The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-05

quest: On the 18th of April we formally de-
CARED war, unconditional war, war without
any reference whatever to the resolution
passed in time OF peace That resolution
was repealed by implication, anpulled by the
refusal of the Spanish government to permit
it even to be presented to them This pre-
sented the condition upon which we
have ever since acted. We did not make a
solemn promise" We merely defined the
intention of the government at the time the
resolution was passed, an intention based
upon facts very different from those that
soon afterwards arose. When facts changed,
intention necessarily changed with them.
Every consideration of craftsmanship and
patriotism demanded the change, and it
came. A joint resolution of Congress is no
be repealed by implication or directly by
act. Just any other law. 1t has been re-
pealed by the failure of the terms, condi-
tons and relations upon which it was based.
1t is not now binding upon Spain, upon
Cuba, or upon us. 1t rests upon no consid-
Grafton; II Is more worthless than the or
binary nudum pactum. for the whole group
of facts and the whole atmosphere that
gave it potential virtue is gone never to re-
turn. This is the historical outline of the
facts, and facts are better than editorials.
THE REAL QUESTION.
The only real question in the whole Gu
ban matter is simply this: Is it best for us
and for Cuba that we shall have our flag
over the island? We owe Cuba nothing
she owes us everything. The war has shown
that the Cubans could not have conquered
a peace with Spain in any number of years.
We have conquered that peace We have
more rights to be considered than the Gu
bans have, and we have better right to
set the terms of the islands future. All
this talk about the sacred right of lib
erty'' is ill applied in the case of Cuba
Every healthy, honest, Intelligent mind in
America knows that if the Cubans are
given the same liberty that the people of
every other part of the United States en-
joy they will not be lacking in wholesome
political freedom. Our freedom is good
enough for Cubans or anybody else.
A glance at the map ought to satisfy any
unpTeJudiced mind that Cuba needs us and
we need Cuba. The island is too small for
successful independence. The people are
too ignorant and unframed to be able to
population owns practically all of the prop
erty. These few are chiefly Spaniards and
Spanish sympathizers. The rest are what
We know 1.-The Cubans." They are most
ly negroes and of mixed breed. l am sure
that few intelligent Americans think that
these Cubans are capable of independ emit
self-government. Scarcely one person IN this
country who knows anything at first hand
about Cubans believes that Cuba would be
peaceful and prosperous under their con-
troll. We need Cuba as a fertilization
guarding the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico
and the canal that we must build between
the oceans. Under our rule Cuba will be-
come rich, prosperous and happy, just as
all other Territories and States under our
flag have become rich, prosperous and hap
py. Under Cuban rule she would become
revolutionary, torn with internal troubles
and pitifully unhappy, just as all other
American countries governed by Latin civil
izauon have DONE These are facts indi-
Gated by history, and facts are better than
editorials.
Young bright, bold minds do not doubt
the adequacy of our government. If there
Is one thing above all others disgusting to
strong-hearted American it is this unpa-
U'otic assertion that If we take Cuba per-
and misgovern the Cubans. What sort of
American is it who is constantly doubling
his government? What sort of citizen Is It
who habitually takes the side of an alien
people against his own people? These self
constituted friends of the CubanS' are al
ways harping about the welfare of the Gu
bans, but they say never a word about
American welfare in that connection. If
they mention America at all 1t is TO insin-
tate or openly say that our government Is
sure to do the Cubans great evil if it gets
lull control of the island But does history
support these unpatriotic prophets in what
what region has our government misruled?
Not one Wherever we rule there the peo-
pie are the happiest in the world. Facts are
If these friends of the Cubans" really
had the welfare of those poor. ignorant. UNI
trained people at heart they would say to
States is the happest life ever lived by man.
But these friends of the Cubans" are
Its honor. its freedom. They think that a
government made by illiterate. almost saw
age. Cubans. would be far preferable to a
government by our country 1t would hard
~ seem possible that the brave hearted.
strong and enthusiastically patriotic young
men of America will ever join in such
preference.
CUBA AND POLITICS.
The Cuban question is going to enter poll
tics. Young men may as well begin to pre-
pare for the struggle In a recent article
Carl Schurz made the prophecy that upon
this issue the two great parties will face
each other and that the American people
viii have to decide it. He says that the
Republican party is going to make national
control of the conquered islands its battle
cry in the next national campaign. and he
intimates that if ii do it will be defeated.
The history of American politics suggests
quite different result. The Wing party is a
tradition. the Democratic party still lives
notwithstanding the imperialism that fol-
lowed the Mexican wsr. A tremendous
ehange in constitutional Interpretation and
Two amendments to the Constitution in or
o ~; 10 make that Interpretation doubly sure
o. not weaken the Republican party. You
may call righteousness imperialism or
s5y ether hard name; but II is very apt 10
sne'' ttself impregnable TO that sort OF mis-
sizes. And If American political history is
PROOF OF anything it proves in advance that
~ tne Democratic party shall attempt TO
set up the worn cry of free silver and free
trade against the glorious shout of national
eestlny and national. adequacy TO fill every
demand of that destiny. there will be about
as much probability of Democratic success
as there was in 1868. The conquering hero
= - more admirable and more available than
the hero who doubts his country's moral
character and sees only calamity In every
great national undertaking. Let the Repub-
mean party plant itself sQuareiy on the pa
Hlotic. optimistic point OF view and NOM
mate man who believes that his country