The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-25
MARTINIQUE AND CUBA.

The New York Evening Post wants
to know if there would be any talk of
intervention in Martinique were af-
fairs in that island in the same con-
dition that they are in Cuba. The
reason it takes this island as an illus
tration is that France is great mill
tary nation, and has navy second
only to that of England, and greatly
superior to our own. The inference to
be drawn is that Intervention in Cuba
is talked about because Spain is a
weak nation and we are trying to
bully her.
The Illustration is neither happy nor
germane. There is no more possibility
of affairs in Martinique becoming as
they are in Cuba than there is that
Spain will repossess herself of all her
lost possessions in both the Americas.
The French have never had any
colonies that have been very badly
mismanaged, while neither France nor
any other country has ever had
colony where misrule was so supreme
as in Cuba. where there is chronic
condition of rebellion if not of war,
where such scenes of misery and de-
vastation were witnessed as are to be
seen in Cuba today The United States
have been patient and long suffering
in this Cuban business, more patient
and long suffering than any other ma
ton, under like circumstances. would
have been. A writer in Blackwood's
Magazine says:
Yet when we look at the actions of
the United States government, it must
be allowed that they give Spain no
substantial ground for complaint. The
geographical position of Cuba does
make it of immense Importance to the
United States. The mere obligations
which its perpetual troubles throw
upon them to enforce their neutrality
laws in the face of considerable ad-
ministrative difficulties would of itself
justify the presidents in asking for
the cooperation of Spain. They are
entitled to call upon their neighbor
either to vindicate his authority, or
confess that he cannot do it. Nor can
it he fairly denied that if the admin
istratiOn at Washington were in
fiuenced by the principles which have
commonly guided European states. it
would have held itself justified by ma
tional interests in annexing Cuba or
helping il to independence long ago.
Cuba blocks the Gulf of Mexico, and.
if it were in the hands of a power
possessing an active navy, might he
the means of inficting immense loss
on America. Great conquests have
been undertaken on less provocation.
and the conquerors have been held to
have deserved we'll of their country.
Neither must il be forgotten-or con-
sidered as a detail of no Importance
that the United States have vast
financial interests in Cuba, which have
suffered greatly from the war 1t is
unnecessary to go at length into the
motives which have restrained success
sive presidents. or even to suppose
that they were ali creditable We are
only concerned with the fact thar
America. though tempted by oppor-
tunity and possessed of power, has
hitherto held her hand.
Surely here is impartial testimony.
and it is to the effect that the conduct
Of this government has been most adj
mirable and conservative. If France
had been in the same position towards
Spain anG Cuba that the United States
are, there is no reason to doubt that
she would have interviewed long ago.
Let the Post consider this phase of the
question.