Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-23

Ilduc ny some CUBAN DTlSdnQS TO klOnap
senator Sherman and party, which only
failed through a late change in the plans
as to certain excursion. I referred to
this, and asked Senator Henderson what
he thought the United States ought to do
as to Cuba. He replied:
Il believe that the Spanish rule in Cuba
has been one of terrible oppression and
outrageous injustice. Havana has for
years been suffering under the heel of a
despotism that is ruinous. The streets of
the city are filthy, and the reason for this
lies, am told, in the fact that the munich
pal taxes are taken by the Spanish off
GERS and sent to Spain instead of being
used for the Improvement of the city, for
which purpose they were collected. l don't
think much Of the character Of the native
population of Cuba 1t is to n large ex:
tent mixture of the Indian, the negro and
the South American, and 1t does not seem
to be made up of desirable material. AS to
tie present revolution, however it may
turn out, there is no doubt in my mind
but that Spain Is bound to lose the island.
She ought to lose it on account of the way
in which she has misgoverned it. Cuba
should be one of the most fertile and pro-
ductive countries of the world, but its in
dustries have been destroyed, Its laEds
have been devastated and It's people have
been ruined by this war, caused by Span
ish oppression"
Why We Need Cuba.
Suppose Spain should lose Cuba-where
would it go?'
Il can tell you where 1t ought to co. re-
piled Senator Henderson. TT ought to go
to the United States. Cuba is the key to
the Gulf of Mexico and to all southern
coasts The islands of the Caribbean sea
stand like outposts to the Gulf of Mexico.
We must in some way other obtain some
of them, and we should get them if posi-
BILE by peaceful means. AS 1t Is, there is
no European power, however insignificant,
that does not own one or more Of these Is
lands. England, France, Germany, Spain,
DenmaIk-each have their outposts there,
which in the event of war would form their
coaling and victuaing stations. Cuba is
the most valuable of all the islands, and it
is of vital strategic and commercial i'm
portance to us. If we had it 1t would soon
be entirely changed by means of Yankee
enterprise and Yankee money, ard [ have
hoped that the policy to be pursued would
be one that woull result in our purchasing
it.
LAS Cuba is today, its population is such
that we might not wish to admit 1t to the
Union on an equality Of statehood. 1t
could be given a safe provincial govern
ment, however; l mean a government
something like that of our territories, or it
could be held as an outlying district, as We
today hold Alaska. 1t strikes me that
Spain might be glad to sell it, and 1T would
be far better for us to buy the island than
to acquire it in some other way. If Cuba
should obtain her indepen" nee and estab-
Hsh republic capable of maintaining
itself under the protection of the United
States, that perhaps might be desired.
But in such case she would probably
soon ask for admission into the Union as
separate state, and it would be difficult
TO resist her appeal
Big War Bound to Come.
Speaking Of war, Senator, all the great
nations seem to be going about with chips
on their shoulders. To what do you attrib-
ute this war spirit?"
1T is difficult to find reason for it."
was the reply. 1T seems to be found
everywhere Europe is in a state of fer
ment. The asgressiveness of the different
powers in seeking commercial supremacy
IN different parts of the world and eSpe-
cially in Africa, is very likely to cause in
ternational conflicts. l believe that some
of the great rulers of the world would be
glad to wage war. Such a war spirit is
not strange, however. If you will look at
history you will find that the desire for
war springs up periodically the world over
Alter twenty or thirty years of peace there
always arises among nations an inclina-
ton to fight somebody. and this inclination
generally breaks out into war. 1t seems to
be one of the rules of the development of
nations
DO you think war between the United
States and England a possibility"
Il don't think there is probability just
now of any such event." said Senator Man
uerSon. Ihere is always n possibility of
our having war with any power 1t is
always the unexpected that happens as
to war. There may come matters of in
suit or aggression that are beyond the
reach of apology or reparation The
hCEor of a nation is like that of an In
dividual 1t is easily touched, and insults
which are not appeased by proper apoli-
Sies and by quick reparation are sure to
bring about war. l doubt much whether
such differences will arise between us and
the English. for while our interests are
IN many respects antagonistic. we have so
much in common that there will always
be mutual sacrifices to prevent it,"
suppose such a war should come, what
would be the result?'
That is difficult to predict" replied
Senator Henderson. England is the great
naval power of the world Our warships
are pigmies compared with hers Her
great battle ships could lay waste our
ocean cities and under their bombardment
could enforce a tribute which it would be
difficult for us to pay. She could undolbt-
edly punish US severely until we got Cur
second wind, but with the continuation of
the struggle l have no doubt but that we
would ultimately succeed, though We might
be famed by the contest"
FRANK G. CARPENTER,