The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-07-29
PEOPLES PARTY TICKET
BOLDTNG CUBA


Grafton. Not only has it gone forth
from administration sources that this
is the contemplated policy Of the Amer
lean government, but the English and
foreign comment consider it as practi-
caIly settled that Cuba will be annexed,
and last Of all Spain also desires the
United States to retain Cuba in case Of
a peace settlement rather than turn it
over to the Cubans.
There is another force to be Feck-
Oned with, and that is the American
people. All these propositions Of the
administration and of foreign powers
will be disregarded, and when the will
Of the people is finally recorded it will
be q disappointment to foreign powers
and a rebuke to the present admins
tratiOn. Americans have always been
opposed to a war Of conquest and al
ways will be. All the traditions of the
nation are against it. Besides, in the
case of Cuba, there stands the joint
resolution Of congress, laying down
the grounds on which war was declared
against the kingdom of Spain, stand
ing as a bTeakwster against this flood
tide Of Imperialism. 1t says: "Thus
far shalt thou come and no farther,
and here shalt thy proud waves be
stayed" Like the AImighty's decree
to the rebelIious waves Of the ocean,
this great deep Of lust of pelf and
power, so far as Cuba is concerned, is
shut up within the bars and doors of
that historic joint resolution. The
text Of that document is as follows:
zResOI7ed, By the senate and house Of repre-
sentatives Of the United States Of America, IN
congress assembled:
First-That the people Of the island Of Cuba
are, and Of right ought to be, free and indepen-
dent.
SecOnd-That It Is the duty of the United
States to demand, and the government Of the
United States does hereby demand, that the
government Of Spain at once relinquish its au-
thOrity and government in the island of Cuba
and withdraw its land and naval forces from
Cuba and Cuban waters.
Third-That the president OF the United
States be, and hereby is, directed and enpoE-
cred to use the entire land and naval forces Of
the United States and to call into actual ser
vice Of the United States the militia of the sew
sary to carry these resolutions into effect.
FOurth-That the United States hereby dis
claims any disposition or intention to exercise
sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over said
island except for the paciicatiOn thereof, and
asserts its determination, when that is accom-
DHshed, to leave the government and control Of
the island to the people.
After long and bitter contest the
h1rr-n- L ~
resolution and the president signed it
April -, 1898. This is historic. The
house was against recognition of Gu
ban independence, the senate was for
recognition, and it seemed at one time
that they would not get together at all
The fourth paragraph, declaring inten-
lions and disaYOwing the idea Of con-
quest, was added as an amendment on
motion Of Senator Teller of Colorado
This, with the first paragraph, declar-
ing the independence of the people of
Cuba, were the saving clauses Of the
memorable and historic compromise
1t saved the day, it conserved Ameri-
can honor, it notified the world Of our
'isinterested motives in the war. so far
IS Cuba was concerned, and laid down
he law to the limit to the president in
the employment of the army and navy.
The president signed this sacred. sol
emn document, involving American
treasure by many millions, American
lives by many thousands and the vel
fare Of bleeding struggling race.
The declaration Of American indie
9endence and the constitution of the
United States Is not more sacred than
his compact, signed, sealed and deIiv-
cred to all the world. To the carving
out Of this decree the American peo-
pie, like the signers Of the declaration
Of independence, pledged their lives.
their fortunes and their sacred honor 5"
On masse, this people said to the pres
jdent; You can have the last man and
the last dollar to carry on this war. but
here are your instructions, abide bv
them sacredly." It is to be hoped that
the administration will keen within
the limit Of the strict construction of
this solemn mandate.
1t cannot be forgotten that the de-
Oate IN congress was long drawn ont
that house vote was on strict Dsrtv
lines that the senate stood ont for .
lOug time, and that the concurrent ras-
OlutiOn was an honorable compromisa
and was approved BY ali the people
Now all this talk about Cubans not he
ing ht to govern themselves and the
necessity Of long occupation Of Cuba
possible annexation, etc., looks dscid-
edly suspicious. Many think if dis
closes the designs Of the money powar
that they are feeleFs, or an ATTEMPT tn
create a public sentiment that will toll
crate breach Of public faith. IF 50
they viii be disappointed. This viii
be an Issue in the next presidential
election, and IN the court Of the great
common people this perfidy will be sf-
tectually estOpped. Although finished
with victory, and fortified with the
prestige that attaches to snceassf,l
warfare, this policy cannot and viii
not De eauied out It would disoraee