The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-01
Commissioner CaIhoun's Report.

Commissioner CaIhoun's Report.
From two sources itsis learned that
Commissioner Calhoun's report to the
president concerning the conditions
observed by him in Cuba will confirm
in every detail the already published
information as to the frghtful suffer-
ing and havoc wrought by the present
insurrection; but we are told further,
through the medium of the one or two
news channels in Washington in SYM
pathy with Spain, that Judge Calhoun
will discourage any desire oR the pres-
dnt's part to aid the Cubans toward
establishing an independent republic
According to these informants, his
opinion Is that a condition of auton-
omy under nominal Spanish sovereign
ty similar in main details to the au-
tonomy enjoyed by Canada, would af-
ford the best practical solution of the
whole problem, since it would give
Cuba the substance of freedom and yet
enable Spain to retain the shadow Of
control
The fact that Mr.. Calhoun himself
will reach Washington within IA few
days, and that his deductions Will
doubtless soon afterward be available
in his own words, suggests the wisdom
of deferring final judgment until we
can be sure of our ground. But on its
merits the foregoing solution, while
presenting certain obvious advantages,
Is also fraught with serious difficulties.
In the first place, would Spain consent
to a nominal sovereignty over Cuba,
unless 1t We're coupled with such reve-
nue. exactions as would hopelessly over
tax the already impoverished island
ers? Is 1t not the revenue from Cuba,
rather than the mere prestige of SOW
ereignty, which Spain covets and to
retain which she is making desperate
fight? Would the Spanish officials who
for years have filled their pockets with
fat Cuban pickings be satisfied to fore
go their traditional opportunities for
inordinate extortion? Secondly, would
the Cubans in arms be willing to ac-
cept peace on terms which would leave
them to some extent still under the
odious rule of Spain? Could the United
States government, in the plenitude of
its freedom, ask the Cubans to remain
half slave and half free?
The argument made against Cuban
independence, especially the argument
made by Secretary Olney, whose views
on this point We're so warmly indorsed
by the Spanish minister of foreign af-
fairs, is that the men who are active
in the present rebellion are untitled to
govern the island or the people of Cuba
intelligently, judiciously and success
fully; and that the Cubans as a whole,
i'm their present state of ignorance and
habitual restlessness, are not qualified
to exercise the rights of freemen. They
must, in other words, be governed
with a strong hand; and unless that
hand be our own--and Mr.. Olney scout
ed the very idea of Cuban annexation
1t must naturally be the hand Of Spain.
The trouble with this argument is that
1t carries those who make it too far.
II Cuba is not fit to be free, how can
the evils of Spanish administration be
removed? An autonomy that gave
Spain the whip hand would, be no au-
tonomy at all. An autonomy like that
which Canada enjoys could only rest
upon the willing consent of the bene-
ficiaries of it; If forced upon the people
of Cuba, either by us or by Spain, II
would be, not independence but despot-
ism, to be again resisted as soon as the
Cubans had recuperated their strength.
We believe that public opinion has
Travelled to a stage in this country
where II would not tolerate in an Am
erican executive, whoever he might be,
a proposition in the name of the United
States for the continuance in Cuba OF
any form of Spanish sovereignty. The
St. Louis platform demanded Cuba's
independence, and did not use qualify
ing adjectlves, Since that time sehti-
ment among our people adverse to
Spanish rule in Cuba has intensified
very perceptibly, II Commissioner Cal
houn has any idea that the war in
Cuba can be ended by the good offices
OF the United States on the basis of a
new lease of power for Spain, he il
surely cherishing mistake. But we
have no authoritative knowledge yet
that such is his view. and we believe
that he viii report very differently,