The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-05-07
Shall We Take Possession of Cuba

1t is as step toward this ''result''
war between the United States and Spain
that recognition of belligerency, not as
measure of neutrality based on facts.
but as promise of support inspired by
sympathy, is sought by the agents of the
insurgents. 1t is for this reason that 7
confess to a certain liking for the speech
of Senator Mills, in which he proposes
that, IT the government of Spain should
refuse to grant to the people of Cuba.
upon the request of the United States.
The power of local government. the
United States shall take possession of the
island land hold it until its inhabitants
can institute such government as they
may wish, and organize and arm such
forces as may be necessary to support it,
This proposition presents the logical issue
OF intervention or non-intervention. but.
in considering it, we should assume that
the United States, if it once took posses
sion of the island, never would release it
unless compelled to do So Apart from
motives of cupidity, the interests of com
merce and of public order would demand
its retention. OF the population of Cuba
one third is composed of negroes and
mulattoes just emerging from baIbarism,
and the other two-thirds are composed
largely of illiterate whites of Spanish de-
scent and undeveloped political capacity,
but apparently tinctured with a revolu-
uonary propensity. Such conditions could
hardly be expected in themselves to pro-
duce better results than have been attain
ed in the Republics of Central America,
and of the political state of those com
monwealths a hasty glance at the volumes
of the Foreign Relations of the United
States reveals the following illustrations:
1870. Rebellion in Guatemala
1871. Instruction in Guatemala; war
between Honduras and Salvador
1872. Guerilla war on Honduras; Saliva
dor declares war against Honduras;
Guatemala joins Salvador; government
in Salvador overthrow by a revolution.
1873. Attempted revolution in Guate-
mala, Honduras, and Salvador: Salvador
and Guatemala make war on Honduras,
conspiracy to overthrow the government
in Costa Rica
1873. Attempt to overthrow the gov
eminent in Costa RIGA.
1876. Revolutionary plottines in Qua
temala.
1877. Attempt to assassnate President
Barrios of Guatemala; ex-Presdent
Medina of Honduras shot for treason on
the sentence of council of war
1885. War between Salvador and
Guatemala; President Barrios killed;
revolution in Salvador; Nicaragua in
tervenes in the Salvadorean revolution
revolution in Honduras; Salvador invades
Nicaragua.
1886. Peace concluded between Nicara-
qua and Salvador; revolutionary plottings
in Honduras, Salvador, and Nicaragua.
1887 Revolutionary plottings in various
States; constitution suspended in Guate-
mala, and the president becomes dictator;
revolutionary movement in Salvador.
1890 Revolution in Salvador; Presi-
dent Menendez dies of apoplexy or is
assassinated; Carlos Ezeta, his protege,
who got up the revolution, proclaims him
self president; Antonio Ezeta, his brother,
becomes vice president and commander
chief of the army; martial law declared;
war between Guatemala and Salvador;
United States consulate outraged
1891. Threatenings of war.
1892. Attempted revolution in Hondu-
1898. Dictatorship proclaimed in Guate-
mala; revolution in Honduras
1894. War between Nicaragua and Hon
duras; revolution in Salvador.
These facts furnish matter for serious
reflection as to our future relations to
Cuba, when it is proposed to intervene for
the purpose of expeling the government
of Spain. And if Spain should be expell-
ed by our aid, and, at the close of the
war, the island should remain, as prob
ably would be the case, in our possession,
it is doubtful whether the confidence of
the world in the benevolence of our motives
would be strong enough to save us from
the imputation of having committed
willful act of spoliation Professor John
Bassett Moore, in the May Forum.