The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-21
CUBANS MUST BE PATIENT.
a Free Government Will Be Given
Them in Good Time.

New York, July 21.-A special to the
Times from Washington says:
A member of the cabinet, speaking
about the unfortunate attitude of the
Cubans at Santiago, said he feared that
it would take time to correct the mis-
apprehension of the Cuban insurgents
that the United States proposed to
erect a minority government wherever
the United States forces OVercame the
Spaniards.
Cuba, this gentleman said, would have
to read ana absorb the intent of the
presidents message and abide by it if
the people hoped or expected to see
real peace in short time. If the presi-
dents judicial advice was adopted there
was no reason whatever why every man
in Cuba within the protection of the
military authorities of the United States
should not have the freest possible OPP
portunity to prosper, and they might as
we'll make up their minds that they
were not to have any opportunity what
ever to act unjustly towards their
former enemies.
This determination on the part of the
United States, continued the minister,
should not provoke a spirit of resent
ment toward US, but the people of Cuba,
Spanish and Cuban, were not like US,
and we could not pretend to understand
as they understand. Self-interest with
the Cubans, however, might be expected
to govern them if they would stop to
think at all. Without our help they
Spain. Spain will have to so, but the
president has plainly notified Cuba that
there shall be no misgOVernment If it
can be prevented, and it will be the
duty of the United States to make good
its assurance to the world.
The president in Cuba and Puerto
Rico will depend greatly, it is evident,
to mem berS of the administration, upon
the cordial cooperation of the people of
those islands with the United States
in the determination of this government
to free them from SPANS corrupt and
backward control.
If the Cubans persist in bringing on
a contest with the United States in the
determination to admit no particlpa-
ion by Spaniards in the government of
the island and a condition of rebellion
it is not considered improbable that the
island will continue to be disturbed for
years by revolution. And a member of
the administration asked what would
be the answer of the United States to
the powers if at the end of two years of
strife between the United States and
Cuba the powers should step in and
assert that they could no longer suffer
the interruption of business, the destruc-
ton of life and the disturbance of their
peace?
While less trouble is looked for in
Porto Rico it is conceived to be posi-
BILE that the native Porto Ricans, who
share the Cuban aversion for Span
iards, may develop a like hostility to
the forces ana rule OF the United states
that seems to be developing in Cuba.
Very little dependence has been placed
upon the Porto Ricans. The United
States government expects to provide
such a government for that island as
good judgment and right interest in
the welfare of the people suggest.
1t is believed that with trial of
fair government in Porto Rico for
year SPANS hold on the. people could
never be regained with the consent of
the people 1t is also the administra-
TONS view that Cuba will. if it act
wisely, see that the presidents pro-
gramme, as laid down in his procIama-
ton, will bring the Cubans better re-
suits than would be secured if a more
savage policy were to be adopted.
Friends of Cuba here, who have read
with regret the information and COM
ment from Santiago, are said to have
set about correcting the tendency dis
covered by the press correspondents,
and at the same time an admonition
has been sent to Santiago by the war
department and to the officers in con-
troll to restrain the apparent inclination
to make much of the Spaniards and to
treat the Cubans with contempt That
this should have happened is consider
ed to be extremely unfortunate.