The times., 1898-09-15
The Future of Cuba.

1t is we'll enough for the ambitious
members of the Cuban Junta to remind
US of the pledge of Congress that we
had no purpose of acquiring the Island
of Cuba in making war on Spain; that
is their right and they would be poor
politicians if they did not harp on it,
But it is worse than stupid for such
men as Carl Schurz to maintain that
We are bound by it, though it should
condemn the Cubans to fate fully as
terrible as that from which they were
rescued by American Intervention. We
do not say the pledge is not to be kept,
but we maintain that as our war
against Spain was made to insure the
future welfare of Cuba, We are bound
to keep that purpose in view, regard
less of the resolution of Congress.
1t is a fact that when the resolution
was adopted. no thought had been
sven TO that particular subject. Every
American felt that we ought to prevent
the determination policy of Weyler
from being executed, and there was no.
where an idea of any advantages we
might gain from the war. beyond the
removal of brutal power from this
hemisphere.
We had expected to cooperate with
the Cuban army in the defeat of the
Spaniards. We were told by the Cuban
representatives that they had an army
of some thirty-six thousand men. We
saw no such army and had virtually
no aid from it. Gen. Garcia threw his
whole heart and his sword into the
cause, but he had only a few hundred
men. Gomez and his thousands put
in no appearance and sent no word
There were not enough Cubans to pre-
vent re-enforcements from entering
Santiago. But for the destruction of
the Spanish navy. we should have had
a long, destructive war in Cuba. virtu-
ally alone. The failure of the Cubans
to keep their promise of aid and the
insight our army had into Cuban al
fairs iiaVe led to change of opinion as
to the ability of the Cuban people to
establish a government that would not
be a curse TO the island and a reproach
to the world.
At present we have no plans for the
future rule of Cuba. Our plain duty is
TO maintain order there until we know
what is best. There is no need of haste
When peace is fully restored and
the people who have survived the
horrors of Weylers policy have re-
sumed their former avocations, compe-
tent commissioners can study the stu
alton and report on the best govern
nent Tor the Cubans themselves. which
will also be the best for the interests
of America. 1t may be for an entirely
independent State, or it may be for
annexation to this country. From this
position our Government is not to be
moved by any consideration. 1t is the
only sensible thing.
The CuDans in New York who failed
to deliver the native army that was
promised have lived here long enough
TO know that the American people VIII
tolerate no injustice to the people OF
the Island It can only be personal
ambition or a hatred of the Spanish
loyalists that moves them to agltate
the subject of a convention to form an
independent Cuban government WhlIe
we may sympathize with their hate, we
cannot allow it to interfere with the
principle of allowing the Cuban people
a voice in the making of their own IN
stitutions That is the essence OF
American republicanism- They may
rest assured, and we nave no doubt
fnat they Know, CUBA will never be an
nexed to this country without the con-
sent of the people of Cuba. II their
effort to establish government before
the time is ripe leads to any attempt
to resist administration by this coun-
try, the consequences will be most seri-
Gus TO them.