The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-22

ADMINISTRATION FAvORS THE AC-
QUESTION OF TERRITORY.


It IL Prophesied That Cuba wnI he Ours
within Six Months--Good Grounds For
= the Prediction--Americs Is Impelled by
DUTY and Interest.
Cuba is to be dependency Of the
United States.
1t is to be acquired, peacefully II pos
sible, during the Mckinley administra-
ton.
This is the real, the sensational sig
nificance Of the message which the pres
ident sent to congress concerning Gu
ban affairs.
Apparently the only purpose Of the
message was to call the attention of
congress to the unfortunate situation of
our citizens In the island and to ask
for an appropriation, to be expended
under the direction Of the president.
for providing them with food and medi-
cines.
But this was the nominal purpose of
the message. Behind it lies an inten-
tion which, if executed, will change to a
most momentous degree the traditional
policy of this government It is a de-
termination to annex both Hawaii and
Cuba. to strengthen our strategic out
posts, to 60 out to the sea for an extern
sion of our jurisdiction, our commerce,
our empire.
This policy has not yet been dis
closed. 1t will not be disclosed till tho
auspicious moment arrives. That it
now exists may even be denied. But
the events of the coming six months
will amply Justify the statements made
In this dispatch.
Our eyes are turned toward Cuba,
both from motives of duty and self in
terest, and only one thing can divert
them and postpone the inevitable sep
aratioD of the island from Spain and its
falling within the jurisdiction of the
United States. That is a speedy and
complete restoration of order in Cuba
by the Spanish government.
If Spain is to save Cuba for herself,
she must move promptly and effectively.
For more than q year President Nc
Kinley has been a close student Of the
Cuban question. The Cuban plank in
the ST. Louis platform was adopted with
his knowledge and consent. His sympa-
thies have naturally been with the Gu
ban struggle for liberty. The sympa-
thies of an individual and the duty of a
conscientious ruler are far apart. The
one may inspire action. the other re-
strain within the limits Of conservatism.
But in this case it is conviction as to
where his duty lies that impels the
president to the adoption Of the general
policy outlined here.
The keynote to the whole situation is
found in the fact that Spain has ruled
Cuba only with the sword; that she rules
now only with the sword, and that
even IL the present insurrection be sup
pressed nothing but military power,
constantly employed, will serve to keep
the island in subsection.
An empire that can rule colony only
by force does not deserve to keep it and
cannot keep it. The world has outgrown
those despotic systems in which "a col
ony may be perpetually ground under
the iron heel of military power.
With these things in mind, and re-
membering also that this nation has
more than once served notice upon the
world that if Cuba be lost to Spain the
island must not fall under the jurisdic-
tion of any other power than the United
States, the president has endeavored to
inform himself concerning the actual
situation. He has become convinced
Spain is powerless to suppress the insur-
rection and to restore and maintain
order
He has become convinced that it Is
only question of time when SPANS
financial troubles or the absolutely in
tolerable condition of affairs in the is
land will make it impossible for Cuba
longer to remain under the foreign yoke.
In other words, if it is the manifest
destiny of Cuba to escape from the juris-
diction of Spain, If the fates and inn
pulses of people are stronger than the
desires and the powers of governments
and dynastios, why should not the end
come before rain engulfs the whole is
land, and in time to save part of inn
pending loss of life and suffering?-
Walter Wellman in Chicago Times Her
aid.