled is not a measure Of profits,
to the United States. The crop Of 1908
paid 1855 cents per pound.
For all the uncertainty. the discomfort,
and the unrest which exist in Cuba. and
for all that may follow as result Of them,
the United States Is primarily responsible
by reason Of its neglect Of and Indifference
to Cuba's most important interests and
greatest welfare This statement Ii made
advissdly. That the United States gave
only the scantest heed, wholly insignificant
in its effects. TO Cuba's industrial recon-
struction can be shown by the reports OF
the Cuban Secretary of Agriculture, by
the comments Of the daily press of the
time, and by the current conversation of
the Cuban people during 1900, 1901 and 1902
II that testimony be insufficient or incompe-
tent, it may be supplemented by the per-
sonal testimony of that mastery admins
traitor who was himself responsible for the
condition upon which he comments. In
an article written by Gen. Leonard Wood
for the Independent of Jan. IS, 1902, there
appears the following
We have occupied Cuba for :hree and = holt
years and have done much TO assist her people by
contributions OF food. troops to maintain order.
&C. and while We have made her .arH we
have done little 10 stimulate or aid directly her
two great Industries, assistance 10 which would
have tended Immediately to reestebllsh business
confidence In the Island.
All that with which the Times corre-
spondent Is SO impressed in Cuba is no
more than the legitimate and logical fruit
of policy pursued by an ambitious official
who, in the foregoing lines, confesses his
neglect TO give 10 Cuba that "assis ance
which would have tended Immediately TO
reestablsh business confidence in the
island" Without business confidence in
the community. without reasonable pros
perity among the people there can be no
guarantee OF stability in government, and
insecurity expectancy and unrest are
little short of inevitable 1t stands to the
lasting credit OF the Cuban people that they
have faced their fate with patience and
pluck, that they have spared nothing Of
individual effort to reestablsh their in
dustries and that they have. under BURDEN
some conditions. so conducted themselves
as to command the respect of the world.
That Cuba's Government will survive
its present time Of trouble il not doubted
by those who are best informed. Much
will depend upon her success in effecting
the proposed loan and the consequent pay
ment Of the army. The distribution Of tho
proposed sum would relieve the existing
financial distress and turn the public mind
from politics to industrial production
The establishment Of reciprocal relations
with the United States would be of some
advantage, financially to the planters and
tho people. More liberal terms would
have been Of greater advantage and would
have shown broader and far wiser policy
on the part of the United States The
settlement of the question will be notably
beneficial through its removal OF "A cause
~ n 1it ation and irrit atinu