The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-19

stumbling block is the question of the
assumption by this government OF the
Cuban debt. 1t is not surprising that
hitch should occur on this point, par
ticularly as the Spaniards, no doubt,
look upon the future Of Cuba as a
territory or state Of our national
Union. But our own states and our
own territories, as they exist today,
have their own individual debts. If,
peradventure, Cuba should enter into
this Union, there is no reason why it
should not take care Of it's own debt,
just as our own states take care of
theirs. There does not seem to be any
justice in the theory that because the
United States government has assisted
Cuba to acquire its liberty this country
should assume it's debts. If the spirit
of the resolution passed by congress is
to dominate our course, the Cuban debt
is practically none of our business.
The fact Of the matter is, if one is
justified in measuring effect as the re-
suit of cause, the Spanish ear has been
lying very close to the ground of late,
ard 1t has doubtless heard many of the
explosions Of our imperialistic organs,
Which have in various ways revealed
the secret purposes of the administra-
ton with respect to the eventual alb
sOrption by the United States of Cuba
as we'll as of Porto Rico. The Spaniard
is not as big a fool as we have been
disposed to picture him in his present
humbled condition. Since President
Mckinley started forth upon his speech
making and electioneerlng tour the
backbone of the Spaniard seems to
have stiffened When the president
OF the United States began to talk
about the absolute duty resting upon
the citizens to gather the fullest re-
suits of victory, the Spania:d, no doubt,
and quite properly, felt that it was
about time for him to see what he could
save in the general wreck. Salvage is
always possessed of value.
Thus far, apparently. the subject of
the acquisition of the Philippines by the
United States has not come forward
for joint consideration by the COM
mission.
While this delay in the advancement
of the discussion is becoming more
widely advertised q spirit of contempt
for the Americans is said to be develop
ing in Cuba, not only amongst the
Spaniards there, but amongst the in
srrgents. The dispatches from WASH
irgton would, however, seem to indi-
cate that good deal of sentiment I'M
favorable to the Cuban insurgents was
being manufactured there, and with
view to the maintenance on the island
Of a large army Of occupation, which,
in itself, would appear as menace to
the Cubans, and doubtless would lead
eventually to condition of things
which might compel the United States
to resort to measures for the suppress
sion even of the insurgents themselves.
Is there not a danger that at last,
after all our boosted philanthropy. the
United States may find itself absorb
ing the island through the proc
ess Of conquest? May it not be that
this is really the scheme which the adj
ministration is seeking to promote?
Every citizen knows perfectly we'll
that it is within the power Of the COM
missiOners of this country to act pc
remptOrily, under the terms of the pro-
tCcol, and to close negotiations when
it becomes necessary in order to OBJ
struct the clubbing and temporizing
tactics of the other side. Unless there
is some understanding between the eX-
ecutive department here and the COM
nisrsiOners in Paris, surprise is JUS
tif1able that more positive action is not
taken by the nations representatives
i'll this important treaty negotiation.
The speeches of the president during
the past ten days have been remark
ably suggestive Of the theory that he
is paving the way for a surprise of
some sort. The situation, as it appears,
viewed from Washington and Paris
at the present time. is certainly per-
picking, and there are those who incline
to the belief that it is not one of sin
certify, but rather one of flibustering,
on our part. which, in the circumstan-
ces, can hardly be esteemd patriotic.