The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-07-22
TIE FUTURE OF CUBA

ACCORDING 10 I6Ceu5 press L6POA -
President Mckinley is represented as
saying to a western senator as follows:
Liberty has for centuries been the
dream Of the Latin race. The trouble,
however, with the Latins is that they
construe liberty to mean laziness.
"They institute republics but as soon
as they are made to feel the constraint
that is a part Of all well organized
governments, they cOnspire to over
throw the government. 1 predict that
this government for a long time to
come will be compelled to keep a stand
ing army in Cuba for obvious reasons.
We are to become responsible to the
world for order in Cuba, and argue as
you may, We cannot escape the respOn-
sibility"
Now here is a pretty kittle Of fish to
fry. This great, big hearted, generous
and brave people have gone to war in
the interests Of our common human
ity and pledged themselves in advance
that they would, without fail, give the
Cubans their independence. Now the
executive of this great nation has dis
covered that they are low down in the
scale Of humanity, that they are too
lazy to assume the responsibilities Of
liberty, and too turbulent and rebel
IiOus to establish and maintain a sta
bic form Of government.
This sounds we'll, dOesn'tit The PEG
pie have not forgotten that Mr.. Nc
Kinley refused to act upon the senate
resolution giving belligerent rights to
the Cubans, that he opposed to the
bitter end a recognition of Cuban in
dependence, that he bobnobbed with
the representatives of the rotten and
murderOUs Spanish monarchy, that to
carry out the semblance of this false
and hypOcriticaI friendship the Wis
caya was sent to New York and the
Maine to Havana, that the men lost on
that splendid vessel went to their sad
and untimeIy end not only by Spanish
treachery but by executive fOOlishness
and un-American baseness. That the
providence Of God has put the seal OF
condemnation on this miserable bust
ness is evident. The Maine and her
gallant tars are entombed in the slime
Of Havana harbOr and the Viscaya Is a
charneI hulk of the coast Of Santiago.
Moreover, it is an open secret that
the president for a long time halted
between two opinions. The mOnied
interests were for peace at any price,
even to the sacrifice of national honor.
The masses of the people were for war,
to maintain natiOnI honor, to free the
people Of Cuba, to avenge the Maine,
and, for humanity's sake. Mckinley
was forced by universal public senti-
ment to take side with the masses,
but not until the very existence of his
party was in danger, and then indie
pendence for Cuba was denied and the
Maine was treated hardly as an Incl
dent provocative Of war.
The people have not forgotten the
Maine, and, it would seem, neither has
Providence. The people have not for
gotten the pledge Of independence for
Cuba, and Providence will not forget
it. McKialey's sIur on the Latin race
IS reprOach to Him who rules the
destinies Of nations. "WhOso mocketh
the poor reproacheth his Maker" The
views Of the president on the lace
question are not in harmony with the
views of the American people. All
things being equal, there is no differ
ence between races as to their ability
to govern themselves. The plea made
is as old as all other excuses for des-
pOtism.
i How wOuIdthe presidents ipse dixit
60 as a camFsign document printed
in Italian, French, Portuguese and
Spanish? How would it do as a meansOf
fostering smicabIe aud trade relations
and spread broadcast in Mexico, in the
Central and South American republics
aud in the Latin countries of the old
world. If Mckinley really uttered the