, 1898-03-26

lIuUelC0 lho Qt CISIOH Oh AOHRItSS ~ lHO
matter. Now should this decision be un-
favourable 10 annexation, then it is more
than likely that the question Of the purchase
Of our islands will also Simultaneously fall
through; Of that | hHve not a doubt, for 1t
would settle "a least for the mOment) the
whole question Of insuInr possessions. it IS
on this account, and by reason OF my views
ON the whole political situation in America
for the moment, that | have hid such stress
upon The mntter Of Hawaii. If. on the other
hand, the decision should he in favour Of
annexation, then we may look for one Of
two results. Lodge may bring forward his
motion concerning our islands. which may
then be rejected on political or strategicaI
grounds. or both, or it may be adopted.
On he other HAND it is quite possible-though
it is II point upon which [ have not yet
I ucIled-that no motion a. all will he made
in this direction, ON account # Cuba, which
seems greatly to occupy tie American mind
at present.
Il is we'll known that there RACES just now
in that island, q grent Instruction with no
leas an object than he absolute independence
Of Cuba. 1t is we'll known that Spain has
already lost nearly 100000 men to subdue
the ebellion-with out avail. 1t is well
known, that Spain at this moment Offers
what she does not herself possess, and there
fore can hardly Iona tde be able to offer
complete autonomy, but that the insurgents
have Internationally refused this offer, and
also, chat the most prominent of the loyal"
Cuban residents in Havana, have 50 little
confidence in Spain, that they have even re-
quested the protection of The United States.
Lastly, every one knows, TINT though the
United States have hitherto taken no definite
steps in the matter. yet they have given, to
put it mildly, at least molnl support 70 the
rebellion. This seems quite natural. IN view
of their great commercial interests on that
island, and their natural sympathy with all
republican movements, and not least because
of CubA'O close proximity 10 Key West, the
United States naval stallion in Florida. aud
for this reason far superior to ST. Thomas
in point Of convenience and situation.
Chas. de Varigny writes in the same arti-
Gle from which | hive already quoted Gam
article written four years ago, we must re-
member) "The United Suites are as little
DESTROYS of taking poss' ssion If Cuba, as
Cuba is DESTROYS If becoming one IF the
United States. Cube Is struggling for politi-
cd and commercial independence. 1t is not
to be expected that the United States should
oppose movement which is of HE SAINT ia.
ture as that to which they owe their present
prosperity, nor is it to he expected hat they
should stem a current which is in their ia
YOUR. But because the Queen Of the An
TILES" yields 10 the natural and ever %increas-
ing attraction Of its mighty neighbour, it does
not follow that these close commercial rel0-
tions are to he the prelude to an annexation
which neither party can desire"
This was written in January, 1894. and all
;hat has since occurred has but proved the
correctness Of the authors views; compare
for q moment this, the actual policy adopted
ly America toward pain, since the beginning
Of the present insurIection; the Presidents
message to Congress fourteen days ago in
which he explicitly declares that ms soon as
Spain, in the eyes of The world has shown her
inability to subdue the rebellion, the United
states will impose peace, compare further,
the article quoted from "Harper's Weekly"
in which mention is made of Cuba,
but not q word Of our islands; again,
Captain Mnhau's remarks Concerning st.
Thomas aud Cuba; lastly, the fact
that not the slightest mention If our
islands appea, ed in the Presidents message,
and add to this if you VIII, if necrSsoly.
Senator Lodges private communication as
TO "the favorable opportu ity", and it seems
hardly unreasonable to hmlor a great doubt
as to whether the United States is really in
earnest as 10 the purchase If our islands.
Not that ] really believe that they will
take possession of Cuba, bat a prottctorate.
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