The record-union., 1898-07-21
A POSSIBLE CUBAN SITUATION

The demand of this Government upon
Spain was that it should wholly with
draw its authority over the island of
Cuba that we might occupy the land
for distinctly stated purpose, pacifica-
tion and the establishment Of stable
government; and this in the interests
of humanity.
To this proposition Spain gave a neg
ative reply Be it noted that our
statement as distinctly refused, recog-
milton of the insurgent Government, as
if affirmatively set forth, and since the
declaration of war we have communi-
Gated with no other Government in
Cuba but that of Spain Our inter-
course with armed insurgents has rec
ognized them only as fighting allies,
not as de jure governors of the land
It follows, then, that when the Span
ish are driven out the only Govern
ment remaining will be that of the
United States, represented temporarily
through its military arm. Through
that agency the Cuban people will be
NcilAcQ QpOlL " 6ApItSS lllelIlSGlNSS upOIl
the question, What kind of a govern
nient do you desire?"l We may rea-
sonably infer that on that question they
will divide. 1t viii be the natural thing
to do. The anti-republcans will pre-
fer direct annexation to the United
States, while the force represented by
the insurgents in arms will insist upon
an independent form of government to
be administered by them.
That which will initiate against the
plans Of this latter class is the enormous
cost of setting up and maintaining such
a government, with its naval and army
outfits, ETC., in the face Of the fact that
the taxes for such support must be
collected from the class that Will op-
pose that form of government, since
we assume that the antf-republicans
are largely the people with taxable
means.
1t is therefore not unreasonable to
look forward to a season Of much
trouble with the Cubans, after we have
expelled the Spanish forces from the
island If the insurgent Cubans are
turned down in their desire, by the
vote of the people, there will assuredly
be a new insurrection. The insurgents
Will rebel against any firm rein drawn
over them, as they are already mani
Testing a disposition to do They have
for twenty years been in rebellion
against authority, and they are pretty
certain to adhere to the habit thus ac-
quired if every one of their demands is
not conceded. 1t is of course barely
possible that the emergency may de-
velop some great mind among them
who will assume leadership and be able
to control and to lead them wisely.
No such mind shows among them now,
however
The question whether there is to be
Cuban Republic must re regarded as
an open one 1t may prove to be an
impossibility, and if so the situation
will naturally absolve US from the OBJ
legation we assumed at the outset, and
we may thus find it necessary for full
generation to extend over Cuba the pro-
that will insure the keeping of the
peace, that Cuba left to itself may not
become an edition of the system. of
other Spanish American States, where
a revolution is in order once a quarter,
and where a stable government is prac-
tically unknown.
1t is not without the lines of possi-
bility that by demand Of the RESPONSE
BILE people Of Cuba annexation to the
United States may result from the oc-
cupation Of the island by our military
forces. It is equally possible that alb
solution from our pledge not to acquire,
given by the positive and overwhelm-
ing vote of the people, may result in
our acceptance of Cuba as a part of
the American Republic.