The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-04-29
THE SO-CALLED REPUBLIC.

There has been a good deal said in
some quarters because the admins
tratiou took stand against the re-
cognition of the insurgent govern
m ent of the Cubans, and also because
congress finally cut it out of the re-
solutions as passed. There have been
many charges handed back and forth
as to the reasons therefore and the
influence of Wall street has been
freely charged as being the basis OF
it. When critics of the administra-
tion get to a point that they cannot
bring forth any other charge, they
throw up the influence Of Wall
street, seeming to think that that
will be a crusher. But Wall street
influence probably had very little to
do with it, and had it, the trend of
events show that it would more likely
have been for recognition than against
it. But the administration was in a
position to know what it was about,
and the so-called constitution Of the
Cuban republic fully justities the
stand it took. The said constitution
has been published in the Congress
sional Record, and the Sioux City
Journal in looking it over says Of it:
There is nothing of republic in 1T as
the American people understand a
republic. The instrument is loosely
drawn and it's chief object seems to
be to confer dictatorial powers upon
few men, through it's powers, to ex-
ercise dictatorial powers. The sOver-
ign powers are by its provisions vested
in a government council of three
men. Zone Of the powers of this
despotic council is to issue letters of
marQue and reprisal, under which, If
the insurgent government had been
recognized the Cuban junta in New
York could have purchased privateers
and sent them out to prey upon the
commerce of Spain, Notwithstanding
it is the policy Of the United States
to suppress privateering. This would
have afforded a preposterous spec
tacle, especially as one of the strong
points we are making before the
world is to refuse to allow privateer-
ing in this war. And no points that
we have so far made has gained US so
much favor in Europe as this one.
Another provision of the Cuban con-
stitution is the one that cOnsOlidates
all monetary and financial powers in
this council, going so far as to confer
unlimited authority "to issue money,
to coin money, and to fix it's kind and
uolue." On top Of this it has the
sweeping general faculty of dictat-
ing laws" that is, the supreme con-
centration Of legislative, judicial and
executive powers, free from constitu-
tional or other restraints and abso-
lutely at the will of the three persons
who compose the council or Of
the coterie or junta in New York
which controls them. They can
issue paper money in unlimited
quantities which would become an
obligation of the Cuban government
as soon as independence is achieved
and which to the extent of it's credit
and taxing powers, would be good in
the hands Of the holders. No one who
is not in the secrets of the junta,
knows how many millions Iof promis-
sorry paper money may have been
printed and held in it's hands ready
for issuance at the moment of recog-
milton, all duly authorized and regu-
larly prepared by the republic OF
Cuba. But it is absolutely known
that immense quantities Of Cuban
bonds have long since been printed
and in the hands of the junta and
those who are acting with it.
Such so-called government is not
exactly an institution that the Unit
ed States wants to recognize, and it
did well in avoiding, and shows that
President Mckinley has more fully
considered and studied the question
than had those who were sure he was
wrong. The position which has been
taken is unquestionably the right one.
When the Spanish have been driven
out of Cuba the people of the island
should be allowed to decide upon and
form just such a government as they
feel will best answer their purposes.
Undoubtedly that government will be
a republic in form.