The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-10-03
Wednesday, Oct. 3, 1906.
UncIe Sam in Cuba.

Uncle Sam In CUBA.
Secretsry Taft has announced himself Gov
ernor of Cuba pending the trouble that armee
organizations are giving in resisting the reg
n,arlv constituted authority OF the Islands
The United States Is sending troops and ships
to Cuba.
There Is OF course always differences OF
opinion as to the motive, the justice, or tne
nead of any great act on the part OF ma
ton.
We have seen editorial expressions from
very few newspapers, and In these papers
there ia diversity Of opinion. Some OF tne
expressions are condemnitory OF tine govern
ment, charging 1t with land grabbing, ana
blaming the money interests OF foreigners.
Notably among this class Is our respected
peighbor, the Anderson Mail.
The Press and Banner believes that the
.monied interests" should receive the care OF
the Government, and should be fully pro-
tected, The people who represent the monied
interests, it would seem TO US, are as good as
anybody else.
II yagrancy is outlawed, and II the thrill
and industry of the country 10 mol 10 Dc
eountenanced, where does the citizen stand.
anyhow?
For our own part, we think property should
!. be protected, and those who own IT deserve
consideration. The owning Of property Is
not q crime.
The rights OF Cubans should be respected
even an the rights of South Carolinians are
respeoted and protected. White people elect
their own officers and we see no good reason
why the Cubans should not do the same. we
hn ".
wa see no good reason why Cubans should
not In the same way, or otherwise, overcome
their negro majority. While men IN Cuoa
ahould have the same rights that they nave
In South Carolina.
.a Ifwhite men In Cuba-the desplsed proper
ty owners, II you will-should desire anne1a-
tion. and II they should wish representation
IN Congress, we do not see why "the gentlemen
from Cuba'' should not take q seat In the Sem
ate or In the House. South Carolina senos
representative property owners to Washlns
ton without consulting impecunious negroes,
and we do not see why the Cubans shouio
Il. consult the non property holders on
the Island, II negroes are IN arms agalnsl
+ the aproperty interests" Of the Island shonlo
they receive more consideration than South
Carolina gives to vagrants or to disturbers Of
the peace7
Z II. therefore, the better class OF Cubans de-
sire to be free, even as the South Carolinlans
ara free, why not let them become one OF u.s.
and then let them enjoy all the freedom tna'
this government gives to us?
All this talk against property interests
seems to US to be mere tommy rot OF tne
Bryan variety to create prejudice IN tne
minds OF the idle, the thriftiess and the un-
fortunate against those neighbors VINO
are more active. more sagacious and more
successful in business.
2 In politics votes may thus be gained ou'
snch q course is unjust to the better element
: The country is not benefited by pandering
to the prejudices that keep alive the connic'
between poverty and competence.
II the property owners OF the Island wan
to be received into this great family ofStates'
why let It come, no matter what the Vagrants.
and the disturbers Of the peace may thlnk.
We would not use force to annex CUBA, oul
II the good people want to come, why le'
them come. We are not particular what the
turbulent class want, and we are not parsicu-
lar as to their numbers. They ought TO be
made to behave. 1t ia the wishes OF the
.money interest" and the welfare ofthe gooo
citizens that we regard.
The vagrant or outlaw class might feel glao
to be allowed to sit down and escape punish
ment