The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-02
WHY NOT LEAVE 1T TO THE PEOPLE.

1t must be evident to every person that
the establishment of stable government in
Cuba is going to be a difficult and tedious
work. Among the difficulties of the situa-
ton are the natural unfitness of the Latin
races for self-government, the ignorance of
tho people, the depressing results of CEN
turtles of Spanish misrule, the mixed char
acter of the population, the effect of race
hatred, the animosities of the war and the
lawlessness that is sure to prevail between
the wiping out of one government and the
establishment of another. All these causes
are operating with more or less effect, and
their combined result is very difficult sit
uation to deal with. Yet circumstances
have imposed on the United States the duty
of bringing order out of this chaos, while
at the same time it is under self-imposed
limitations as to the methods it may use. 1t
has pledged itself to establish stable gov
eminent in Cuba, and at the same time has
oisclaimed any purpose to annex or acquire
the island, thus assuming the obligations of
sovereignty without its power. The joint
resolution of Congress under which the war
was begun declares that 1.-THE people of the
Island Of Cuba are, and of right ought to
be, free and independent" and 'sThat the
United States hereby disclaims any DISPOSE
ton or intention to exercise sovereignty,
jurisdiction or control over said island ex-
cept for the pacification thereof, and as
serts its determination when that is accom-
plished to leave the government and con-
troll of the island to its people," AS long as
that resolution stands it is a bar against
any exercise of sovereignty by the United
States in Cuba, and, therefore, hindrance
to the pacification of the island and the es-
adjustment of stable government. AS the
pledge which the resolution contains not to
exercise sovereignty was assumed by the
United States voluntarily. it cannot be re-
tracted nor violated without dishonor. AS
pledge given to the people of the Island of
Cuba, who the resolution says are, and of
right out to be. free and independent, they
alone can relieve the United States of its
binding force. AS long as the people of
Cuba do not remove the obligation it re-
mains in force Therefore, why not, as
soon as possible. refer to them the question
whether they desire the United States to
exercise the rights of sovereignty in Cuba :?
In short, why not let the people of Cuba
vote on the question of annexation to the
United States? One of the suggestions
made by Spain before the war. and when
she was hoping to circumvent the United
States and maintain her hold on Cuba by
some sort of trick. was the holding of a
plebiscite to let the people decide whether
they wanted independence or Spanish rule.
OF course. plebiscite under the conditions
then existing, with more than 10000 Span
ish troops in Cuba, would have been as
great a farce as the one by which Louis
Napoleon established himself on the throne
of France. But things have changed.
| Spanish sovereignty in Cuba has been over
thrown and formally renowned by the pro-
tocol, Spanish troops will soon be with
| drawn from the island, and for the first
time in hundreds of years the people will
| be left free to establish or select their own
government True, there viii be United
| States troops in Cuba. but only for the pur-
pose OF preserving order and helping the
people TO prepare the way for stable gov