The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-18
Mckinley Plans to Make Cuba
a Dependency
Of the United States Under a
PrOtectOrate.
THIS is THE MOTIVE
That Lies Behind the Message
to Congress.
Americans with Business Inter
eSts in Cuba Take Action.

Washington, May 1S.-Cuba is to be
a dependency of the United States 1t
is to be acquired peacefully if possible,
during the Mckinley administration
This is the real. sensational significance
OF the message which the president
sent to congress.
The presidents message deals solely
with the suffering of American citizens
in Cuba and the necessity that exists
of affording them relief. Apparently the
only purpose of this message is to call
the attention of congress to the unfor-
tunate condition of our subjects on the
island and to ask for an appropriation
to be expended under the direction of
the president for providing them with
food and medicine. But this is the
nominal purpose of the message.
Behind it lies an intention which. if
executed, will change to a most mo-
meutous degree the traditional policy
OF this government. It is determin-
alton TO annex both Hawaii and Cuba.
to strengthen our strategic OutpOsts, to
90 out to the sea for an extension of
our Jurisdiction, our commerce, our en-
pire
This policy has not yet been disclosed.
1t Will not be disclosed till the auspi
cious moment arrives. Our eyes are
turned toward Cuba, both from motives
thing can divert them and postpone the
iuevitable separation of the island from
Spain ar1 its falling within the juris-
dictiou of the United States. That is
the speedy and complete restoration of
order in Cuba by the Spanish govern
mcnt If Spain is to save Cuba for
herself she must move promptly and
effectively.
For more than a year President Nc
kinley has been close student of the
Cuban question. The Cuban plank in
the St Louis platform was adopted
with his knowledge and consent. His
sympathies have naturally been with
the Cuban struggle for liberty. The
sympathies of an individual and the
duties of a conscientious ruler are far
apart The one may inspire action,
the other restrain within the limits of
conservatism. But in this case it is a
conviction as to where his duty lies
that impels the president tothe adoption
OF the general policy outlined here
The keynote to the whole situation is
found in the fact that Spain has ruled
only with the sword. that she rules now
only with the sword. and that even if
the present lnSurrecuOn be suppressed
nothing but military power constantly
employed will serve to keep the island
in subsection. An empire that can rule
q colony only by force does not deserve
to keep it and cannot keep it The
world has OutgrOWn these despOtic SyS-
TENS in which a colony may be perpet-
ually ground under the iron heel of mil
itaTy power
With these things in mind and re-
membering also that this nation has
more than once served notice on the
world that if Cuba be lost to Spain the
island must not fall under the jurisdic-
tiOn of any other power than the Unit
ed States. the president has endeaVOred
TO inform himself concerning the actual
situation He has become convinced
Spain is pOwerless to suppress the in
surrection and to restOr and maintain
order.