44 humboldt's cuba. 



Spain, that a Spaniard generally respects only those 

 whose power he fears ; and being released from all 

 fear of that of the United States, the conduct of the 

 subordinate Spanish officials towards our citizens and 

 representatives, is uniformly one of disrespect, cov- 

 ered with a thin mask of great politeness. Thus has 

 arisen the long list of insults to consuls, and outrages 

 upon private citizens, presented by the history of our 

 relations with Cuba ; and which, through each suc- 

 ceeding neglect, has so increased, that no adminis- 

 tration has yet been found with sufficient nerve to 

 open the whole subject. 



III. The industrial relations of Cuba are exhibited 

 in detail in the pages of the following work, and a 

 few general remarks are all that are required here. 

 The nature of her soil, climate, and labor, peculiarly 

 adapt her to the production of sugar, coffee, and 

 tobacco, and to the cultivation of these three staples 

 her industry has been mainly directed. Under these 

 circumstances, an untrammelled commerce with 

 other countries is as necessary to her social existence, 

 as it is for the advance of her public wealth. The 

 meats and grains for the subsistence, as well as the 

 fabrics for the use of the inhabitants, must be ob- 

 tained from other countries through the medium of 

 commercial exchanges. . In conducting these, the 

 care and intelligence of individuals directly inter- 



