The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-04-26
GOVERNMENT OF CUBA.
A Question Which Causes Con-
Germ at Washington.
A DIFFICULT PROBLEn TO SOLVE

Wealthy Glass In Cuba Has Little RaitFs
In the Ability Of the Insurgents tn SET
Up n stable Government-Finai Result
will He Annexation to the United States
WASHINGTON. April 26.-[Special. How
to organize the island of Cuba into a eta
BILE, progressive and successful governments
that shall be able to keep the peace, to-
protect the rights of all the people and to-
give prosperity to the Pearl of the Antilles
Is problem which Is already occupying
the attention of many public men in Wash
ington. Now that congress has taken it's
stand and given its authority to the presi-
dent to proceed to the pacihcation and lib
grafton of the island, and now that we ara
entering upon the great task which cir
substances imposed upon Us, many astnto
observers in Washington think tho haav-
lest part of our job is to come when We.
burn our attention to the reconstruction on
the island.
Whether we permit the insurgent gov
eminent to assume the reins of govern
ment or insist that plebiscite be issued
and new government be formed does not,
materially change the facts. No matter
how the problem is looked at, 1t seems to
be the imperative duty of the United States
20 retain control in Cuba long enough to-
make sure that successful governments is
set up there. Not till this is done and the,
fertile island, so long ravaged by war and
disorder and official corruption, is assured
the blessings of stable and enlightened
government, will the United States have
right to withdraw its strong arm. This.
is the view taken of the question by a.
great number of public men with whom
your correspondent has talked.
A Difficult Task.
In the opinion of many this is going TO
be a difficult task. In any country the
ruling class is the employing class. the
class which controls the money, the cs-
tates, the factories, the banks, the rail-
roads, the commercial houses, the indus
trial activities country ruled by the,
elements of the population which have Nit
tie or nothing is an anomaly. 1t Is as sure
to fail and collapse as is country In
which the capitalistic class has every
thing to say and the employed people,
nothing.
In Cuba, am told, almost without ex--
ception the employing class is composed
Of Spanards, Americans or other foreign
ers. Very few Cubans are wealthy enough
to employ help beyond a servant or two in
their families. Some of the educated Gu
bans are professional men, and successful
ones too but the bulk of the money Of
the island and the industrialism are in the
hands of Spaniards. These Spaniards are
opposed to a republic. They have no faith,
in that form of government because they
doubt the fitness of the Cuban masses for
meeting the responsibility of self rule
| They fear that II republic Is set up ifi
| will last only a short time, falling to
pieces of it's own weight or splitting upon
! the rocks of dissension and bitter factionaf
! quarrels. IL the Cubans are left to run
the island in their own way, think not
only the Spaniards but the Americans and
the other foreigners who own property in
! the island there will bo another armed
rebellion in less than year.
! For these reasons the property owning
classes, with few exceptions, favor annex
alton to the United States. They believe
annexation would be the best thing for the,
/ Cubans themselves. 1t might not satisfy
the sentimental aspirations of the people,
for complete independence, but IL would,
give them settled and safe government
it would give them freedom from the cor
ruption and inefiiciency of any govern
ment that is managed by Spaniards or
men Of Spanish descent, and without much
doubt it would bring TO the island IL period
of prosperity such as it has not known in
many years.
| Delicate Problem.
But the people of the United States have,
Al Ia.l, et<<x.
that we do not want to annex the island
We have declared through congress thas il
! Is our purpose to aid the people of Cuba in 4,
setting up their own government II is
just here chat there arises most compli-
GATED and delicate problem. No,one be-
| lieves the insurgents are strong enough to-
set up civil government that will stand.
alone. Just as soon as the leaders Of thsn
revolt leave their guns and saddlebcgs b.
hind them and enter the field OF civil or
ganization and activity they will be swai-
lowed up by the property owning Glasses
Either that or q row will follow, In whicts.
the element that fails to secure the mastery
will make war upon the element that doss.
Men who arc thoroughly familiar With.
Cuba tell me that tho Spaniards and the,
Cubans will not be able to get together ir,4
formation and conduct Of q government.
Neither will trust the other. All onoTtsss
to ooalesce will result in failure. Just ~.
soon as one side obtains the mastery the
other will appeal to force II this turns
out to be true, 1t Is difficult to see how the
real Cuban problem, which is problems
of law and order and good government, is
to be solved In any other way than by the
continuance of the United States as the
dominating force in the island.
1t will be borne in mind by readers or
these dispatches that IL was long time
ago predicted by me that Cuba was coming
under the wing of the United States. That
was six months ago. At that time your
correspondent knew something Of the pol
icy of President Mckinley and its ineyita-
BILE trend and result. OF course IL was then
impossible to foresee that the battleshiIn
Maine was to he destroyed and the whole
question forced to an issue much more
rapidly than would otherwise have been
the case
II the United States sticks to its duty
and gives Cuba a sound and good govern
ment, that island should undergo a won
dcrful development. Already ! hear OF
g. has .,f, in s,Si mo- m