Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-06
THE FUTURE OF CUBA
It Nav Become an Issue Of Amer
lean Politics.
ANNEXATION OR 4 PROTECTORATE
What May Result From the Cuban
Struggle for Freedom.
SPAIN'S GRE lat T AS K

A recent speech of Senator Frye. and the
interview with Senator Call printed in The
Star of yesterday, on the subject of Cuba,
show that the friends of the island in this
country are divided on the question of what
the future Of the island should be- Mr..
Frye is so strongly in favor Of annexation
that he would, if necessary, bring 1t about
by force The United States needs Cuba, and
Cuba needs the United States. Ergo, the
union must take place. Mr.. Call speaks Tor
sort of independence for the fsland-lnde-
pendence that is, of Spain, but with lean
ing so strong for the United States as to
warrant the establishment of protector
ate. Cuba should be left to direct her own
Internal affairs, but should be privileged to
run to cover under the American wing
whenever foreign hawks come sailing
around.
The Question Interesting.
The question is getting to be very inter-
esting in political circles Mr.. Call stands
in the relation of neighbor to Cuba He
lives next door, and the communication be-
tween his people and the people on the
island is intimate. The Spanish authorities
think it is entirely too intimate, and es-
pecially at the present time. Mr.. Frye lives
at a great distance from the island, and
But it is true that taking general express
sion as guide. Mr.. Fryes views, minus the
force suggested, more popular than Mr..
Calls
There is a feeling that protectorate in
wolves too much The institution is regard
ed as somewhat un-American. Many poll
tcans think this government ought not TO
so in for that kind of thing. They justify
the Samoan arrangement on the ground OF
the exceptional character of the case, and
o,ia.t hi.sh
prompt arrangement OF some kind was
made imperative But in the case of Cuba
they think the establishment of a protector
ate would not only be unnecessary. but most
unwise. Cuba, they hold, could never hope
to set up successfully in business for her
self. If the island is to be developed 1t
must be by the race and the agencies that
control in this country, and these will de-
mand 4 condition precedent to the be
ginning of activity there a union with this
country. They viii want their investment
guaranteed by the presence of the old flag.
and their own feelings comforted toy the
soothing influences of an occasional APP
preparation. How shall the harbors be
properly improved? How shall the streams
be dredged, and post routes improved ami
extended? After the American plan, and
with the local revenues? Then, why not by
the American government, which is now SO
liberal on those scores, and which contrives
to get a good deal for its money?
Another point made is that the richer
Cuba becomes under such conditions the
more tempting she would be to foreign
powers A constant danger would set up
England would then be certain to want
her. France might put in an oar. Ger
many, even, under the influence of rising
colonial policy, might fancy she saw use
for so fair a spot IN the sea Then. if the
United States stood sponsor for the little
government she would be kept anxious
and busy warning the powers off. A daily
announcement of the Monroe doctrine
might become necessary. But by making
Cuba part of this country, either as
state or territory, such danger and uneasi-
ness could never arise. The island would
then be as safe from foreign moestation
as Louisiana or Maine, and its development
could be entered upon with energy and en-
thuSiaSm.
Spain Has Not Let Go.
Meanwhile is pointed out. Spain has
not let go. Nor does she appear to want
the world to believe that she intends to let
go. 1t is observed however, that she is a
little more frank now about confessing to
the real size of the struggle she has on her
hands than she disposed to be at first
She admits now that the Cuban revolt is
more than a passing furry. She dignifes
it by sending out fresh troops from the
home barracks, by changing her leading Of
ficials on the island and by the formal
nourcement that she will put the insur-
rection down if 1T takes a hundred thous-
and men and new loan to accomplish it.
But the Cubans are correspondnGly active
and aggressive. 1t remains to be seen how
well led they may be in the military line,
but some of their affairs are in clever
hands.
Much comment is heard of the fright that
has been given to the Spanish commanders
and soldiers the subject of yellow fever.
That is regarded as a mastery stroke, and
the effect in a small way is already OBJ
served. In one of the assignments made
the other day to post considered none too
healthy a newly arrived Spanish com
mander is represented as insisting that ac-
climated troops must be sent, rather than
the leves he had first brought over. He
seems to have heard of the dangers to be
apprehended from an epidemic of fever.
troops to any degree their effectiveness
would seriously suffer. 1t is represented by
timid men as being far more trying on the
spirits than battle. The rattle of real war
has something inspiring in it. Men can be
thrown against solid column of other
men, or against earthworks, or stone
wall, frowning with big guns, but to march
them into a camp pitched in the hauntS of
fever and let them realize that an unseen
and intangible enemy is at hand, ready to
strike is to sow the seeds of panic among
them
The gamest of them give way, and COM
plete decentralization sets in. The Cuban
belief is, therefore, that If yellow fever
Spanish levies the whole force on the island
will be rendered next tC worthless for war,
and not 200,0 600 men could put the acclimat-
ed Insurgents down.
The arrival of the new Spanish minister
here is awaited with interest. The fact
that he is expected to stop at Havana en-
route encourages the idea that his first
communcat ations to Secretary Gresham will
be important.