The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-20
Why Cuba Should
Be Independent
From the New York Sun.

From the New York sun.
Spain is sending no more troops to Cuba.
She has none to send. She is not sending
money to pay those who are there now,
and for the same reason; she has none 10
send. The campaign which is now draw
ing to a close finds Weyler's troops be-
hind barriCades and in fortresses. They
are discouraged by the dismal failure of
their attempts to make any progress to-
ward putting down the rebellion" and
disheartened at the prospect of months
of ideness in which disease will be as
fatal to them as bullets, with large ar
rears of pay due them, and no prospect
of success in sight to keep up their spr-
its or inspire them with hope. The pa
trots, on the other hand, are in posses
sion of the open country and exercise all
authority therein. The successful end
of their heroic struggles approaches, and
as it comes nearer We hear suggestions
that peace should be restored upon Spain
granting "autonomy" to them if they
will lay down their arms and return 10
their allegiance, the United States guar
anteeing the performance of Spain's
agreement, or Cuba agreeing to pay an
indemnity in case the independence Of
the island is acknowledged.
-:E-
This Is an invention of the enemy. There
is, there can be, only one solution to the
Cuban question which will give peace and
bring prosperity TO the island, and that is
absolute independence. The proposition
to grant to its inhabitants "autonomy.'
if accepted by them, will not answer the
purposes for which they took up arms.
Similar promises have often been made
and as often broken, and they Will cun-
tinue to be broken. The present sugges-
tion is coupled with the condition that
the United States guarantee the perform
ance of any promises which Spain may
make to her Colonists. Neither the eX-
eCutiVe officers nor the congress OF the
United States have the poWe" to do any
thing which they are not authorized TO
do by the constitution; and the consttu-
tion has not authorized congress or any
department of the government to estab-
lish bureau wherein the performance
of obligations assumed by a foreign gov
| ernment may be guaranteed by the Unit
| ed States. What form would such guar
| antee taker How could II he enforced?
-;I:-
But suppose the Cubans were TO accept
| the proposition, If made; OF what benefit
| would autonomy" be to them? Autono-
my means nothing beyond giving them a
| voice in the managemnt 0t thelr local
| affairs 1t would not take them out of
| the category of subjects. 1t would not
relieve them from the power under which
! their substance is now squeeze out OF
| them by the screws of taxation and eX-
! port duties. 1t would not save them
from having any army quactered upon
| them in time of peace. 1t would not Sc
cure to them proper representation III
the national councils nor protect them
| from the swarms of Spanish born officials
who hll all the offices of the governmen,
| on the island. 1t would add nothing tc
their manhood, their rights, or lheir
prosperity. Nothing short of absolute in
dependence will do that. TO secure this
not autonomy" they took up arms. For
this they have fought ana suffered. II
would be suicidal in them to be satisfied
w-h less, now that success is so certain.
-:II:-
This Is the only solution Of the struggle
in which they are engaged which can ben
eft them, even from a material point o.
view, Suppose they lay~down their arm
and return to their allegiance, an wha
condition would the island be found? De
Nastated. The soil Will always remain
but the successful cultivation Of the crops