The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-05-19
CUBAN INDEPENDENCE.
Conditions which Favor Il State of
tranquility Under Home
Government.

1t would seem at first sight that Cuba
is no better prepared for independent
government than Mexico was so years
ago, the more so in that the difficulty
of the task will be intensified by race
problems which never existed in Mex
leo. The population in Cuba is made
up of whites, blacks and mulattoes in
about equal numbers, and it is needless
to say that the success of the Cubans
in government and in all the pursuits
of civilization will depend on the eX-
tent to which the white population. as
refined and progressive a class as eX-
lists in any Latin-American country, are
able to maintain their ascendancy over
the colored element. For any coun-
try where the black once gains control
steadily declines from that moment in
the scale of civilization and enlighten-
ment. Let us hasten, however, to say
that we most devoutly hope and be-
lieve that the white element in Cuba
will be able to hold its own, though the
difficulty with the menace implied in
the facility with which the negro thrives
land multiplies on the island will always
be present.
The circumstances mentioned would
seem to augur political trouble for Cuba
after her independence has been
achieved. On the other hand, there are
facts which make for political stability.
Though he has had no experience in
self-government, the Cuban in general
possesses high standard of education
and enlightenment, far higher on the
average than prevailed in the present
Spanish-American republics when they
threw off the yoke of Spain. The bet
ter class of Cubans have been educated
in the United States, where they have
studied the working of popular insti-
tutions as practiced in their highest per-
lection. Moreover, the progress that
has been made in the world in general
in the science of government, the IA
cility of communication and Intercourse
with the United States, the force of
public opinion there, reacting on pub
lie opinion in the island, the example of
the more important Spanish-American
~ PNpliSS VI ~ va anu lllloIIN tIiC
mere exhaustion of the country and the
necessity of reconstructing its wealth
and resources, are all factors that Will
favor a stable and orderly administra-
ton of affairs.
Then, too, there is a very important
negative circumstance that will favor
tranquility in Cuba. Most of the in
ternecine struggles that have torn this
and other Spanish-American countries
have been due to the clash of interests
and principles between the church party
and the liberals. 1t is safe to say that
this will not happen in Cuba. The peo-
pie there are Catholics and will proba-
bly, remain so. But there will be no
clerical party; even if there are some
people of extremely religious views,
they will find themselves too few in
number and too lacking in support to
form themselves into the nucleus of
political organization. This is largely
a matter of climate, for it is a common
observation that, in the hotter regions,
even of Mexico, religion sits lightly on
the people. This tendency is intensi-
fled in the case of the inhabitants of
seaports, as are nearly all the impor-
tant cities of Cuba.
Such, more or less, are the cons and
pros for good government in Cuba. On
the whole, we see no reason why any
one expressing his belief that the latter
outweigh the former-that the pros
poets for stability exceed those for I'M
rest-should be accused of allowing his
Judgment to be influenced by his hopes.
The friends of popular institutions
have, in fact, solid reason to feel san
guine as to the result of their trial in
Cuba. Let us hope, too, that the Cubans
will from the start demonstrate their
liberality and their fitness for the bless
ings of freedom by according humane
and magnanimous treatment to the
Spanish residents on the island and to
those of their countrymen who in mis-
taken sincerity have supported the au-
Economists or other plans for perpetual
ing the connection between Cuba and
the mother country Herald.