The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-29
NO ANNEXATION OF CUBA.

There are those who would annex Cuba
but their number is small, compared with
those who are opposed to such a PROPOSE
I ton: If Cuba were considerably treated by
Spain. as is Canada by Great Britain, there
would be no more demand for it's annexa-
ton by conquest than there would be for
the acquisition of Canada. Even if Canada
should desire to withdraw from Great
Britain to be annexed to the United States,
there is every reason to believe that it
would receive no official encouragement
from this government. Encouragement
would not be given because Canada is a
part of the British empire as much as In
diana is part of the Union and so long
as Great Britain pursues the liberal CO.
lonial policy it does there could be no justi-
fication for interference. If acquisition of
territory We're the cause of our interference
with Cuba, there could be justification
for such action when the question should
be brought before the family of nations.
Self-interest would lead them to interfere,
and rightly; government which does not
recognize the right of territory must be OPP
posed from motives of self-protection.
But one man has thus far advocated the
annexation of Cuba-Senaror Gallinger, of
New Hampshire. Senator Proctor made no
allusion to it, and Senator Thurston de-
clared against it. Cuban independence has
been the demand of all those who have
spoken in Congress for the Cubans, with
the single exception mentioned. The de-
clared purpose of the President has been to
give Cuba tranquility. In recent times no
party has declared for annexation. General
Grant would have annexed Hayt, but he
declared against annexation of Cuba. 1t has
been demonstrated that the tranquility in
Cuba so essential to us cannot be given
by Spain. Its ideaaof colonial dependencies
is that they are to be ruled by Spaniards
in the interest of Spain and its official class.
Time and again the Cubans have resented
such oppression, and now the opposition to
its system of exaction is so powerful that
Spain cannot overcome it. For more than
three years Spain has attempted to subdue
the insurgents by armies. 1t has signally
failed. Weyler admitted failure when he
drove the noncombatants from their homes
in the country, where they were self-sup-
under guard to starve. A new ministry pro-
posed another policy and asked a period in
which to put it in force. 1t recalled Weyler
and caused the world to believe that the
policy which made every town a center of
starvation would be revoked. 1t was not
revoked in effect. The people are yet dying
of starvation. If it had been revoked, eff
hoy IN fha
people out to their lands which Weyler had
desolated and to afford them the means to
escape starvation.
The new policy being a failure and the
people yet starving, the President proposes
to rescue the people from starvation in the
expectation that the ministry will consent
to leave Cuba to the Cubans If this is not
effected and there is no indication that it
will be, the President proposes to inter-
vene in the name of humanity to put
end to the barbarism of Spanish rule.
There are those who insist that the Gu
bans cannot maintain a popular govern
ment. Perhaps they cannot but they should
have the opportunity to try. Under existing
conditions they have not such an oppor-
tunity. Cuba cannot have a poorer apology
for government than that which Spain has
forced upon 1t for hundred years. If indie
pendent Cuba shall need our moral support
or the support of this government to main
tain popular government, il can be given
without annexation. But now the President
and Congress and the American people
should make It very clear to the world that
annexation is not an Interior design in aid
ipg Cuba 70 get rid az her oppressors. We