The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-10-05
Can nothing serious and permanent be
done about Cuba asks Edward Everett


portion Of the globe. !"
The island is within 100 miles Of our
territory, and all the sea-going commerce
of the Mississippi Valley passes through
the channel between us.
Now, why should the fact that this,
great island is so near to us cause con-
slant annoyance? The difficulty comes
wholly from an old middle-age notion as
to the possession" Of countries by one
state or another, and it would be wholly
solved by little modern common sense.
Spain regards Cuba as the choicest
jewel Of the crown" Very we'll. That is
all right. But Spain does not object when
Cuba sends nine-tenths Of her sugar to us
and receives all her flour from us. Spain
understands that such is the modern way
by which provinces grow rich. Spain no
longer wishes to feed Cuba with Castilian
-four, or to receive all Cuba's sugar.
That. was medieval. 1t has gone out of
fashion.
Other things have gone out of fashion.
Garrisons and armies in peaceful lands
have gone out of fashion. Threats OF war
have gone out of fashion among friends.
Thus the United States is in close rela-
lions with Hawaii. Our people live there.
Our people govern Hawaii. We do not
mean to have anybody else govern Ha-.
wall. But we do not keep garrison in
Hawai-; nor do we pay a governor $780,:
600 for living there.
Why, in a case like this, should Spain
keep 10000 soldiers in Cuba and pay a
governor $4,000 for taking care of them?
Simply because Scuba is the brightest
jewel in the crown Of SPAIN" Here
would be a better way: .
Let Cuba remain the brightest jewel in
the crown Of Spain. Let the United
States and Spain land nobody else) agree
to this. Then let home rule be estab-
lished in Cuba, substantially as home rule
exists in Hawaii now under the protec-
torate of the United States, the nearest
neighbor of Cuba.
To make this arrangement satisfactory
to Spain, which has incurred great ex-
pense on the score Of Cuba, let us lend the
Spanish government 5000, 000, 900, without
interest, not to be repaid tillshone rule I'M
Cuba ceases. Cuba would be pledge for
It's repayment.
This is precisely the proposal which we
made to Spain in 1925. but that at that,
time we offered only a loan Of 100000,
900.
Two hundred million dollars would en-
able Spain to pay OF nearly 100000, 700.
Of her debt, which is now a heavy burden
to her and sells at a little over 70 per cent
In the English market.
We should organize home rule govern
ment In Cuba. Perhaps, for while, the
President might name the Governor, as
he would for an American territory
Alaska or Utah. But there would be no
large garrison, or army. Perhaps regi-
ment or two of our army, which the sur.
geons liked to place in q healthy winter
climate, might be stationed there. IN n
All custom house nuisances between the
island and continent would be abolished.
Every American breakfast table would
have its sugar, and all cigar people their
now. ,s4ess
4. An end to .'cruisers," and three miles
limit" and t'Virginius cases" and "insur-
rections.'' tz...t. Il
And Cuba-would be Cuba. Not a
dependency of the United States, and
still, If you please, sthe brightest Jewel
in the crown of Spain" as the United
States is the Oldest daughter OF Eng
land. . s.
N 1t is worth while to read what Edward
Everett said of some such plan when he
was Fillmore's secretary Of state in 1852
The reader must understand that Louis