The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-07
As to Cuban independence.

AS 10 SuDan independence.
The Kaleidoscope character of de-
vclopmehts at Washington makes i'm
possible any assurance that policy
announced today may not be radically
modified ere tomorrow. Thus it has
been with the question of recognizing
the independence of the Cuban repub.
liz. on Monday it was asserted upon
the most credible authority that rec
ogntion had heen fully decided upon,
bat Tuesday brought directly contrary
information and what the determina-
tion may be ere these words appear in
print no man can say. But the APP
pcnJed interview with prominent
Cabinet official" printed in the Wash
ington Star, presumably gives the adj
mnistration's reasons for changing its
course
We cannot afford to recognize the
Independence of a people of whom we
know practically nothing. That is, we
cannot afford to do so at this time.
When we get to Havana we cannot af-
ford to have our movements handi-
capped 10y a government which can
prevent our doing what we think
proper. Suppose we land our troops
in Havana and we want to do some
thing for the protection of life and
property which is not agreeable to the
insurgents. They can very properly
| say, You have recognized us as an in
| dependent country and have no au-
| thority to now dictate terms. Sup
pose some of the insurgent leaders
| want to kill Cubans or Spaniards who
are not agreeable to them. Suppose
we want TO do something to restore or
| der from the chaos which will ensuc
| after the entry of the forces of the
United States in Havana. How are
we going To do it if we have given
complete independence to the Cubans?
The thing for the United States to-
do is to fOrcibly intervene to put a
stop to bloodshed and starvation in
| Cuba: also on the grounds that our
| commerce has suffered for years. Al
ter we have reached Havana and re-
stored order we can then decide
whether Independence shall be grant
ed the Cubans. 1t can then be
| decided whether the insurgents
are capable Of d government
| Of their own. If they are nut,
then we can establish a government
| which we think will be stable, and
which will continue peace and order
on the island. 1t is not our thought,
or the thought of the president, to aC-
| % cit T.,
take the right and proper steps at
this time. We do not think it advis-
able to grant independence to the Gu
| bans until we get to Havana and know
more about the condition OF affairs
and the men now running the insur-
gent government. As a matter of fact
| not an official of this country har
ever seen the insurgent seat of govern
ment or any of the officers of that
government. The United States must
ing independence to 1he Cubans
giving independence to the Cubans
Should these lines be the restoration OF
peace and the establishment OF q
ficient to commend themselves to tbs
people of this country and the world
The bellicose statement given on
yesterday by the counsel OF the Cuban
junta in New York in which it was
asserted that the insurgents woulC
forcibly oppose American intervention
in Cuba unless it should be preceded
by recognition of Cuban independence
and in which the specific charge was
formulated that a secret agreement
had been made between Spain ant
the United States whereby our SHOW
of intervention was to be put fortf
with the purpose in view of forcinl
the insurgents to accept autonomy il
probably to be attributed to an over
heated Imagination. No American vii
think So i'll of his president as t
believe that William Mckinley would
be a party to such deceit. The senti
ment of the American people is tina
Spain must go. He understands this
SLain understands it. There is n,
middle ground When the jupta re
covers from it's excitement ii will uu
derstand it also. We can afford TO b,
indulgent with the representatives. o
the insurgents, bearing in mind tina
our own cooler Northern blood also 4
liable to overwarmth at times, occa
sioniug vanity, folly and veXation o
spirit.
Cuba will be free, and the men VIII,
had the courage to fight for her free
dom will be the ones who will organ
ize it..