Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-05-06
Colonization of Cuba.

possessed any outlying colonies. As new
territory has been purchased or con-
Quered il has been transformed into
states rs soon rs possible, and admitted
into the union with rights equal TO those
of the original nation. The nearest APP
proach % a colony that we have ever
had was California, which our gallant
navy saved from British clutches; but
the discovery Of gold and the great rush
in 1919 gave California a population that
entitled her to statehood We are now
the most compact of countries. Even
the islands which fringe our shores and
have evidently been part of the CONT
nent do not belong TO us, unless they are
close to our water-line. 1t is an inn
portant question, therefore, what we
are to do with Cuba and Porto Rico.
Most nations, except Russia and
Germany, have made history as colo
nizers. Perhaps Portugal now for
gotten country, was once the most enter
prising. 1t seized upon India and the
coast of Africa carrying the cross and
the sword and compelling millions of
heather to become christians. Vestiges
of its rule still remain but il has been
able to hold very few of its conquests.
Spain discovered and occupied this New
World, but has been forced out of it
America are largely Spanish, not only in
language and customs, but i'll sentiment.
The Dutch cOlonized the East India
islands and our New York coast. pushed
into Japan and held the island Of FOrmOsa
for thirty years Wherever the Dutch
come they stay; even the English do not
drive them away. but commingle with
them and share their good fortunes.
France is not recorded as a coloniZing
nation but in fact. she stands in the
front rank Her misfortune has been
that. as soon as she acquired a colony,
some superior power interfered. For a
long time it was doubtful whether
France or England would secure India. |
The same doubt existed as TO Canada !
The French have made repeated at
tempts TO seize Syria and Egypt, and |
now hope TO have one or the other as
their portion when the inevitable di- |
vision of Turkey occurs They have |
also tried to win Siam, have practically |
colOnized Madagascar, and are demand |
ing a share of China. The Romans. |
who went everywhere, and conquered !
every body, and then gradually faded |
away, leaving only ruins and words TO !
record their presence, We're the prede- |
cesSOrs of the Portuguese, the Spanish, |
and the French.
10 England. a little country that sits |
like a spider in the middle of a web |
which extends TO all parts of the world, |
we must turn 10 for an example. The |
only place in which the English have |
failed rs colonizers is Ireland. Although |
small island. separated from Great |
Britain by "a narrow channel, Ireland |
has succeeded in maintaining its in.
dividuality. Fire and sword, neglect |
1H r1arnQnpU
have alike failed 10 subdue the indie
pendent Irish spirit. The tenants III |
Ireland now have easier terms and better
protection than those of any other coun-
try but this liberal treatment does not |
make them English. Every year thous.
ands of them emmigrate to America |
rather than live under English rule, and |
none of them ever return 10 take adj
vantage of the improved condition of |
Ireland and invest their money in de-
veloplng the soil on which they were
born
We are very likely 10 find our Ireland |
in Cuba The Cubaus are a stubborn
race. They do not know what they !
want on what 10 do with il when they |
get it They are not pure blooded as
the Irish are; they are So mixed they |
might be- called mongrels. and, like |
mongrelS. they bite the hand that feeds /
them. ON the very day the United |
States decided % intervene, the Cubans
loudly asserted that they would submit |
10 no foreign intervention unless they |
were declared a free and independ ent |
people, and that they would fire upon
the American soldiers sent TO liberate !
them The Cubans have starved, as the |
Spanish have fought, dOggedly, sullepIy, |
hopciessiy Spain has not been able to !
deal with them in any way. just as
England has been unable either TO sub
due or cajOle Ireland. 1t i not likely |
that they viii be more tractable under
American rule The majority of them
are in effect Indians, and they may
have TO be dealt with as our Indians
have been.
The British islands in the West Indies |
arc military ports. The natives amount |
10 nothing except as servants. There Is |
no slavery i'm name, but there is per-
petual scryitudc for the blacks and !
cOlorcd people. The British officers are |
an arist0cr veg; then come white men as |
Planters and In business: the natives ore |
mere nobodies. This system applied 10 |
Cuba ard Porto Rico would necessitate !
permanent increase of the American |
army. There are objections 60 mill |
tary occupation on the plea that the |
climate is deadly but the British soldiers |
occupy adjacent islands and there are no |
reports Of extraordinary mortality 1t |
seems hard fate that the Cuban |
struggle for Independence and the sup.
port which the United States has given |
them should result in the humiliation
of the present race Of Cubans but this |
is the lesson of history and the logical |
issue Of current events.
Just what will be done with the Philip. |
pines is still another question, but i'm all |
probabilities they will be merely held rs
an indemnity security, for they are TOO |
distant 70 be Of any commercial interest |
60 us.
The Next Battle.
As soon as the extense eagerness with |
which the public mind has been di-
rnntnL t1..unra do FOR nnet Lr. Dn1rnr-,c |