New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-13
pRECEDENTS IN THE CUBAN CASE.


1t may not DO devoid of pertlnence to the pres
ent state Of affairs to recall that the Cuban ques-
tion first became acute three-quarters of cen
fury ago. Spain was then engaged i'll Il nope
loss epdeayor 10 retain her South and Central
American colonies. Cuba was outside the swift
Of battle and did not revolt at that ume ana
hence was dubbed by Spanish captain-generai
1.-THE Ever Faithful Isle Nevertheless, IL was
recognized that Cuba, too would one Day nave
10 be otherwise disposed of, and talk OF us ihoe
pendence, It's transfer 10 some other European
Power or its annexation TO the United States
was heard on every hand.
In 1879 John Quincy Adams was PRESIDENT
Henry Clay was Secretary of State ana Alex
ander Hill Everett was Minister TO Spain. MI
Everett had served under Mr.. Adams at the
Legation at ST. Petersburg, and the two were
in close sympathy. Writing from Madrid on
November g. 1929, Mr.. Everett called the fres-
idcnt's attention 10 the importance or CuDa 10
the United States politically and commercially
and to the fact that the island ought eventually
TO belong 10 this country. 1t was. he salu, Il
fixed principle Of American diplomacy that tine
american Government could not consent 10 any
"change in the political situation of Cuba other
than one which should place 1t under the Jurls'
"dlction of the United States change must
occur at some time, he said, and 1t must DE III
the direction Of annexation to the United states,
of annexation by some other Power, or OF the
establishment of a negro republic, since the ere
ole population was too small to be dominant.
or these only the firstnamed would he accept
able to the United States, and he therefore urged
the desirabty of efforts to bring 1t aDout, suS-
costing the plan Of first getting mortgage on
the island by loaning Spain money-whch she
much needed-and thus establishing a sort OF
protectorate over il, which in time would De
changed to full sovereignty.
That scheme did not work. nevertheless, the
principle of American revcrslonary rights IN
Cuba was maintained. An attempt 10 Juggle
with 1t was made later, in 49, when ~ H.
Eyerett's brother. Edward, was Secretary OF
State. The British and French governments
tried to get the United States Government 10
ioin them in n triple agreement to the eIect 'li'
no one of the three Powers would ever attempt
TO obtain for itself possession of Cuba MT
Everett reminded those governments that they
had been for many years acquiring new terri
tories for themselves. in Africa and elsewhere
without any objection on the part of the United
STATES. and the United States had extended It's
domain without European objection. There was
no reason why sucn expansion shoulu Hol ~ VII
within a proper sphere. But the United States
/ could not permit any other European Power IL
acouire Cuba any more than European Powers
would be pleased to see the United STATES acquire
an island in the Mediterranean. He further
arpued that the interest Of the United states II
Cuba was far greater than that OF France OF
England. and the disposition Of that Island mus
he considered "as mainly IN American ques
ton" The United States would not. and con
stutlonally could not. impose perpetual disa
bllitv upon itself Neither would 1t enter int
apy "ontangng alliances" with European Pow
ers. The United States would not seize Cubf
from Spain by force; but it would not pledge
| itself not 10 accept the island if ii should b'
offered in the natural and peaceful order of nf
fairs. Wherefore the prOr osal OF the govern
ments Of France and Great Britain was respect
fully but emphatically declined
There Is just this one difference to be noted
! hctwccn the condition Of Cuba then and now
IT now has an overwhelming majority of creol
inhabitants, and so would not be a negro re
public in case it became independent But th'
principle set forth In 1898 has never been r.
vokcd by this country. The United States coult
not view with composure the transfer OF Cub:
from Spain to any other allen Power; and 1t bal